Children's Books for 2nd Graders

What if your hair could be anything you wanted - a sun umbrella, a cozy scarf, even a cheeky bird’s nest? Join one hair-loving kid and her funny little dog through every season, from wild autumn runs to snowy winter walks. Will she keep her long curls forever, or try something brand new? Flip the page and find out! This decodable reader practices compound words such as ‘hairbrush,’ ‘birdhouse,’ ‘snowflake,’ and ‘sidewalk.’

Aidan has saved every coin for his very first wand - but the only one he can afford is old, crooked, and a little bit grumpy. When he aims it at the sky and shouts for a toy train, ribbons fly everywhere, sweets rain down, and a real storm rolls in! Can Aidan figure out how to make this strange old wand actually listen? A playful decodable reader practicing ai/ay words such as ‘day,’ ‘play,’ ’train,’ ‘sails,’ and ‘spray.’

Tom the Baker makes the best pies in Canville - but when something smashes the village guards to bits, is a sneaky thief to blame? As brutes creep through the night, Tom grieves for his cozy shop and wonders if anything can keep the village safe. Can a great stone wall save Tom’s pies before disaster strikes again? This decodable reader practices the ‘ie’ sound in words like ‘cried,’ ‘field,’ ’thief,’ and ‘pies.’

Fish has decided he is done being a fish. Swimming is boring, bubbles are boring, and being wet all the time feels deeply unfair! So when a grinning cat by the shore claims to be his biggest fan, Fish can hardly believe his luck. But is this cat really the friend he’s been hoping for, or is something fishy going on? This decodable reader practices words with prefixes, including “dislike,” “misfit,” “pretend,” “return,” and “unsure.”

Ned used to hide under his blankets when the monsters came out at night. But not tonight! Tonight, Ned has a shiny sword, a brave heart, and a plan to stand his ground. Can one small farmer really take on a zombie, a sneaky skeleton, and a giant spider all by himself? What will he find waiting when the shadows grow long? This decodable reader practices es plurals in words like ‘crashes,’ ‘crouches,’ ‘dashes,’ ‘hisses,’ and ‘flashes.’

Coach Vic has a secret tucked inside an old trunk, and his shelves are packed with shiny trophies like pirate treasure. What could be so exciting? When he pulls out a big white volleyball and promises to teach everyone how to play, eyes go wide and hands shoot up - especially Dog’s paws! But will Dog remember the rules once the ball starts flying? This decodable reader practices es plurals in words like ‘beaches,’ ‘matches,’ ‘watches,’ and ‘wishes.’

Skel has a list of chores longer than his arm, and rest is the very last thing on his mind. But when the sun sinks low and shadows stretch across the field, something with glowing eyes is watching from the clouds. What happens to those who refuse to sleep? Can Skel and Bones make it home before the phantoms swoop? This decodable reader practices the ‘ie’ phonogram in words like ’tied,’ ‘spied,’ ‘shield,’ ‘shriek,’ and ‘cries.’

Drew the fairy has one simple plan - pick just ONE favorite flower from her whole garden. Easy, right? But with buzzing bees pointing every which way, a crew of birds hunting worms, and a slew of roses in every shade of pink, how can anyone choose? And what happens when Drew spots a bright red bloom she’s never seen before? This decodable reader practices the ’ew’ phonogram in words like ‘drew,’ ‘crew,’ ‘flew,’ ‘knew,’ and ‘phew.’

Have you ever wondered what happens to a raindrop once it tumbles from a cloud? High above the hills, thousands of raindrops are lined up for the greatest race in the world - first one to the sea wins! But what is the prize, and does anyone actually know the rules? Tumble, splash, and roll along for a wild ride. This decodable reader practices ci/si/ti making /sh/ in words like ‘mission,’ ’location,’ ‘vacation,’ and ‘migration.’

Pang the cicada has been picked to conduct the biggest concert of the year - and absolutely nothing can go wrong! But what happens when the choir sings the wrong notes, his stomach does somersaults, and raindrops start falling at a DRY season concert? Can one nervous little conductor save the show before everything falls apart? This decodable reader practices 3+ syllable words such as ‘conductor,’ ‘cicada,’ ‘calendar,’ ‘caterpillar,’ and ‘magnificent.’