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Liv and the Gap

Short A Kindergarten CVC Foundations
Liv and the Gap
Liv and the Gap, page 1
1Tom had a pond by a dam. But the pond got less and less. Tom ran up and down the dam. Tom was sad.
Liv and the Gap, page 2
2Liv sat on the dam. Liv sat and sat. Liv is not fast, but Liv can see a lot. Then Liv did see it.
Liv and the Gap, page 3
3It was a gap in the dam! "Tom, a gap!" said Liv. Liv got mud. Tom got rocks. Pat, pat, pat!
Liv and the Gap, page 4
4Liv and Tom did fill the gap. Then the pond was big. "Liv, you did it!" said Tom. Tom and Liv sat on the dam in the sun.
Circle or highlight all the short A words in the story above. How many did you find?

Comprehension Questions

After reading, ask these questions to check understanding:

  1. Where was Tom’s pond?
  2. What did Liv see in the dam?
  3. Where did Tom and Liv sit at the end?
Keep practicing
Practice Short A with 10 more free worksheets

Picture worksheets to read, match and spell short a words, plus this story's word sort, phrasing cards and word search.

Get the Short A worksheets →
Liv and the Gap printed mini-book cover Download Mini-Book
Full-color picture book • Print, cut & staple • No signup required
Read-aloud version (one page per sheet, for projecting)
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Reader Details

Phonics Skill Short A
Grade Level Kindergarten
Phase CVC Foundations
Worksheets Short A Worksheets

Target Words

cat bat hat mat sat tap cap nap map van can ran

Sight Words

the is a and to was it on his had her he my said

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Did they understand it?
One-page stories to read, then circle, color or draw

Free kindergarten reading comprehension sheets, built from the same short-vowel words as this book. Black and white, with answer keys.

See the kindergarten sheets →
← Deb's Yams Tam and the Lid →

About This Decodable Reader

“Liv and the Gap” is a free printable decodable reader designed for kindergarten students practicing short a phonics patterns. This mini-book uses phonetically controlled vocabulary so beginning readers can successfully sound out nearly every word in the story, building confidence and reinforcing the specific phonics skills they're learning.

The free PDF is a full-color illustrated mini-book: a cover, four picture pages with one or two lines of story text each, and a back page listing the short a words, high-frequency words, and discussion questions. Print the three sheets, cut each one in half along the dashed line, and staple — your child has a real little book to hold. A read-aloud version with one large page per sheet is also included for projecting to the whole class.

This reader is part of our collection of free decodable readers organized by phonics skill and aligned with the Science of Reading. For additional practice with short a patterns, try our short a phonics worksheets which include word sorts, phrasing practice cards, and rapid naming charts.