SEL Books for 2nd Graders

The Wind Princess is coming to visit at sunrise, and everything must sparkle! But when Kate grabs the Rainbow Broom to help with the housework, it growls, dodges, and zooms straight out the doorway with Kate clinging on for dear life. Why is the magical broom so grumpy? Can Kate calm it down before their special guest arrives? This decodable reader practices compound words such as ‘sunrise,’ ‘hallway,’ ‘bathtub,’ ‘cobweb,’ and ‘sunshine.’

When three wild siblings sneak a peek at Dad’s magic mirror, they expect to see treasure - but horrid green monsters stare back instead! Why does the mirror show trolls with horns and jagged grins? Can a fancy jacket or a big smile fix what’s staring back from the glass? Or is something else going on inside these rotten little troublemakers? This decodable reader practices VC/CV syllables in words like ‘bucket,’ ‘pumpkin,’ ‘fancy,’ and ‘jacket.’

Leo and Mia live at the quiet edge of town, in a yard that looks like a giant ruin of broken toys. Then a kind lady named Nia arrives with a box of books and a black cat called Riot. But what happens when Nia doesn’t show up one week? Can two kids find her in all the chaos of the big town? This decodable reader practices vowel team syllables in words like ‘giant,’ ’lion,’ ‘quiet,’ and ‘riot.’

Sam and his sister are the greatest monster slayers in the whole entire world - no question! But what happens when a new kind of monster creeps in, one that hides inside Sam’s head like a fog and won’t budge, no matter how loudly you shout? Can a broom, a bucket, and a whole lot of love help bring the real Sam back? This decodable reader practices es plurals in words like ‘crushes,’ ‘wishes,’ ‘pushes,’ ‘searches,’ and ‘inches.’

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.’

Dragon is sure he’s a natural. Why practice for the big fire test when he could lounge on a sunny hillside with a basket of tasty snacks? But when the day arrives, only puffs of gray smoke come out - and everyone is watching! Can a strange little chili plant with a spicy red pepper help Dragon find his missing flame before it’s too late? This decodable reader practices VC/CV syllables in words like ‘basket,’ ‘sunset,’ ‘pepper,’ and ‘hillside.’

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.’

The Tire is tired of the bumpy road, the heavy boxes, and all the crashes! Could a truck be a better home? Maybe a bike? Or a cart with wooden wheels? Poor Tire rolls past bushes and ditches, making wishes for a place where he truly fits - but where could that be? This decodable reader practices es plurals in words like ‘bushes,’ ‘crashes,’ ‘ditches,’ and ‘wishes.’

Diane is the proudest litterbug around - until she wakes up one morning to find a stinking cloud of rubbish hovering right above her bed! Flies buzz, wrappers swirl, and the cloud follows her everywhere she goes. Can Diane figure out how to make her smelly shadow disappear? Will anyone want to sit with her at lunch, or is a small gray rat her only friend now? This decodable reader practices 2-syllable open words such as ‘about,’ ‘open,’ ’even,’ and ‘only.’

Frog gazes up at the glowing stars every night and dreams of holding just one. But when his short arms and tallest hills aren’t enough, he spots a giant palm tree - could climbing to the very top finally bring him close to those shining lights? And what are those tiny golden glimmers twinkling in the pond far below? Join Frog on a brave, starry adventure! This decodable reader practices vowel team syllables through words like ‘giant,’ ’lion,’ ‘quiet,’ and ‘ruin.’