Children's Books for 2nd Graders

Jill needs ancient debris - and the only place to find it is the Nether! Will she join the Mage and Doc on a wild trip through a portal of swirling light? The Mage grins with joy at the thought of riding big beasts across bubbling lava, but Jill has a better idea. Can clever bridges spoil the danger before it ruins the whole quest? This decodable reader practises the oi/oy phonogram in words like ‘join,’ ‘joy,’ ‘choice,’ and ‘coils.’

The Mage has a secret - his magic just won’t sit still! It fizzes, crackles, and bounces around inside him until he simply has to let a little out. But what happens when “just one spell” turns into walls of stone, spiky shelves, and chickens in all the wrong places? And who is waiting in the doorway when his pranks finally catch up with him? This decodable reader practises the ‘oa’ sound in words like ‘moan,’ ‘groan,’ ’loaf,’ ‘foam,’ and ‘oath.’

Step into the leafy world of Minecraft forests, where towering oaks and birches stretch high above your head! What creeps between the shadowy trunks when the sun goes down? Why do players need trees so badly, and what happens if we chop down too many in the real world? From gathering seeds to spotting mobs hiding in the green, this adventure shows why forests matter everywhere. This decodable reader practises the ’ee’ sound in words like ‘creep,’ ‘green,’ ’trees,’ ‘see,’ and ‘seeds.’

Poor Pokey just wants a warm, dry spot to curl up for the night - but every bed on the street is taken! A box full of grumpy cats, a trash can with glowing eyes, and now cold rain splatting on his head. Will Pokey ever find somewhere safe to sleep? And when a storm turns scary, what will he do about the cats who said no room for him? This decodable reader practises the aw/au phonogram in words like ‘claws,’ ‘crawl,’ ‘pause,’ and ‘yawn.’

Ned has finally grown his very first patches of wheat, and he can’t wait to fill boxes and boxes with golden stalks. But what happens when a hissing creeper sneaks onto the farm in the dead of night? Can Ned save his harvest before it all goes BOOM? With bunches of wheat on the line and a clever Book by his side, this little farmer isn’t giving up! A decodable reader practising es plurals in words like ‘boxes,’ ‘patches,’ ‘crashes,’ and ‘wishes.’

When the school bell rings in Animal Town, every mum and dad zooms off to pick up their kids - every single one except poor Mama Bear, who always arrives last. Can a bear who has never ridden before really learn to pedal? And what happens when wobbly wheels meet a brave heart and a cheering cub? Hop on and find out! This decodable reader practises suffixes in words like ’loudly,’ ‘proudly,’ ‘happiness,’ and ‘hopeless.’

Dan the monkey loves to play outside in the sunshine, leaping from branch to branch in search of the perfect crunchy leaf. But what happens when a giant fish with snapping jaws is waiting in the stream below? Can Dan dodge those teeth, or will his wild cartwheels land him headfirst into trouble? A cheeky, heart-thumping adventure full of swings, splashes, and near misses! This decodable reader builds confidence with compound words such as ‘sunshine,’ ‘daydream,’ ‘headfirst,’ and ‘midair.’

What happens when Kim goes to the market with the stickiest orange fingers in town? She wants fairy floss, a blue toy bus, a sparkly yellow skirt, and shiny sunglasses - but her gloopy hands keep getting in the way! Will Kim learn to look without touching, or will sticky trouble follow her everywhere she goes? This decodable reader focuses on the igh phonogram in words like ‘bright,’ ‘sight,’ ’tight,’ and ‘might.’

The monster came from the hills, hungry and dark, swallowing the village one soul at a time. When brave little Kwezi decides the only way to beat it is from the inside, can a boy with a breathing tube, a handful of sticks, and one small flame outsmart a creature that eats everything? Will his daring plan spark rescue, or ruin? A tense, triumphant tale of courage against the odds. This book practises the /ɔɪ/ sound with words like ‘boy’, ‘join’, ’noise’, ‘boils’, and ‘joy’.

When Mum heads to work, one clever little dog has big plans - and they definitely don’t involve staying in the yard! Can he leap the fence, find his pals, and sneak back home before anyone notices he’s gone? With wagging tails, wiggling bottoms, and a surprise sing-along next door, every day is an adventure waiting to happen. What mischief will he get up to today? This decodable reader practises le/al/el/il endings in words like ‘kennel,’ ’little,’ ‘purple,’ ‘wiggle,’ and ‘scrambled.’