Children's Books for 2nd Graders

Simba the Lion rules the Zambezi, and every animal hides in the reeds when he roars. But when clever Kalulu the Hare is caught carrying his supper, he offers the greedy king an even bigger feast instead. Where is Kalulu really leading him, and can a small hare outwit a mighty lion? Read on to find out! This Bookbot EE level practises the ’ee’ sound, with lesson words like ‘deep’, ‘reeds’, ’trees’, ‘feet’ and ‘deer’.

Kintu lives all alone on the wide green hills with only his cow for company, longing for something he cannot yet name. When a kind sky-god’s daughter climbs down through the clouds to meet him, will her father let them be together? What impossible test awaits, and what happens when a tiny bee walks a slow circle across his hand? A warm African folk tale about love, loss, and the power of the smallest deed. This Bookbot story practises the /ʃ/ sound with words like ‘action’, ‘special’, ‘patient’, and ‘question’.

When a hungry frog snaps up one little wasp for breakfast, he thinks he’s found the perfect snack - but what happens when a snake grabs the frog, a mongoose grabs the snake, and an eagle grabs them all? Can one tiny wasp possibly save this dangling chain of trouble from becoming lunch? Hold on tight for a wild ride through the sky! A decodable reader practising le/al/el/il words such as ’little,’ ’tangle,’ ’tremble,’ ‘humble,’ and ’eagle.’

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.’

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.’

What if your hair could be anything you wanted - a sun umbrella, a cosy scarf, even a cheeky bird’s nest? Join one hair-loving kid and her funny little dog through every season, from wild autumn runs to snowy winter walks. Will she keep her long curls forever, or try something brand new? Flip the page and find out! This decodable reader practises compound words such as ‘hairbrush,’ ‘birdhouse,’ ‘snowflake,’ and ‘sidewalk.’

Aidan has saved every coin for his very first wand - but the only one he can afford is old, crooked, and a little bit grumpy. When he aims it at the sky and shouts for a toy train, ribbons fly everywhere, sweets rain down, and a real storm rolls in! Can Aidan figure out how to make this strange old wand actually listen? A playful decodable reader practising ai/ay words such as ‘day,’ ‘play,’ ’train,’ ‘sails,’ and ‘spray.’

Tom the Baker makes the best pies in Canville - but when something smashes the village guards to bits, is a sneaky thief to blame? As brutes creep through the night, Tom grieves for his cosy shop and wonders if anything can keep the village safe. Can a great stone wall save Tom’s pies before disaster strikes again? This decodable reader practises the ‘ie’ sound in words like ‘cried,’ ‘field,’ ’thief,’ and ‘pies.’

Fish has decided he is done being a fish. Swimming is boring, bubbles are boring, and being wet all the time feels deeply unfair! So when a grinning cat by the shore claims to be his biggest fan, Fish can hardly believe his luck. But is this cat really the friend he’s been hoping for, or is something fishy going on? This decodable reader practises words with prefixes, including “dislike,” “misfit,” “pretend,” “return,” and “unsure.”

Ned used to hide under his blankets when the monsters came out at night. But not tonight! Tonight, Ned has a shiny sword, a brave heart, and a plan to stand his ground. Can one small farmer really take on a zombie, a sneaky skeleton, and a giant spider all by himself? What will he find waiting when the shadows grow long? This decodable reader practises es plurals in words like ‘crashes,’ ‘crouches,’ ‘dashes,’ ‘hisses,’ and ‘flashes.’