Children's Books for 2nd Graders

Anansi is caught, and Leopard means to eat him at dusk. But how does one small spider outwit a hungry leopard guarding the only way out? When Anansi finds a bundle of fiery pepper in the den, a clever idea begins to spin. Can a whisper about seasoning and a leopard’s proud reputation buy enough time to escape? This Bookbot book practises reading longer words of three or more syllables, like ‘unfortunate’, ‘reputation’, ‘magnificent’, and ‘satisfaction’.

Dog has found a mysterious tin sitting in the middle of the floor - but what could be inside? A treat? A toy? When Dog tips it over, yellow paint goes everywhere, and soon Cat is splattered too! Can two very messy pets sneak past Pam on Art Day without ruining her beautiful blank canvas, or is disaster about to strike? This decodable reader practises suffixes through words like ‘gladly,’ ‘proudly,’ ‘swiftly,’ ‘breathless,’ and ‘painter.’

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 practises 2-syllable open words such as ‘about,’ ‘begin,’ ‘over,’ and ‘ocean.’

It’s harvest day, and every single mango matters! Can you help balance the baskets, climb the trees, and keep the fruit safe from hungry insects and wobbly cousins? From the farm to the picnic blanket to the busy market, golden mangoes roll and tumble everywhere - but whatever you do, don’t drop that mango! Will every last one make it safely into the truck? This decodable reader practises VC/CV syllables in words like ‘basket,’ ‘mango,’ ‘picnic,’ and ‘farmer.’

Joan’s little house sits by a quiet forest road, and she longs to explore the shadows beyond the trees. But when a white deer steps out of the woods and beckons her to follow, will she remember her mother’s warning? What wonders - and what dangers - wait along the path? Joan is about to find out she’s not alone in the forest. This decodable reader practises the ‘oa’ sound in words like ‘coat,’ ‘road,’ ‘roam,’ and ‘soaks.’

Ned and The Book are heading back into the cave, and this time they’ve brought a torch. But what happens when the pathway suddenly stops at the edge of a huge, dark hole? Can Ned find a way across before the creatures below make him their next meal? And what treasure could possibly be worth such a scary trip underground? This decodable reader practises compound words such as ‘breakfast,’ ‘pathway,’ ‘sunlight,’ and ‘doorway.’

Ned thinks the forest is safe - until a pack of hungry wolves comes charging out of the shadows! Can a boy with nothing but a bag of bones really turn scary wolves into loyal friends? And when night falls and the zombies arrive, will his wild new plan actually work? Join Ned and his magic book for a howlingly fun adventure. This decodable reader practises VC/CV syllables in words like ‘rabbit,’ ‘forest,’ ‘happen,’ and ‘sudden.’

On a sunny hillside, a curious boy holds a heavy rock in one hand and a soft feather in the other. Which one will hit the ground first? And just how much heavier is that rock, really? With Dad’s help, a flask of water, and a set of scales, he sets out to weigh everything from feathers to the whole planet Earth! This decodable reader practises compound words such as ‘hillside,’ ‘driveway,’ ‘sunshine,’ ‘raindrop,’ and ‘outweigh.’

Deep in a dark cave, Ned’s metal armour sparkles as he swings his pickaxe, dreaming of treasure. But what happens when a little chest holds something stranger than gold - a floppy leather lump? And when Ned spots a beautiful white horse in a nearby stable, can he learn to be gentle enough to ride it, or will he tumble right off? This decodable reader practises the le/al/el/il phonogram in words like ‘apple,’ ‘saddle,’ ‘gentle,’ ‘metal,’ and ‘signal.’

Dog and Cat were the very best of friends - napping under the big tree, sharing meals, and batting their little ball back and forth. But when the people scoop Cat up to live inside the house, Dog is left alone in the yard. Can two friends find their way back to each other after angry words drive them apart? This decodable reader practises prefixes in words such as ‘dislike,’ ‘indoors,’ ‘retreat,’ ‘undone,’ and ‘unfair.’