Children's Books for 2nd Graders

Joy has been counting down the days, and today is finally the day her cousin Roy is coming to stay! Can she really show him the best day ever? From the golden grain fields to a slippery catch in the stream, and a warm, crispy snack that makes their eyes go wide, this is a day packed with surprises - but what will turn out to be the very best part? This decodable reader practises oi/oy words such as ‘joy,’ ‘hoist,’ ’noise,’ ‘moist,’ and ‘voice.’

Tiger thinks being alone is simply blissful - no noisy pals, no messy friends, just warm sun and peaceful quiet. But when every mouse, fawn, and bird bolts the moment she twitches an ear, her tummy starts to grumble louder and louder. Can a lone hunter really hunt with nobody around? And what happens when the forest goes completely silent? This decodable reader practises suffixes in words like ‘blissful,’ ‘proudly,’ ’tightly,’ and ’loudly.’

Dr. Can Do’s workshop is a disaster - you can’t even see the floor! Can one very grumpy inventor actually tidy up without getting distracted? When he spots a huge pile of stone he’ll never use, he hatches a wild plan involving lava, redstone, and a clever disposal device. But will tidying really stick, or will the mess creep back? This decodable reader practises the ‘ow’ sound with lesson words like ‘blow,’ ‘glow,’ ‘scowl,’ ‘howl,’ and ’throw.’

When Dr Can Do’s golden carrots run out, he dreams up a wild plan: grab a giant cactus from the desert and turn it into bone meal forever! But have you ever tried to hug a plant covered in needles? Ouch! Can one brave inventor and a wobbly donkey really make it home in one piece? This decodable reader practises 2-syllable open words such as ‘doughnut,’ ‘paper,’ ‘open,’ and ‘giant.’

Skel keeps his brick house sparkling clean, but Zom and Jack would rather flop in the grass than lift a mop. When Skel finally marches out the door, the two slackers think they’ve won - no chores, no fuss, just sunshine and naps. But what happens when the muck piles up and strange little legs start skittering through the shadows? Can the pests be stopped? This decodable reader practises the ‘igh’ phonogram in words like ‘bright,’ ‘fight,’ ’night,’ and ‘might.’

Red Bird is sure she’s the boldest, brightest, BEST bird in the yard - but is she really? Up on the hill, Yellow Bird thinks the same. Orange Bird just wants to zoom, Green Bird leads his band, and Blue Bird shoots into the sky. Then a huge gust roars in. Can six very different birds find a way to fly together? This decodable reader practises the ai/ay phonogram in words like ‘paint,’ ’trail,’ ‘stay,’ ‘sway,’ and ‘day.’

ROAR! Did you know scientists can figure out what a dinosaur ate just by looking at its teeth? Or that T-rex might have had feathers and could be related to a chicken? Join one boastful T-rex as it meets long-necked giants, pack hunters, and gentle parents - and slowly discovers there is far more to dinosaurs than size and a big set of jaws. This decodable reader practises 3+ syllable words such as ‘dinosaurs,’ ‘incredible,’ ‘velociraptor,’ and ‘unfortunately.’

Bob loves fishing at the dock - mostly because it’s the perfect spot for a nap! But what happens when something tugs hard on his line and drags him into the deep? Could the huge, hissing sea beast actually need his help? Join Bob on a wild underwater ride full of glowing eggs, tiny snakes, and a secret he’ll carry home in his hands. This decodable reader practises the ea phonogram in words like ‘beast,’ ’leaps,’ ‘great,’ and ‘dreams.’

When Deb’s cat Jack leads her to a deep hole in the yard, what could possibly be hiding at the bottom? A crab with snapping claws, that’s what - and soon one hungry visitor becomes a whole scuttling family! Can Deb catch the tiny babies before they vanish into the sand, or will her garden turn into a crab playground? This decodable reader practises the ‘ie’ phonogram in words like ‘cries,’ ‘flies,’ ‘shield,’ ‘spied,’ and ’tries.’

When Ben calls his cat for dinner, not a whisker stirs - so where has she gone? Following paw prints through the soil, Ben finds his cat perched like a queen on a huge pile of junk. Then the pile BLINKS. Then it WALKS. Can Ben rescue one very happy cat from a rubbish-munching monster that just keeps growing? This decodable reader practises the oi/oy phonogram in words such as ‘soil,’ ‘coin,’ ‘joy,’ ’noise,’ and ’toys.’