Children's Books for 2nd Graders

Meet the squad - five kids, one dog, and zero chance of losing! At least, that’s what they tell everyone before the big championship match. But when the other team’s bus pulls up and out steps the biggest, tallest, most serious-looking squad ever, can our heroes really back up their big talk? With a speedy runner, a tricky dribbler, and a header who practices every lunchtime, this team has skills - but will teamwork be enough? This decodable reader practices es plurals in words like ‘dashes,’ ‘rushes,’ ‘catches,’ and ‘matches.’

Paul has a special talent - he loves to draw, but he also loves to play a guessing game! He starts with simple shapes: a big circle, two little ones on top, then a box. Is it a frog? An owl? A car with eyes? Every time you guess, Paul just shakes his head and keeps drawing. Can you work out what Paul’s picture will be before he finishes? This decodable reader practices es plurals in words like ‘sketches,’ ‘rushes,’ ’lashes,’ and ‘dashes.’

Pillagers on the hilltop! Crossbows at the ready! Can one brave hero, an iron golem, and two very loyal dogs hold off wave after wave of raiders? Just when things start looking up, something ENORMOUS snorts out from behind the trees - gray as a storm cloud, with tusks like battering rams. Will a golden axe be enough to save the village? This decodable reader practices words with prefixes, such as ‘defend,’ ‘invade,’ ‘retreat,’ ‘rebuild,’ and ‘unfair.’

Steve has caught a big fat cod, and he is sure he can cook it over a roaring fire. But is raw fish unsafe until it is properly cooked? And when his first try ends with very hot fingers, will he repeat the same mistake the next day, or find a wild new way to heat his lunch? Join Steve for a sizzling, smoky adventure! This decodable reader practices words with prefixes, including ‘preheat,’ ‘react,’ ‘rebuild,’ ‘unsafe,’ and ‘dismay.’

On the ridge, the savanna is silent until Naisula spots a strange rope trailing down from the clouds, swaying in the breeze. What could be climbing down to the Maasai from the sky? When the old rope starts to fray, can one brave girl hold Enkai’s gift fast before the last of it falls? A warm retelling of a beloved legend about courage and love. This Bookbot level practices the ’ee’ sound with words like ‘deep’, ‘see’, ’three’, ‘breeze’, and ‘cheek’.

One perfect purple-and-gold towel, one big gust of wind, and suddenly everyone in town seems to want a turn! Who will grab it first when it sails off the washing line? Why does Dawn hug it so tight, and what on earth is Paul doing with it on the porch? Can our little hero ever get that precious towel back? This decodable reader practices the aw/au phonogram in words like ‘dawn,’ ‘saw,’ ‘yawn,’ and ‘shawl.’

Deep in a glowing cave, Steve spots something he’s never seen before - two grinning little creatures blinking up at him from a hidden pool! Who are these soggy new friends, and will they like the cozy pond Steve builds back home? Can one explorer really become an axolotl expert overnight? Join Steve for a squishy, splashy adventure full of surprises. This decodable reader practices le/al/el/il endings in words such as ’little,’ ‘puddle,’ ‘gentle,’ ‘sparkle,’ and ‘wriggle.’

High up on his tower, Ned spots a huddle of zombies shuffling toward the castle wall - but can a brand new bow and a fistful of arrows really take them down from way up here? When every single shot tumbles wide, will Ned give up, or will The Book know exactly what he needs? Join Ned as he learns that zero is just a starting number. This decodable reader practices the le/al/el/il pattern in words such as ‘castle,’ ‘bundle,’ ‘signal,’ and ’little.’

A little bird has just flown into a brand-new town, and he doesn’t know a soul! Can he make friends by lending a wing to a fly-bothered rhino, a toothache-y croc, a giraffe with a stick stuck in his fur, and a hungry zebra on lion watch? And when his new pals finally offer to help HIM back, what on earth will he ask for? This cheerful decodable reader practices words with prefixes such as ‘invite,’ ‘detect,’ ‘dismiss,’ ‘unwell,’ and ‘reward.’

Meet Hope, a girl who wants to learn exciting new things like riding a bike and swimming. But learning isn’t always easy! She falls down, gets scared, and sometimes wants to give up. The world seems full of frightening things - dark rooms, creepy crawlies, and booming thunder. How will Hope find the courage to face her fears? Can she discover the secret to being brave?