Children's Books for 2nd Graders

Ned has rowed for days and days with one mission: to find the perfect spot to build a real house. But when he lands on a sandy beach, he discovers a talking book that’s been waiting three hundred years to help someone like him. Will Ned listen to the instructions before he starts punching things? And what exactly is that big blobby thing hanging from the tree? This decodable reader practises ci/si/ti making /sh/ in words like “mission,” “location,” “patience,” and “instructions.”

Ned’s shed in his backyard looks a bit plain - can he jazz it up somehow? With help from his magic book, he makes a beeline for the seashore to dig up something very strange and very blue. But when he starts picking flowers in the sunshine to brighten the place up, a grumpy beehive has other ideas! Will Ned get stung, or find a clever way to escape? This decodable reader practises compound words such as ‘backyard,’ ‘beeline,’ ‘seashore,’ and ‘sunshine.’

Jack is stuck in the grumpiest mood ever, frowning at flowers, butterflies, and even the sun itself. But what happens when his friends Skel and Zom drag him deep into a bamboo forest? Could a munching panda mum, a cake-loving baby, and one enormous, slime-splattered sneeze finally crack Jack’s sour face? Get ready for giggles, gasps, and the grossest surprise in the whole forest! This decodable reader practises the igh phonogram in words like ‘bright,’ ‘flight,’ ‘fright,’ ’night,’ and ‘sight.’

Nomvula is the cleverest tracker in her village, able to read a footprint like a face, so why does she slip a hollow reed and three marula fruits into her marriage bag before following her handsome new husband home? When bones lie at his gate and a lion’s paw print appears beside a man’s, can she outwit him before he catches her? A brave folktale of wits and courage. This Bookbot level practises the /ʃ/ sound with words like ‘attention’, ‘motion’, ‘question’, ‘situation’, and ‘caution’.

Iron Golem has a speech all ready, a friendly wave, and a heart full of hope - but what happens when nobody in the village seems to notice him at all? Not the villagers, not the cats, not even the pigs. Can a lonely golem find someone who will truly listen, even when skeletons shriek and arrows fly? Follow him from sunny streets to torchlit caves in this gentle tale of belonging. This decodable reader practises the ie phonogram in words such as ‘chief,’ ‘field,’ ‘shields,’ and ‘spies.’

Meet Internet Mascot, a googly-eyed globe who zips around a glowing web that wraps the whole planet! Want to know how a silly cat video can travel across the world in one second, or how a mountain-top photograph can reach every continent in minutes? From amazing animals to musical dance parties, this cheeky guide shows how to explore the web wisely - and kindly. This decodable reader practises 3+ syllable words such as ‘computer,’ ‘congratulations,’ ‘afternoon,’ and ‘incredible.’

Every child in the valley knows the rule: when the sky turns purple and the cattle run, you run too. But Langa longs to see the great Lightning Bird that lives inside the storm. When drought threatens his village, will one brave boy dare to answer the thunder? What could he possibly offer a creature of fire and wing? A story of courage, trust, and a wild storm’s gift. This Bookbot level practises two-syllable words like ‘being’, ‘giant’, ‘quiet’, ‘chaos’, and ‘creates’.

The Zulu people know the rivers are alive with quiet spirits who watch from beneath the water. When Amahle’s family hits a run of bad luck and the bridge to town washes away, she sets out to fix it herself. But who is really helping her? And what will the river ask in return? This warm, gentle tale rewards those who care for the world around them. This Bookbot book practises the ‘ow’ sound with words like ‘down’, ‘flow’, ’town’, ‘slow’, and ‘knows’.

The Tortoise and the Elephant meet at the last waterhole in the dry season, where mighty Elephant has claimed every drop for himself. When tiny Tortoise makes a daring bet that Elephant cannot crack his shell by sunset, will brute force win the day, or can a calm mind outlast the strongest stomp? What clever plan has Tortoise been hiding? Young readers will cheer through every twist. This Bookbot Level S9 story practises the /ʃ/ sound with lesson words like ‘proposition’, ‘position’, ‘solution’, and ‘patience’.

Red made himself a promise: walk through the whole town without covering his ears. Easy, right? But the beeping, honking, and drilling might just be too much for one small fellow to handle. Will Red keep his promise? And what surprise is waiting up ahead that makes his eyes go wide and sparkly? Follow along as Red hustles through a busy town on his way to meet a very special friend. This decodable reader practises the le/al/el/il sound in words like ‘chuckle,’ ‘gentle,’ ‘simple,’ and ‘signal.’