Children's Books for 2nd Graders
Look What I Can Do!
Can you cook and clean and ride a bike all in one day? One little helper is bursting with big plans and wants Mom to see every single thing they can do - from mixing lunch in the bowl to hanging clothes in a row and even pedalling a shiny bike. But will the bravest trick of all go to plan, or will something surprise them both? This decodable reader practises the ‘ow’ phonogram in words like ‘bowl,’ ‘down,’ ‘grow,’ and ‘wow.’
Lost in the Dark
Drew is sure he can race to the brook and back before dinner - easy! But when the wind picks up, the mist rolls in, and the forest turns dark and full of strange snaps and cracks, will a quick shortcut turn into a scary night up an old elm tree? Can a warm golden glow lead four friends safely home? This decodable reader practises the ’ew’ sound in words like ‘drew,’ ‘blew,’ ‘knew,’ ‘flew,’ and ‘phew.’
Make It Yourself, Ned!
It’s Ned’s birthday, and The Book has planned something special - but Ned will have to make it himself! Can Ned cut wheat from the patches, dash after chickens for eggs, and milk two enormous cows without spilling a drop? What could all these ingredients possibly become? Join Ned on a hilarious birthday adventure full of surprises, silliness, and a very bossy book. This decodable reader practises es plurals in words like “beaches,” “bunches,” “dashes,” and “snatches.”
Me First!
Rabbit has a big plan: he’s going to be FIRST at everything in his new class! First to settle in, first in the race, first to finish his painting, first at sums - easy, right? But somehow Bee, Turtle, Dog, and Owl keep beating him to it. Poor Rabbit starts to tremble. Could there be something special he’s first at after all? This decodable reader practises the le/al/el/il sound in words such as ‘gentle,’ ’turtle,’ ‘sparkle,’ ‘pencil,’ and ‘people.’
Mer
Jack has never caught a fish - not one, not ever - but today feels different. With a bent oak branch, a bit of string, and Meow padding beside him along the coast, he casts his line into the foam and waits. But what happens when the line yanks back hard, and the thing he pulls from the sea is definitely not a fish? This decodable reader practises the ‘oa’ sound in words like ‘boat,’ ‘coast,’ ‘foam,’ ‘oak,’ and ‘road.’
Microbes
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 practises 2-syllable open words such as ’tiny,’ ‘over,’ ‘data,’ and ‘going.’
More Coal!
Dr. Can Do’s furnaces are hungry, and his coal is almost gone! The villagers can’t help, and the mine is a long, dusty walk away. But what if a clever inventor could build something faster than feet? Can Dr. Can Do lay the perfect track, spark every torch, and zoom to the mine before his work is left undone? Hammers up - it’s time to invent! This decodable reader practises prefixes in words like ‘dislikes,’ ‘recharge,’ ‘redo,’ and ’nonstop.’
My Cat Won't Eat!
Dot has a brand new cat, and he looks so sad she’s sure he must be starving! But what does a fussy little cat actually want to eat? Dot boldly tries bread, then juicy apples, then a freshly cooked egg - and nothing works! Will Dot ever figure out the secret to her clever cat’s tummy before the day is done? This decodable reader practises suffixes in words such as ’lovely,’ ‘boldly,’ ‘brightly,’ ‘hopeful,’ and ‘cheerful.’
My Comb
On a sunny morning at the farm, a boy spots Rooster’s magnificent red comb gleaming like a royal crown - and suddenly he wants one too! But Rooster says no, Peacock struts away, and even Heron refuses to share. Will anyone give him a crown of his very own? When nobody will help, what clever idea might save the day? This decodable reader practises the ‘ow’ sound through words such as ‘crown,’ ‘down,’ ‘frown,’ ‘show,’ and ’now.’
Joy and the Boy!
Joy has been counting down the days, and today is finally the day her cousin Roy is coming to stay! Can she really show him the best day ever? From the golden grain fields to a slippery catch in the stream, and a warm, crispy snack that makes their eyes go wide, this is a day packed with surprises - but what will turn out to be the very best part? This decodable reader practises oi/oy words such as ‘joy,’ ‘hoist,’ ’noise,’ ‘moist,’ and ‘voice.’