Children's Books for 2nd Graders
Birds Like Me Don't Fly
What happens when a big bird with tiny wings dreams of soaring through the sky? Every day, our hero daydreams of airplanes, spotlights, and cheering fans - but one tumble on the hilltop leaves feathers ruffled and hopes crushed. Can a backpack full of courage, a homemade blueprint, and a whole lot of cardboard prove the doubters wrong? A heartwarming tale about chasing your own path. This decodable reader practises compound words such as ‘backpack,’ ‘daydream,’ ‘hilltop,’ ‘sunshine,’ and ‘blueprint.’
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 practises 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 Mum’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 practises the ‘ou’ sound in words like ‘mouse,’ ‘house,’ ’loud,’ ‘round,’ and ‘proud.’
Crack! Got It!
Gran has a plan to make the best coconut bars in the whole world - but will they ever actually be done? From climbing trees and cracking husks to cranking, stirring, and baking, every step is harder than the last. Can one determined kid stick with Gran through all the pulling, puffing, and “we are NOT done” moments to reach that first sweet bite? This decodable reader practises the ‘ie’ phonogram in words like ’tied,’ ‘spied,’ ‘flies,’ ‘piece,’ and ’tries.’
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 practises 2-syllable open words such as “begin,” “open,” “over,” “tiny,” and “music.”
Don't Cry, Blue Train!
Blue Train loves racing under the stars faster than anything in the world - but what happens when he zooms so far that he doesn’t know the way home? Lost among scowling trees and staring at a purple elephant, can a boy with a flute help him find his courage again? A heartwarming adventure about being brave even when you’re scared. This decodable reader practises 3+ syllable words such as “elephant,” “dangerous,” “terrified,” and “everywhere.”
Don't Eat That Cat!
When Dad comes home with bags bursting with colourful 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 practises words with prefixes such as ‘unpack,’ ‘redo,’ ‘inspect,’ ‘dislikes,’ and ‘remake.’
Don't Look Down!
Alex the miner is ready for a big adventure, but has she packed the right things? When she digs down, down, DOWN into a dark pit, something rattles in the shadows - and one wrong step sends her tumbling! Can a brave miner with only a pickaxe find her way back? Will she remember the one rule every miner must follow: don’t look down? This decodable reader practises the ’ee’ phonogram in words like ‘deep,’ ‘creep,’ ‘feet,’ ‘peek,’ and ‘sleep.’
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 practises vowel team syllables in words like ‘being,’ ‘giant,’ ‘quiet,’ and ’trio.’
Don't Step on Tim!
Tim is a tiny tin robot no bigger than a thimble, and he is certain he was built for BIG adventures. So when a lost blue button bounces past his feet, off he marches to find its owner! But can one little robot dodge giant sneakers, slobbery dogs, and splashing cars without getting squashed along the way? This decodable reader practises le/al/el/il words such as ’little,’ ‘puddle,’ ‘scramble,’ ‘wobbled,’ and ‘simple.’