Children's Books for 2nd Graders
Jack Creates Chaos
A stranger arrives at the farm with a kiosk full of rare wares. One glowing thing hums quiet and bright - but the Trader says it carries a curse. Why would Jack grab it and run? What happens when chaos creeps into a quiet room? Can the duo undo the ruin before the whole house turns to watermelon? This decodable reader practises vowel team syllables in words like ‘chaos,’ ‘kiosk,’ ’neon,’ and ‘ruin.’
Where's My Fire?!
Dragon is sure he’s a natural. Why practice for the big fire test when he could lounge on a sunny hillside with a basket of tasty snacks? But when the day arrives, only puffs of grey smoke come out - and everyone is watching! Can a strange little chilli plant with a spicy red pepper help Dragon find his missing flame before it’s too late? This decodable reader practises VC/CV syllables in words like ‘basket,’ ‘sunset,’ ‘pepper,’ and ‘hillside.’
Kale Catches a Thief!
Something took a giant bite out of the ripest guava on the tree, and Kina and Kale are on the case! Was it a tiny caterpillar? A hopping grasshopper? A sneaky pixie with sharp little teeth? As the sun goes down and the yard grows dark, the two detectives set up camp under the branches to catch the mystery muncher red-handed. Who could the guava thief be? This decodable reader practises the ‘ie’ phonogram in words like ‘cries,’ ‘flies,’ ‘spied,’ and ’thief.’
Who Drew That?
When Shawn falls asleep with a brand new box of pencils, something extraordinary begins to stir. The lid creaks open, the pencils tiptoe out, and they discover a book full of drawings - but every page is grey! Can a box of colourful pencils fix a black-and-white world before morning? And what will Shawn say when he wakes at dawn? This decodable reader practises the aw/au phonogram in words like ‘dawn,’ ‘draw,’ ‘yawn,’ and ‘fault.’
Who Stole My Shoe?
Poor Caterpillar has lost his favourite shoe, and with so many feet to cover, one bare foot just will not do! Was it stolen? Did it wiggle away on its own? He asks Frog, Grasshopper, and Crab for help, but every shoe they offer is wrong in a new and wobbly way. Will he ever find the perfect fit? This decodable reader practises 3+ syllable words such as “caterpillar,” “yesterday,” “fortunately,” and “butterfly.”
How Did My Mill Come Down?
Dr Can Do has built the grandest windmill the town has ever seen - but when morning comes, the sails lie smashed across the lawn! There’s no wind, no storm, no clouds in the sky, so who could have wrecked it? As Doc and Jill rebuild plank by plank, a strange howl rises in the night and the sails begin to spin. Will Doc catch the sneaky culprit in the act? This decodable reader practises the ‘ow’ sound in words like ‘frown,’ ‘growl,’ ‘howl,’ and ‘brown.’
Sun Calls to Water
Long, long ago, before your grandmother’s grandmother was born, the Sun and the Moon lived on the earth in the finest house on the plain, with a door that was ’never’ closed. So when their oldest friend Water finally comes to visit, what happens when a whole ocean of creatures pours through the doorway? Can Sun and Moon climb high enough to escape? This Bookbot Level S4 book practises two-syllable words split between consonants, with lesson words like ‘welcome’, ‘absurd’, ‘mountain’, ‘follows’, and ‘shining’.
Tortoise Must Stay
Why is Tortoise flying through the sky with the birds, and what happens when he just can’t hold his tongue? Long ago, Tortoise had a smooth, perfect shell and a mouth that never stopped. When a drought sends the birds north to a great feast, clever Tortoise finds a way to join them high above the veld, if only he can stay silent. Will he manage it? This Bookbot EE level practises the /iː/ sound in words like ‘flee’, ’trees’, ‘speed’, ‘keep’ and ‘feels’.
You Are Not a Mouse!
Tik the mouse has found the perfect house - quiet, cosy, and empty. But when he tugs on a strange rubbery rope, something squeaks back! Who is this tiny round creature with big ears and a cord for a tail? Can it really be a mouse too? And when a huge cat comes padding through the door, will these two very different mice find a way to scare it off? This decodable reader practises the ‘ou’ sound in words like ’loud,’ ‘pounce,’ ‘shouts,’ and ‘proud.’
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.’