Animal Books for 2nd Graders

Zom is bored while Skel is out hunting, so he decides to try something brand new - becoming a farmer! He digs plots in his backyard, gathers seeds by moonlight, and dreams of giant pumpkins by daybreak. But what happens when wild chickens stomp in? And why do his animals keep turning a funny shade of green? Can teamwork save Zom’s biggest daydream yet? This decodable reader practices compound words such as ‘backyard,’ ‘daydream,’ ‘moonlight,’ ’nightfall,’ and ’teamwork.’

Bird has waited three long weeks for her eggs to hatch, but when hunger pulls her off the nest, a curious dog comes sniffing around the leaves. Will she make it back in time? And what will her chicks do when they tumble out and meet the wrong mom first? This decodable reader practices le/al/el/il words such as ’little,’ ‘gobbles,’ ’tremble,’ and ‘huddle.’

When Zom and Skel race to the top of a giant hill, Skel wins in triumph - but what has Zom found down below? A strange, glowing egg sits quietly in the dirt, humming with blue and white light. Is it a bird’s? A fish’s? A dragon’s? Will anyone claim this odd egg before Zom turns it into his next snack? This decodable reader practices vowel team syllables in words like ‘diet,’ ‘giant,’ ‘quiet,’ ‘ruins,’ and ’triumph.’

Ants! Hundreds of them, marching in a long brown row straight across the yard. Where are they all going, and what are they hunting for? One curious kid bends down low to watch the tiny army at work, following them from the grass to the skates, past a pile of treats, and right into the kitchen. How much can one little ant carry, anyway? This decodable reader practices the ‘ow’ sound in words like ‘brown,’ ‘down,’ ‘crowd,’ ‘slow,’ and ‘wow.’

Rose the sheep is heading home after a sunny summer on the hill - but wait, what’s this? A tiny new gate, and Rose is far too woolly to squeeze through! Yoga, running, swimming… her friends have ALL the advice. Can bendy poses or splashy laps really shrink a big, round sheep? Or is Rose thinking about this problem in completely the wrong way? This decodable reader practices the ai/ay phonogram through words like ‘day,’ ‘stay,’ ‘rain,’ ’nail,’ and ’trail.’

Something took a giant bite out of the ripest guava on the tree, and Kina and Kale are on the case! Was it a tiny caterpillar? A hopping grasshopper? A sneaky pixie with sharp little teeth? As the sun goes down and the yard grows dark, the two detectives set up camp under the branches to catch the mystery muncher red-handed. Who could the guava thief be? This decodable reader practices the ‘ie’ phonogram in words like ‘cries,’ ‘flies,’ ‘spied,’ and ’thief.’

Poor Caterpillar has lost his favorite shoe, and with so many feet to cover, one bare foot just will not do! Was it stolen? Did it wiggle away on its own? He asks Frog, Grasshopper, and Crab for help, but every shoe they offer is wrong in a new and wobbly way. Will he ever find the perfect fit? This decodable reader practices 3+ syllable words such as “caterpillar,” “yesterday,” “fortunately,” and “butterfly.”

Why is Tortoise flying through the sky with the birds, and what happens when he just can’t hold his tongue? Long ago, Tortoise had a smooth, perfect shell and a mouth that never stopped. When a drought sends the birds north to a great feast, clever Tortoise finds a way to join them high above the veld, if only he can stay silent. Will he manage it? This Bookbot EE level practices the /iː/ sound in words like ‘flee’, ’trees’, ‘speed’, ‘keep’ and ‘feels’.

Tik the mouse has found the perfect house - quiet, cozy, and empty. But when he tugs on a strange rubbery rope, something squeaks back! Who is this tiny round creature with big ears and a cord for a tail? Can it really be a mouse too? And when a huge cat comes padding through the door, will these two very different mice find a way to scare it off? This decodable reader practices the ‘ou’ sound in words like ’loud,’ ‘pounce,’ ‘shouts,’ and ‘proud.’

Zom the zombie has a brilliant plan - he’s going to march right up to the husks and make brand new friends! Surely they’ll love his big wave, his cactus gift, and his very cool camel, right? But when the husks suddenly react and race toward the beach, Zom discovers something awful waiting in the sand. Can one small zombie face eight husks alone? This decodable reader practices vowel team syllables in words such as ‘biome,’ ‘chaos,’ ‘quiet,’ ‘react,’ and ’triumph.’