Friendship Books for 2nd Graders
Off Flew the Calf!
On the night of the big parade, Abi has one job: stay beside Kobi, the tiny white buffalo calf who trusts him more than anyone. But the crowd is loud, the lanterns are bright, and Abi’s stomach is rumbling louder than the cheers. What happens when a promise meets a plate of hot food? Can Abi find his little friend before it’s too late? This decodable reader practises the ’ew’ sound in words like ‘chew,’ ‘drew,’ ‘flew,’ and ‘knew.’
Zom and the Husks
Zom the zombie has a brilliant plan - he’s going to march right up to the husks and make brand new friends! Surely they’ll love his big wave, his cactus gift, and his very cool camel, right? But when the husks suddenly react and race toward the beach, Zom discovers something awful waiting in the sand. Can one small zombie face eight husks alone? This decodable reader practises vowel team syllables in words such as ‘biome,’ ‘chaos,’ ‘quiet,’ ‘react,’ and ’triumph.’
Zom and the Rainbow Rabbits
What happens when Zom spots a rainbow rabbit on his quiet walk and tastes its strange, fizzy milk? With a wild idea bubbling in his head, he sets out to create the tastiest treat the villagers have ever seen - a giant batch of rainbow cake pops! But will the villagers react the way Zom hopes, or will his grand plan end in total chaos? This decodable reader practises vowel team syllables in words like ‘quiet,’ ‘create,’ ‘giant,’ ‘riot,’ and ’trio.’
Gad and the Claws
Meet Gad, the friendliest ghost in the forest - but nobody wants to play with him! Can a lonely ghost find friends when everyone takes one look at his green skin and runs away screaming? Gad tries hiding in coconuts, floating with balloons, and dodging a very sharp-clawed cat. Will the kids ever stop being scared long enough to see how funny he really is? This decodable reader practices the aw/au phonogram in words like ‘yawn,’ ‘claws,’ ‘pause,’ and ‘haunt.’
Go, Squad, Go!
Meet the squad - five kids, one dog, and zero chance of losing! At least, that’s what they tell everyone before the big championship match. But when the other team’s bus pulls up and out steps the biggest, tallest, most serious-looking squad ever, can our heroes really back up their big talk? With a speedy runner, a tricky dribbler, and a header who practices every lunchtime, this team has skills - but will teamwork be enough? This decodable reader practices es plurals in words like ‘dashes,’ ‘rushes,’ ‘catches,’ and ‘matches.’
Best Pals
What makes a best pal truly special? The Girl thinks being best pals with Hedgehog is the simplest thing in the world - they scribble rainbows, share ice cream right down the middle, and giggle at nothing at all. But what happens when school feels jumbled up, or when a splashy afternoon turns into a silly squabble? Can a pancake really say sorry better than words? This decodable reader practices le/al/el/il words such as ‘gentle,’ ‘giggle,’ ‘sparkle,’ ‘purple,’ and ‘marvel.’
Come Back, You Cheeky Wolf!
Jill has twelve bones and a big plan - tame a wolf from the glade! But this cheeky little white wolf keeps snatching bones and bolting into the trees. Can Jill outsmart a wolf who seems to be playing her own game? Will there be any bones left by sundown, or will she walk home empty-handed? This decodable reader builds confidence with 3+ syllable words such as ‘afternoon,’ ‘caterpillar,’ ’eleven,’ and ‘honestly.’
Crow, Stop Singing!
Crow has been flying since daybreak, and he has one big dream: to find friends and wow them with his amazing singing voice. But when he opens his beak, his song sounds more like a firetruck siren than a sweet tune! The animals run for it. Can Crow find a way to share his music without scaring everyone off? This decodable reader practices compound words such as ‘daybreak,’ ‘backyard,’ ‘drumsticks,’ and ‘rooftop.’
Coral Crisis
Zom has spent weeks telling Jack and Skel about the amazing dolphin city beneath the waves - coral towers, shell-paved streets, and dolphins doing backflips through seaweed hoops. But when the three friends finally dive down to see it, something is terribly wrong. Why is one dolphin lying exhausted on the ocean floor? What are those spiny green creatures tearing the reef apart? Can Zom and his friends save the city before it’s lost forever? This decodable reader practices 2-syllable open words such as ‘about,’ ‘begin,’ ‘over,’ and ‘ocean.’
Don't Run, Bring Bones!
Ned strolls through the green trees without a care in the world - but what happens when three hungry wolves leap out with teeth bared? Ned flees home at top speed, heart pounding, but soon a wild idea takes root. What if those snarling beasts could become friends? With a bag of bones and a very nervous Book at his side, Ned sets off on a plan that just might change everything. This decodable reader practices the ’ee’ sound in words like ‘green,’ ‘feet,’ ‘sweet,’ and ’three.’