Children's Books for 2nd Graders
Wanjikũ and the Stranger
Wanjikũ is the cleverest girl in her village, so why does the handsome stranger she marries only ever visit at dusk, always eating with his back turned? When the path to his home grows darker and the trees grow thicker, what will she find waiting inside? Can her little brother’s warning save her before it’s too late? This Bookbot Level S2 story practises two-syllable words with suffixes, like ‘stranger’, ‘monster’, ‘firmly’, and ‘bravely’.
Tano and a Drum
The village of Shela has fallen on a hungry year, with failed rains and fish that hide in the deep. Then Tano’s stick strikes something buried in the wet sand: an old drum carved with waves and hands, and a rule scratched into its base. Three beats to ask, one to say thank you, and only one wish a day. But what happens when a bigger boy grabs the drum and breaks the rule? This Bookbot level practises open syllables in two-syllable words like ‘magic’, ‘secret’, ‘silence’, ‘panic’, and ‘over’.
The Pumpkin Patch
Zom’s pumpkins are the biggest, plumpest crop he’s ever grown, and he’s already dreaming of the delicious cakes he’ll bake. But when one pumpkin vanishes overnight without a single footprint left behind, his suspicion grows. Who - or what - is sneaking through the patch after dark? Can Zom and Skel stake out the garden and catch the mysterious thief before every last pumpkin disappears? This decodable reader practises ci/si/ti making /sh/ in words such as ‘attention,’ ‘delicious,’ ‘suspicion,’ and ‘determination.’
Trees Don't Take Naps!
What happens when a girl decides she’s a tree and trees absolutely, positively do NOT take naps? With leaf-hair dancing in the breeze, she zooms past bushes, bosses a whole row of trees around, and hides from Dad in the sneakiest spots. But what happens when the path disappears and her legs start feeling oh-so-heavy? This decodable reader practises ci/si/ti making /sh/ in words like ‘fraction,’ ‘attention,’ ‘sensation,’ ‘mission,’ and ‘motionless.’
Wait! Don't Go!
Today is Sen’s birthday, and the giant boy has crawled up from his underground cave with one enormous wish: to find a friend. But when three village children spot him patting a shiny little bike, everything goes CRUNCH! Can a boy with banana-sized fingers and a thunder-loud voice ever show the kids he only wants to play? Will anyone be brave enough to come back? This decodable reader practises suffixes in words such as ‘boldly,’ ‘gently,’ ‘friendly,’ ‘sadly,’ and ‘slowly.’
Wait for Me, Dad!
Dad rides off to work every morning - but what if a little girl decided to chase him all the way across the world? Could a scooter be fast enough? A bus? A digger? From zooming roads to splashing waves, one determined girl refuses to give up until she spots something huge on the horizon. Which ride would YOU pick first? This decodable reader practises suffixes in words like ‘faster,’ ‘proudly,’ ’tightly,’ and ‘fearless.’
Kojo and the Crazy Book
Kojo has a big reading test on Friday, and his stomach is full of bees! But when he sounds out the first word, something very strange happens - the word leaps right off the page! Can Kojo read his way to a whole crew of friends before the test? What magical creature might pop out next? This decodable reader practises 2-syllable open words like ‘cosy,’ ‘frozen,’ ‘open,’ and ’tiny.’
Who's Playing Up There?
Look up! Can you spot a human figure dancing in the clouds? When a cloud man waves down at three curious kids, a whole sky-band joins in with music, jigs, and opera singing. But what happens when the drummer pounds too hard and the sky turns dark? Will the children make it home before the storm? This decodable reader practises 2-syllable open words such as ‘human,’ ‘music,’ ’lady,’ and ’tiny.’
No Rest in the Hot Day
Long ago, the Sun and the Moon shone together, blazing side by side until the tired world had never once slept. What could the gentle Moon possibly do when her proud brother refused to share the sky? Could she soften her fierce light enough to bring the very first night, and what would happen to her calm silver face along the way? This Bookbot level practises two-syllable words split between two vowels, with lesson words like ‘quiet’, ‘giant’, ‘create’, ‘beings’, and ‘react’.
Zom Builds A Doorway
When Skel’s house gets too crowded for a skeleton to catch a quiet nap, Zom offers a deal: go on a trip, and he’ll build an amazing add-on while pet-sitting Bones and Starfang. But can a grumpy spider learn to trust a new room? And will Zom really finish the whole house, or just the spookiest entrance ever seen? This decodable reader practises vowel team syllables in words such as ‘quiet,’ ‘create,’ ‘giant,’ ‘ruin,’ and ’triumph.’