Children's Books for 2nd Graders

Zara has one wild dream - to discover a brand new microbe that nobody has ever found before. When a stinky green cloud rolls out of the lab fridge, most people pinch their noses and run. But Zara? She leans in and sniffs. Could a rotten piece of fruit really be hiding a secret creature waiting to be named? This decodable reader practices 2-syllable open words such as ’tiny,’ ‘over,’ ‘data,’ and ‘going.’

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to wander across a sea of golden sand? Step into the Minecraft desert, where the sun blazes overhead and shimmering dunes stretch on forever. Where do husks and rabbits hide when the heat gets too fierce? What treasures lie buried beneath the sandstone, and what happens once the sun slips away? Discover a biome full of secrets waiting to be explored! This decodable reader practices the ‘igh’ phonogram in words such as ‘bright,’ ‘high,’ ’night,’ and ‘sight.’

Bird has built the most perfect nest in the tallest tree - so what could possibly go wrong? When a bumping elephant sends her home tumbling, Bird tries again on a sturdy wall, but trouble finds her there too. Will she ever find a safe place to rest, high above the world? When a sky full of balloons drifts past her beak, Bird gets a wild, wonderful idea. This decodable reader practices the ‘igh’ sound in words like ‘bright,’ ‘flight,’ ‘high,’ and ‘sight.’

Have you ever wondered what might be hiding in the middle of a big, quiet lake? When Ken and his friend grab a boat and paddle out to explore, every shadow and shape starts to look a little spooky. Is that an evil devil with claws? A giant fish? Or something even scarier rising from the water? Hold on tight and paddle faster! This decodable reader practices le/al/el/il words such as ‘paddling,’ ‘devil,’ ’little,’ ‘middle,’ and ’travel.’

Brat Cat has chickens to feed, sheep to brush, and a whole List of chores waiting - so why is there an arrow sticking out of her shoulder? Up on the hill, a gray pillager is aiming his crossbow right at her farm, and Brat Cat is NOT in the mood. Can one very grumpy cat grab her bow and send this troublemaker packing before her List falls apart? This decodable reader practices es plurals in words like ‘crashes,’ ‘dashes,’ ’launches,’ and ‘watches.’

One enormous elephant. One little red cart. And one very stuck situation! Can Roy budge the elephant, or will he find something even better along the way? From red hens and whooshing bubbles to giant ants and dancing spiders, Roy counts his way through the wildest day ever - but what happens when he reaches ten? This decodable reader practices the oi/oy phonogram through words like ‘choice,’ ‘join,’ ‘joy,’ ’noise,’ and ’toy.’

Ned is lost in a dismal swamp, his metal armor clanking and slimes bouncing everywhere - but what happens when a strange little pig starts following him home? Could Ned really saddle up a pig and ride it around the yard? With the Book grumbling and Milky watching in horror, Ned is about to try something truly ridiculous. This decodable reader practices le/al/el/il words such as ‘saddle,’ ‘final,’ ‘bubbles,’ ‘metal,’ and ‘dangle.’

Ned has rowed for days and days with one mission: to find the perfect spot to build a real house. But when he lands on a sandy beach, he discovers a talking book that’s been waiting three hundred years to help someone like him. Will Ned listen to the instructions before he starts punching things? And what exactly is that big blobby thing hanging from the tree? This decodable reader practices ci/si/ti making /sh/ in words like “mission,” “location,” “patience,” and “instructions.”

Ned’s shed in his backyard looks a bit plain - can he jazz it up somehow? With help from his magic book, he makes a beeline for the seashore to dig up something very strange and very blue. But when he starts picking flowers in the sunshine to brighten the place up, a grumpy beehive has other ideas! Will Ned get stung, or find a clever way to escape? This decodable reader practices compound words such as ‘backyard,’ ‘beeline,’ ‘seashore,’ and ‘sunshine.’

Jack is stuck in the grumpiest mood ever, frowning at flowers, butterflies, and even the sun itself. But what happens when his friends Skel and Zom drag him deep into a bamboo forest? Could a munching panda mom, a cake-loving baby, and one enormous, slime-splattered sneeze finally crack Jack’s sour face? Get ready for giggles, gasps, and the grossest surprise in the whole forest! This decodable reader practices the igh phonogram in words like ‘bright,’ ‘flight,’ ‘fright,’ ’night,’ and ‘sight.’