Animal Books for 2nd Graders
Birthday Pet
It’s Lisa’s birthday, and her parents have promised her a pet - but what kind will it be? An elephant is too stompy, a crocodile too snappy, and a skunk? Far too smelly! Will Lisa ever find the perfect birthday surprise, or is every animal in the world just a little bit wrong for her hilltop home? Join her hunt for a furry best friend! This decodable reader practices VC/CV syllables in words such as ‘birthday,’ ‘hilltop,’ ‘puppy,’ ‘sudden,’ and ’trumpet.’
A Mouse In Our House!
There’s a cheeky little mouse on the loose, and Gran is standing on the couch! Can Mom’s broom catch it? Will the cat even bother to try? As the whole family ends up squished under the bed hiding from one tiny, grinning troublemaker, something surprising happens - the baby claps and giggles at their furry visitor. Could a mouse in the house actually be fun? This decodable reader practices the ‘ou’ sound in words like ‘mouse,’ ‘house,’ ’loud,’ ‘round,’ and ‘proud.’
Cuckoo Can't Cuckoo!
What happens when a cuckoo wakes up one morning and discovers its famous “CUCKOO!” has vanished? Follow this brave little bird as it hops along the ground, peers beneath every leaf, and flies across fields, forests, and a quiet suburb searching for its missing call. Will it ever sing again, or has its voice disappeared forever? This decodable reader practices 2-syllable open words such as “begin,” “open,” “over,” “tiny,” and “music.”
Don't Eat That Cat!
When Dad comes home with bags bursting with colorful fruit and veg, Girl grabs her sketchpad quick - can she draw it all before dinner? Tomatoes and cucumbers sit still so nicely, but what happens when she tries to sketch Cat, who won’t stop slinking across the floor? Will her pencil ever catch such a wiggly subject? This decodable reader practices words with prefixes such as ‘unpack,’ ‘redo,’ ‘inspect,’ ‘dislikes,’ and ‘remake.’
Don't Sit There, Sam!
Meet Sam, the puppy who loves one thing more than anything in the whole wide world - sitting! From the moment he’s born, Sam plonks down wherever he pleases: in the middle of paths, on cliff edges, even when he’s meant to be chasing sheep. But what happens when this giant, goofy dog and his quiet trio of family line up at the edge of a dock? Will Sam ever learn where NOT to sit? This decodable reader practices vowel team syllables in words like ‘being,’ ‘giant,’ ‘quiet,’ and ’trio.’
I Found It in the Cave!
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.’
Pig
Something stinky is hiding at the playground, and one curious girl is determined to sniff it out! What could be making that terrible pong behind the bush? She finds a muddy, grumpy, grinning beast and decides right away that it’s the best friend she’s ever met - but how will she sneak it past Mom at sunset? Will this smelly pal get to stay? This decodable reader practices compound words such as ‘playground,’ ‘downhill,’ ‘hallway,’ ‘bathtub,’ and ‘sunset.’
They Are Wrong
Meet one very proud cat who knows - without a single doubt - that this cozy house belongs to him, not the noisy kids, the splashing dog, or the cheeky mouse sneaking across the kitchen tiles. Will he catch that crumb-stealing mouse? Will he show the mean boy next door who’s really in charge? And what happens when night falls and the whole household settles down together? This decodable reader practices the ‘ou’ sound in words like ‘mouse,’ ‘pounce,’ ‘proud,’ and ‘shout.’
You Are Not a Mouse!
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.’
Guess What I Drew!
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.’