Children's Books for 2nd Graders

Steve has caught a big fat cod, and he is sure he can cook it over a roaring fire. But is raw fish unsafe until it is properly cooked? And when his first try ends with very hot fingers, will he repeat the same mistake the next day, or find a wild new way to heat his lunch? Join Steve for a sizzling, smoky adventure! This decodable reader practises words with prefixes, including ‘preheat,’ ‘react,’ ‘rebuild,’ ‘unsafe,’ and ‘dismay.’

On the ridge, the savanna is silent until Naisula spots a strange rope trailing down from the clouds, swaying in the breeze. What could be climbing down to the Maasai from the sky? When the old rope starts to fray, can one brave girl hold Enkai’s gift fast before the last of it falls? A warm retelling of a beloved legend about courage and love. This Bookbot level practises the ’ee’ sound with words like ‘deep’, ‘see’, ’three’, ‘breeze’, and ‘cheek’.

One perfect purple-and-gold towel, one big gust of wind, and suddenly everyone in town seems to want a turn! Who will grab it first when it sails off the washing line? Why does Dawn hug it so tight, and what on earth is Paul doing with it on the porch? Can our little hero ever get that precious towel back? This decodable reader practises the aw/au phonogram in words like ‘dawn,’ ‘saw,’ ‘yawn,’ and ‘shawl.’

Deep in a glowing cave, Steve spots something he’s never seen before - two grinning little creatures blinking up at him from a hidden pool! Who are these soggy new friends, and will they like the cosy pond Steve builds back home? Can one explorer really become an axolotl expert overnight? Join Steve for a squishy, splashy adventure full of surprises. This decodable reader practises le/al/el/il endings in words such as ’little,’ ‘puddle,’ ‘gentle,’ ‘sparkle,’ and ‘wriggle.’

High up on his tower, Ned spots a huddle of zombies shuffling toward the castle wall - but can a brand new bow and a fistful of arrows really take them down from way up here? When every single shot tumbles wide, will Ned give up, or will The Book know exactly what he needs? Join Ned as he learns that zero is just a starting number. This decodable reader practises the le/al/el/il pattern in words such as ‘castle,’ ‘bundle,’ ‘signal,’ and ’little.’

A little bird has just flown into a brand-new town, and he doesn’t know a soul! Can he make friends by lending a wing to a fly-bothered rhino, a toothache-y croc, a giraffe with a stick stuck in his fur, and a hungry zebra on lion watch? And when his new pals finally offer to help HIM back, what on earth will he ask for? This cheerful decodable reader practises words with prefixes such as ‘invite,’ ‘detect,’ ‘dismiss,’ ‘unwell,’ and ‘reward.’

Bon’s summer holiday is off to a terrible start - Mum is busy, Dad has gone to work, and Su won’t even look up from her paper folding. Could the most boring summer in history be about to begin? Just when Bon is ready to give up, a wild idea starts to float into his head, and it involves Butter, the family parrot! This decodable reader focuses on the ‘oa’ sound in words like ‘float,’ ‘groan,’ ‘road,’ ‘oak,’ and ‘oats.’

Jack is brilliant at scaring crows and carving pumpkins, but caring for a cat? That’s brand new! Meow just stares with big round eyes, refusing every snack Jack offers - seeds, berries, even fancy salad. What does this mysterious little hunter actually want to eat? Can Jack solve the puzzle before Meow lives on bugs forever? Join him on a food-finding adventure full of surprises. This decodable reader practises ci/si/ti making /sh/ in words such as ‘attention,’ ‘mission,’ ‘passion,’ ‘patience,’ and ‘satisfaction.’

Ned has built a cosy shed, but there’s one big problem - he has no bed! Can a magic book really teach him how to make one? When Ned learns he needs wool from the shyest sheep on the hillside, his plan to shout “Free haircuts!” might not go quite the way he hopes. Will Ned ever get to sleep? This decodable reader practises compound words such as ‘haircut,’ ‘hillside,’ ‘sunshine,’ and ‘bedtime.’

Kalulu the hare watches Nzou the giant elephant drive every other thirsty animal off the last green meadow. But how can a small, quiet hare outwit the loudest, proudest beast along the great river? When Kalulu proposes a contest and Nzou booms his easy agreement, who really holds the cleverer plan? A tale of wit, fairness, and knowing when to ask for help. This Bookbot story practises two syllable words split between two vowels, with lesson words like ‘giant’, ‘quiet’, ‘prior’, and ’triumph’.