Friendship Books for 2nd Graders

It’s Khushi’s tenth birthday, and she’s dreaming of the biggest, shiniest presents ever - so when Dad hands her a stubborn little clay donkey bank, she can’t hide her disappointment. But what happens when her sister begs to borrow a coin? And when she meets a new friend at school who needs help more than Khushi needs a phone, what will she choose? This decodable reader practices the ’ew’ sound in words like ‘drew,’ ‘knew,’ ‘flew,’ ‘grew,’ and ‘phew.’

When the Mischievous Mage sets off a spectacular firework show one night, he expects to get in trouble. Instead, Jill has a surprising request - she wants him to help celebrate something special for the village! Jill has big plans that include a new town square, a fountain, rose bushes, and even a secret surprise for Dr Can Do. What could the surprise be, and how will Dr Can Do react when he finds out?

Tina has so many chores to do every day, but all she really wants is to play! One day while singing in the cornfield, she discovers a magical elf who can finish her work in a flash. Now Tina has a new friend and more time for fun! But when the elf disappears one night, Tina is heartbroken. Will the elf ever come back? And what will Tina learn about friendship and doing her fair share?

The town is hot, humid, and far too loud - and Brat Cat has had ENOUGH! Can a cranky cat find a little peace among the birch trees? With Fig Pig and Tip by her side, she hatches a big plan for a very quiet hideaway where crowds and carts can’t follow. But will her perfect escape turn out as silent as she hopes? This decodable reader practices 2-syllable open words such as ‘cozy,’ ‘humid,’ ‘silent,’ and ’twilight.’

Spike the cactus is lonely and wants to find a friend. He hops around the garden in his pot, asking different trees if they want to be pals. But the orange tree is grumpy, the banana tree is scared, and others just sigh at him. When he finally finds someone willing to chat, something goes wrong. Why is it so hard for Spike to make friends? Will he ever find a pal who truly understands him?

Long, long ago, before your grandmother’s grandmother was born, the Sun and the Moon lived on the earth in the finest house on the plain, with a door that was ’never’ closed. So when their oldest friend Water finally comes to visit, what happens when a whole ocean of creatures pours through the doorway? Can Sun and Moon climb high enough to escape? This Bookbot Level S4 book practices two-syllable words split between consonants, with lesson words like ‘welcome’, ‘absurd’, ‘mountain’, ‘follows’, and ‘shining’.

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.’

Zom has spent weeks telling Jack and Skel about the amazing dolphin city beneath the waves - coral towers, shell-paved streets, and dolphins doing backflips through seaweed hoops. But when the three friends finally dive down to see it, something is terribly wrong. Why is one dolphin lying exhausted on the ocean floor? What are those spiny green creatures tearing the reef apart? Can Zom and his friends save the city before it’s lost forever? This decodable reader practices 2-syllable open words such as ‘about,’ ‘begin,’ ‘over,’ and ‘ocean.’

Ned strolls through the green trees without a care in the world - but what happens when three hungry wolves leap out with teeth bared? Ned flees home at top speed, heart pounding, but soon a wild idea takes root. What if those snarling beasts could become friends? With a bag of bones and a very nervous Book at his side, Ned sets off on a plan that just might change everything. This decodable reader practices the ’ee’ sound in words like ‘green,’ ‘feet,’ ‘sweet,’ and ’three.’

Dog and Cat were the very best of friends - napping under the big tree, sharing meals, and batting their little ball back and forth. But when the people scoop Cat up to live inside the house, Dog is left alone in the yard. Can two friends find their way back to each other after angry words drive them apart? This decodable reader practices prefixes in words such as ‘dislike,’ ‘indoors,’ ‘retreat,’ ‘undone,’ and ‘unfair.’