Children's Books for 2nd Graders

What would YOU do with a house on tall wooden stilts, or one that floats peacefully on the waves? Follow a child with a basket of mangoes as they wander past shops, gardens, and garages, meeting families who live in the most surprising homes. Could there really be a perfect house - and which one would you pick? This decodable reader practises suffixes in words like ‘proudly,’ ‘brightens,’ ‘cheerful,’ and ‘worker.’

Can Kip make it past a mob of hungry crocs snapping in the mud? With a big pond blocking his path and a very important place to be, Kip will need fast feet, brave legs, and one enormous jump! Will the crocs catch him, or will Kip soar over the frogs and fish to reach his surprise? Leap along and find out! This decodable reader practises the ai/ay phonogram in words like ‘play,’ ’trail,’ ‘sails,’ ‘wail,’ and ‘stray.’

Zara has one wild dream - to discover a brand new microbe that nobody has ever found before. When a stinky green cloud rolls out of the lab fridge, most people pinch their noses and run. But Zara? She leans in and sniffs. Could a rotten piece of fruit really be hiding a secret creature waiting to be named? This decodable reader practises 2-syllable open words such as ’tiny,’ ‘over,’ ‘data,’ and ‘going.’

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to wander across a sea of golden sand? Step into the Minecraft desert, where the sun blazes overhead and shimmering dunes stretch on forever. Where do husks and rabbits hide when the heat gets too fierce? What treasures lie buried beneath the sandstone, and what happens once the sun slips away? Discover a biome full of secrets waiting to be explored! This decodable reader practises the ‘igh’ phonogram in words such as ‘bright,’ ‘high,’ ’night,’ and ‘sight.’

Bird has built the most perfect nest in the tallest tree - so what could possibly go wrong? When a bumping elephant sends her home tumbling, Bird tries again on a sturdy wall, but trouble finds her there too. Will she ever find a safe place to rest, high above the world? When a sky full of balloons drifts past her beak, Bird gets a wild, wonderful idea. This decodable reader practises the ‘igh’ sound in words like ‘bright,’ ‘flight,’ ‘high,’ and ‘sight.’

Have you ever wondered what might be hiding in the middle of a big, quiet lake? When Ken and his friend grab a boat and paddle out to explore, every shadow and shape starts to look a little spooky. Is that an evil devil with claws? A giant fish? Or something even scarier rising from the water? Hold on tight and paddle faster! This decodable reader practises le/al/el/il words such as ‘paddling,’ ‘devil,’ ’little,’ ‘middle,’ and ’travel.’

Brat Cat has chickens to feed, sheep to brush, and a whole List of chores waiting - so why is there an arrow sticking out of her shoulder? Up on the hill, a grey pillager is aiming his crossbow right at her farm, and Brat Cat is NOT in the mood. Can one very grumpy cat grab her bow and send this troublemaker packing before her List falls apart? This decodable reader practises es plurals in words like ‘crashes,’ ‘dashes,’ ’launches,’ and ‘watches.’

One enormous elephant. One little red cart. And one very stuck situation! Can Roy budge the elephant, or will he find something even better along the way? From red hens and whooshing bubbles to giant ants and dancing spiders, Roy counts his way through the wildest day ever - but what happens when he reaches ten? This decodable reader practises the oi/oy phonogram through words like ‘choice,’ ‘join,’ ‘joy,’ ’noise,’ and ’toy.’

Ned is lost in a dismal swamp, his metal armour clanking and slimes bouncing everywhere - but what happens when a strange little pig starts following him home? Could Ned really saddle up a pig and ride it around the yard? With the Book grumbling and Milky watching in horror, Ned is about to try something truly ridiculous. This decodable reader practises le/al/el/il words such as ‘saddle,’ ‘final,’ ‘bubbles,’ ‘metal,’ and ‘dangle.’

Ned’s mine is bursting with gold and redstone, but his tiny pockets can’t hold it all! What he really needs is a big, strong helper to carry the shiny loot home. So he saddles up and sets off across the plains - but the little white creature he spots in the distance isn’t quite what he thinks. Can Ned find the perfect helper? This decodable reader practises le/al/el/il words such as ‘buckle,’ ‘sparkle,’ ‘gentle,’ ‘apple,’ and ‘saddle.’