Free Inclusion Books for 2nd Graders
Literacy changes lives, and we’re dedicated to making quality books freely available to every young reader. Explore free inclusion books for 2nd graders ages 6-7. Read childrens books online for free featuring diverse characters, different abilities, and lessons about acceptance. Download free story books PDF or enjoy free read aloud books online.
What’s Your Name?
Jojo spots a talented boy playing soccer alone on the field. When Jojo tries to join in, he discovers the boy is an amazing player—but there’s something special about him that makes communication tricky. Will Jojo find a way to become real friends with this mysterious new player?
No One Like Me
Have you ever wondered if there’s anyone else quite like you in the whole wide world? Join a curious character on a heartwarming journey of self-discovery as they search everywhere—from the water hole to the plains—looking for someone just like them. What will they discover about what makes them truly special?
Pals or Not?
Spike is a little cactus looking for a friend. He tries asking trees and plants all around the garden if they want to be pals. Will Spike finally find someone who wants to be his friend? Join Spike on his exciting quest to discover friendship in the most unexpected places!
Apam Cake
Abdul is excited to help make Apam Cake for the festival, but when his mother gets hurt, he decides to bake it himself for the first time. With flour flying and batter splattering everywhere, can he create the perfect sweet treat before all the other cooks—or will something unexpected happen?
This is the Way
Ted is going to his friend’s birthday party, but there’s something different about him—Ted is blind and cannot see. His neighbour Kim wants to help him find the way, but Ted says he already knows it! How can Ted find his way through the streets without being able to see? What special skills does he use to know exactly where to go? Join Ted and Kim on their journey and discover the amazing ways Ted navigates the world around him.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do free inclusion books for 2nd graders strengthen both reading and empathy?
Inclusion books ask children to step into the experiences of characters from different backgrounds, abilities, and family structures, which develops perspective-taking, a core comprehension skill. Scarborough’s Reading Rope (2001) shows that comprehension depends on weaving word recognition together with knowledge, inference, and understanding of others’ viewpoints. Free inclusion books for 2nd graders on Bookbot build all of these strands simultaneously by embedding diversity themes within phonics-leveled text. A 2022 study in Springer’s Educational Psychology Review found that narratives promoting perspective-taking deepen both emotional engagement and text comprehension. For more on building a love of reading through meaningful stories, see Laying the Foundations for a Love of Reading.
What phonics skills do free diversity books for second grade reinforce?
At the second grade level, children are working on digraphs (sh, ch, th), vowel teams (ea, oo, ai), r-controlled vowels (ar, er, or), and multi-syllable words. Free diversity books for second grade on Bookbot follow a structured scope and sequence that embeds inclusion vocabulary like ‘different,’ ’together,’ ‘community,’ and ‘wheelchair’ at the appropriate phonics stage. Ehri et al. (2001) demonstrated that systematic phonics instruction produces significant word-reading and comprehension gains through second grade, and pairing that instruction with socially meaningful content keeps children motivated to read.
Why is it important for 2nd graders to see diverse characters in their books?
When children see characters who reflect their own identity, they feel validated as readers, and when they encounter characters different from themselves, they build the empathy and cultural knowledge that supports deeper comprehension. Manu et al. (2019) found that access to culturally relevant reading materials is a significant predictor of literacy engagement and achievement. Free inclusive picture books for 6 year olds on Bookbot feature characters across a range of backgrounds, abilities, and family structures, all within phonics-leveled text that 2nd graders can decode with confidence.
Where can I find free inclusion books for 2nd graders to read online or print?
Bookbot’s website offers free inclusion books for 2nd graders that families can read free on the Bookbot website, all at no cost and with no subscription required. Research by Takacs and Bus (2020) found that shared reading enhances vocabulary and story comprehension in young children. Inclusion books for 2nd graders free online on Bookbot are organized by phonics level for easy browsing. For tips on reading together, see The Benefits of Reading Aloud.