Animal Books for 2nd Graders
Boys at the Milk Bar
Zom has a BIG plan - he’s going to open a milk bar and make piles of coins! Brown cows, white cows, even a pink one… but why should every bucket taste the same? With a sweet block here and a gold flask there, Zom stirs up milk in every color. But when three curious boys step up for a sip, will his wildest creation win them over - or send them running? This decodable reader practices the oi/oy phonogram in words like ‘boys,’ ‘coins,’ ‘joy,’ and ‘spoiled.’
No Room for Pokey!
Poor Pokey just wants a warm, dry spot to curl up for the night - but every bed on the street is taken! A box full of grumpy cats, a trash can with glowing eyes, and now cold rain splatting on his head. Will Pokey ever find somewhere safe to sleep? And when a storm turns scary, what will he do about the cats who said no room for him? This decodable reader practices the aw/au phonogram in words like ‘claws,’ ‘crawl,’ ‘pause,’ and ‘yawn.’
Don't Eat That Book!
Ting the mouse sneaks into houses to read books - but his little brother Tang would rather eat them! Can Ting teach Tang to love reading before the sleeping cat wakes up? And what happens when one tiny sneeze shakes the whole house? Grab a book, tiptoe quietly, and find out if two small mice can outsmart one very big cat. This decodable reader practices oi/oy words such as ‘joy,’ ’noise,’ ‘hoist,’ and ‘choice.’
Don't Run, Bring Bones!
Ned thinks the forest is safe - until a pack of hungry wolves comes charging out of the shadows! Can a boy with nothing but a bag of bones really turn scary wolves into loyal friends? And when night falls and the zombies arrive, will his wild new plan actually work? Join Ned and his magic book for a howlingly fun adventure. This decodable reader practices VC/CV syllables in words like ‘rabbit,’ ‘forest,’ ‘happen,’ and ‘sudden.’
Don't Shoot That Rabbit!
Ned is hungry, and rabbit stew sounds just perfect - but what happens when you shoot at a field of fluffy bunnies? The Book warns him to stop, yet Ned just can’t resist one more shot. Will the little rabbits hop away safely, or is something much bigger and scarier watching from the tall grass? Can Ned find a kinder way to fill his stomach? This decodable reader practices le/al/el/il words such as ’little,’ ‘middle,’ ‘wiggle,’ ‘settle,’ and ’trouble.’
Rain on My Concert!
Pang the cicada has been picked to conduct the biggest concert of the year - and absolutely nothing can go wrong! But what happens when the choir sings the wrong notes, his stomach does somersaults, and raindrops start falling at a DRY season concert? Can one nervous little conductor save the show before everything falls apart? This decodable reader practices 3+ syllable words such as ‘conductor,’ ‘cicada,’ ‘calendar,’ ‘caterpillar,’ and ‘magnificent.’
Who Made the Rain Cry?
When a sad tune drifts from a girl’s window and makes the clouds cry, who will follow the song to find her? Brown Rabbit twitches his ears, Bee buzzes into the sky, and Bird soars between raindrops - but can a garden full of critters mend such deep sadness? This decodable reader practices VC/CV syllables in words like ‘rabbit,’ ‘garden,’ ‘sunny,’ ‘problem,’ and ‘until.’
A Spot to Nap
Sloth is so tired his eyeballs feel like bowling balls, and all he wants is the perfect spot for a nap. But will the low branches be safe from a hungry giraffe? What about the buzzing bees, the grumpy snake, or that very loud bird? Can a sleepy sloth ever find somewhere quiet to curl up? This decodable reader practices VC/CV syllables through words like ‘perfect,’ ‘sudden,’ ‘problem,’ ‘hunker,’ and ‘bitten.’
Art Day
Dog has found a mysterious tin sitting in the middle of the floor - but what could be inside? A treat? A toy? When Dog tips it over, yellow paint goes everywhere, and soon Cat is splattered too! Can two very messy pets sneak past Pam on Art Day without ruining her beautiful blank canvas, or is disaster about to strike? This decodable reader practices suffixes through words like ‘gladly,’ ‘proudly,’ ‘swiftly,’ ‘breathless,’ and ‘painter.’
Bat Box
Jack the scarecrow is the worst scarecrow ever - but he’s determined to fill his quiet farm with buzzing, chirping, fluttering life! Bees settle into the hives, parrots swoop down for grubs, and Zom is thrilled. But can Jack coax shy bats to move in too, when the farm has no dark, cozy corners for them to hide? What clever plan will he hammer together? This decodable reader practices es plurals in words like ‘boxes,’ ‘branches,’ ‘bunches,’ and ‘rushes.’