Animal Books for 2nd Graders

When a terrible storm hits at nightfall, Bones the hunting dog bolts from Skel’s side and vanishes into the dark hills. Deep in the woods, lost and hungry, he meets a wolf pack with pale, steady eyes - and starts to run wild with them. But can a dog who has forgotten his home ever find his way back to the friend who loves him? This decodable reader practises compound words such as ’nightfall,’ ‘hillside,’ ‘daybreak,’ ‘sunset,’ and ‘pathway.’

Crow has been flying since daybreak, and he has one big dream: to find friends and wow them with his amazing singing voice. But when he opens his beak, his song sounds more like a firetruck siren than a sweet tune! The animals run for it. Can Crow find a way to share his music without scaring everyone off? This decodable reader practises compound words such as ‘daybreak,’ ‘backyard,’ ‘drumsticks,’ and ‘rooftop.’

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.’

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Fig Pig stands on the coast and makes a very big promise: he will sail across the sea and bring Brat Cat the most AMAZING thing in the whole world! But what will he find out there on the waves? Spotty mushroom cows? A giant white bear? A burning hot desert? And will anything be amazing enough for Fig Pig’s chest of treasure? This decodable reader practises the ‘oa’ sound in words like ‘boat,’ ‘coast,’ ‘float,’ and ‘croak.’

When a fishing net suddenly traps Big Fish on the rocky seabed, can tiny Little Fish find someone with teeth sharp enough to set him free? He races past a slow sea turtle, a gentle blue whale, and deeper still into the ocean, whispering to himself with every flick of his fins. Will he find help before it’s too late? This decodable reader practises 3+ syllable words such as ‘afternoon,’ ‘delicious,’ ’embarrassed,’ and ‘definitely.’

Can Kip make it past a mob of hungry crocs snapping in the mud? With a big pond blocking his path and a very important place to be, Kip will need fast feet, brave legs, and one enormous jump! Will the crocs catch him, or will Kip soar over the frogs and fish to reach his surprise? Leap along and find out! This decodable reader practises the ai/ay phonogram in words like ‘play,’ ’trail,’ ‘sails,’ ‘wail,’ and ‘stray.’

Bird has built the most perfect nest in the tallest tree - so what could possibly go wrong? When a bumping elephant sends her home tumbling, Bird tries again on a sturdy wall, but trouble finds her there too. Will she ever find a safe place to rest, high above the world? When a sky full of balloons drifts past her beak, Bird gets a wild, wonderful idea. This decodable reader practises the ‘igh’ sound in words like ‘bright,’ ‘flight,’ ‘high,’ and ‘sight.’

Brat Cat has chickens to feed, sheep to brush, and a whole List of chores waiting - so why is there an arrow sticking out of her shoulder? Up on the hill, a grey pillager is aiming his crossbow right at her farm, and Brat Cat is NOT in the mood. Can one very grumpy cat grab her bow and send this troublemaker packing before her List falls apart? This decodable reader practises es plurals in words like ‘crashes,’ ‘dashes,’ ’launches,’ and ‘watches.’

One enormous elephant. One little red cart. And one very stuck situation! Can Roy budge the elephant, or will he find something even better along the way? From red hens and whooshing bubbles to giant ants and dancing spiders, Roy counts his way through the wildest day ever - but what happens when he reaches ten? This decodable reader practises the oi/oy phonogram through words like ‘choice,’ ‘join,’ ‘joy,’ ’noise,’ and ’toy.’