Children's Books for 2nd Graders
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.”
Ned Forgot the Door!
Ned has logs, planks, and a magical floating book telling him exactly what to do - so why isn’t he listening? With the pink sunset fading fast and strange groans drifting across the cornfield, Ned is busy building the greatest shed ever. But has he forgotten something very, very important about his doorway? Can he fix it before nightfall? This decodable reader practises compound words such as ‘cornfield,’ ‘daylight,’ ‘doorway,’ ‘sunset,’ and ’nightfall.’
Pig
Something stinky is hiding at the playground, and one curious girl is determined to sniff it out! What could be making that terrible pong behind the bush? She finds a muddy, grumpy, grinning beast and decides right away that it’s the best friend she’s ever met - but how will she sneak it past Mum at sunset? Will this smelly pal get to stay? This decodable reader practises compound words such as ‘playground,’ ‘downhill,’ ‘hallway,’ ‘bathtub,’ and ‘sunset.’
Rooster
When a grumpy rooster is dumped in town by an unkind farmer, who will feed him, shelter him, and love him? And when shadowy strangers creep toward his new family’s farmhouse in the dead of night, can one brave bird crow loud enough to save the day? Puff up your chest and find out why this rooster might just be the bravest bird in town! This decodable reader practises words with prefixes such as ‘detect,’ ‘intrude,’ ‘invite,’ ‘prevent,’ and ‘unkind.’
Tag
Steve is it, and Alex has vanished into a wide-open plains biome full of tall grass, old ruins, and a giant tree perfect for hiding behind. Can the self-proclaimed greatest seeker ever sniff her out? So far he has found a waggy dog, a grumpy cat, and a chicken stuck in a hole - but no Alex. Will Steve spot her before she sneaks to a new hiding spot? This decodable reader practises vowel team syllables in words like ‘being,’ ‘biome,’ ‘creates,’ and ‘quiet.’
The Iron Golem
When Jack hears a loud clank near his farm, he climbs a hill and finds something incredible - a giant iron golem walking in sad little circles, stuck in a loop with nowhere to go. Can one small boy really move a creature made of solid metal? Will pushing, steering, or tossing pebbles be enough, or will Jack need a braver plan? This decodable reader practises le/al/el/il endings in words like ’little,’ ‘ankle,’ ‘metal,’ ‘pebbles,’ and ‘simple.’
Where Did the Gold Go?
Jill walks into town with nothing but a cow, a frown, and a tale of stolen gold. Can anyone help her keep her treasure safe from sneaky raiders? When she knocks on Dr. Can Do’s door in the pouring rain, he grabs his hammer with a grin and a bold plan. Will his secret hideaway be deep enough to fool every thief? This decodable reader practises the ai/ay phonogram in words like ‘rain,’ ‘day,’ ‘pay,’ ’laid,’ and ‘stay.’
A Rod
Alex has a shiny new fishing rod and she’s already racing for the water - but poor Steve doesn’t have one! Can he scrounge up sticks and string before Alex hauls in every fish in the sea? And when his search turns up two sad, broken rods instead of crafting bits, is his fishing day sunk for good? Dive in and find out! This decodable reader practises 2-syllable open words such as ‘before,’ ‘begins,’ ‘open,’ ‘over,’ and ’taken.’
Anansi and the Dark Rock
Deep in the Ashanti forest, Kwaku Anansi finds a strange moss-covered rock that hums with magic and can knock any creature fast asleep with just seven words. Soon every animal wakes up dazed, with their dinner mysteriously gone. Who is behind the thefts, and can clever little Bush Deer figure out the secret before the whole forest goes hungry? This Bookbot level practises two-syllable words with prefixes, including ‘return’, ’explain’, ‘decline’, ‘unseen’ and ‘undo’.
Birds Like Me Don't Fly
What happens when a big bird with tiny wings dreams of soaring through the sky? Every day, our hero daydreams of aeroplanes, spotlights, and cheering fans - but one tumble on the hilltop leaves feathers ruffled and hopes crushed. Can a backpack full of courage, a homemade blueprint, and a whole lot of cardboard prove the doubters wrong? A heartwarming tale about chasing your own path. This decodable reader practises compound words such as ‘backpack,’ ‘daydream,’ ‘hilltop,’ ‘sunshine,’ and ‘blueprint.’