Level 1

• Tautai Ake

  Down the Slide

  
  When Milly and Sunil go down the slide at school, they don’t notice that the slide is wet!

• Tautai Ake

  Grandma’s Vase

  
  When Nena’s (Grandma’s) vase gets broken, Malia decides they can solve the problem by making a new one. She gathers up some materials from the recycling bin and, with Nena’s help, successfully creates a new vase.

• Tautai Ake

  Monster’s Vest

  
  Monster is five and getting ready for school, but he discovers his vest is much too small. Luckily, Papa (Grandad) arrives with a birthday present that solves the problem.

• Tautai Ake

  At the Pool

  
  When Mami takes James and Noah to the pool, Noah has a great time playing on an inflatable dinosaur but James worries about getting into the water. Eventually, Noah's urging and the prospect of playing on the dinosaur persuade James to overcome his fears and join in the fun.

• Tautai Ake

  Greedy Cat Is Hungry

  
  In this humorous story, Greedy Cat appeals to several family members for food but has no luck until Katie, the family’s youngest member, takes pity on him.

• Tautai Ake

  Locked out

  
  The family in this story have locked themselves out of their house. Luckily, a small window has been left open. Teti, Mami and big brother try to fit through, but with no success. Finally, the smallest member of the family comes to the rescue and solves the problem.

• Tautai Ake

  The Lost Hat

  
  When Sunil loses his hat, his friends help him look for it. There are no hats in the classroom or the sandpit, but when the children look in the Lost Property box, they find too many hats! The story ends happily when the children find a way to solve this new problem.

• Tautai Ake

  Rain, Rain

  
  This is a clearly sequenced narrative about a family tramping through the New Zealand bush in wet weather and then setting up camp. Despite the rain, the children are clearly having a great time.

• Tautai Ake

  In the Bush

  
  While Teti and Harry are walking in the bush, a stick lands on Teti’s arm – or at least that's what Teti thinks. Harry looks more closely and realises that it’s a stick insect. When the stick insect starts to walk up Teti’s arm, Harry carefully puts it onto a tree.

• Tautai Ake

  Are You Ready, Rosie?

  
  In this humorous narrative, Mami is trying to make sure that Rosie is getting ready for school while Rosie is quietly organising herself. As they are about to leave, they discover that Mami is not quite ready.

• Tautai Ake

  Monster in the Pool

  
  Jack invites Monster to his house after school for a swim in the paddling pool. Monster becomes very, very wet but his way of getting dry has hilarious results.

• Tautai Ake

  Painting the Fence

  
  When William and Papa (Grandad) offer to paint the fence, they soon discover a problem. Mama (Grandma) wants a white fence, but there is no white paint left in the shed. Their solution (and Mama’s reaction) will delight children.

• Tautai Ake

  Talking to Nanny

  
  Aroha misses her nena very much but lives too far away to go and visit her. Instead, her mami sets up the computer so that Aroha and Nena can use the Internet to see and talk to each other.

• Tautai Ake

  My Light

  
  A boy explains how we provide ourselves with light has changed over time, starting with his great-great-grandfather, and working forward to the present time. Technology

• Tautai Ake

  Tinilau and Hina

  
  This is the traditional story of Tinilau and Hina. Kakai

• Tautai Ake

  The Landcrabs

  
  The coconut crab is becoming too bossy. The other landcrabs hold a meeting and decide what to do.

• Tautai Ake

  The Night the House Shook

  
  One night, there is an earthquake, and the power goes off, but Lenny sleeps right through everything! This story is based on something that actually happened.

• Tautai Ake

  The Way It Was

  
  A girl compares her life to what life was like for te tupuna mātua o toku mātua (her great-grandmother).

• Tautai Ake

  Dragons! Dragons! Dragons!

  

  BB
  In this humorous, big book for shared reading, four fiery dragons are having trouble making friends.

• Tautai Ake

  Is That an Earthquake?

  

  BB
  A young boy wonders anxiously whether the movements and noises around his home could be an earthquake, and then, suddenly, an earthquake does happen.

• Tautai Ake

  Number One

  

  BB

  This humorous, imaginative narrative features a mischievous ghost who likes to frighten people.

• Tautai Ake

  The Safe Place

  

  BB
  This story, set in Fakaofo, tells of a hen’s search for a safe place to hatch her chicks. The strong narrative structure can be used as a model for writing, and the repetitive aspect of the text provides support for the reader.

• Tautai Ake

  The Water Slide

  
  In this story, a child describes her experience of playing on a water slide with her dad, including her attempt to involve the family cat.

• Tautai Ake

  Mrs Brown’s Garden

  
  In this story, Grace helps her neighbour, Mrs Brown, by watering her tomatoes. When Teti invites Mrs Brown to their family barbecue, she and Grace arrive with a large bowl of tomatoes from her garden.

• Tautai Ake

  Earmuffs

  
  William is intrigued by Papa’s (Grandad’s) earmuffs. Papa explains that they keep out the noise, and he lets William try them on. Later, when they go inside, the baby is crying, and William finds another unexpected use for the earmuffs!

• Tautai Ake

  Getting Ready for the Visitors

  
  When Teti tells Mahi they need to get the marae ready for visitors, Mahi happily volunteers. She helps prepare the food, set the tables, and make the beds for the visitors.

• Tautai Ake

  Late for the Race

  
  Everyone is ready to start the bike race except for the bossy and demanding Princess. The Queen helps the Princess gather the things she needs – but this is one time the Princess will not be allowed to wear her crown.

• Tautai Ake

  Shoes for the King

  
  In this humorous narrative, the King has some trouble deciding which royal shoes to wear.