Animal Books for 2nd Graders
Who Made the Rain Cry?
When a sad tune drifts from a girl’s window and makes the clouds cry, who will follow the song to find her? Brown Rabbit twitches his ears, Bee buzzes into the sky, and Bird soars between raindrops - but can a garden full of critters mend such deep sadness? This decodable reader practises VC/CV syllables in words like ‘rabbit,’ ‘garden,’ ‘sunny,’ ‘problem,’ and ‘until.’
A Spot to Nap
Sloth is so tired his eyeballs feel like bowling balls, and all he wants is the perfect spot for a nap. But will the low branches be safe from a hungry giraffe? What about the buzzing bees, the grumpy snake, or that very loud bird? Can a sleepy sloth ever find somewhere quiet to curl up? This decodable reader practises VC/CV syllables through words like ‘perfect,’ ‘sudden,’ ‘problem,’ ‘hunker,’ and ‘bitten.’
Art Day
Dog has found a mysterious tin sitting in the middle of the floor - but what could be inside? A treat? A toy? When Dog tips it over, yellow paint goes everywhere, and soon Cat is splattered too! Can two very messy pets sneak past Pam on Art Day without ruining her beautiful blank canvas, or is disaster about to strike? This decodable reader practises suffixes through words like ‘gladly,’ ‘proudly,’ ‘swiftly,’ ‘breathless,’ and ‘painter.’
Bat Box
Jack the scarecrow is the worst scarecrow ever - but he’s determined to fill his quiet farm with buzzing, chirping, fluttering life! Bees settle into the hives, parrots swoop down for grubs, and Zom is thrilled. But can Jack coax shy bats to move in too, when the farm has no dark, cosy corners for them to hide? What clever plan will he hammer together? This decodable reader practises es plurals in words like ‘boxes,’ ‘branches,’ ‘bunches,’ and ‘rushes.’
Come Back, You Cheeky Wolf!
Jill has twelve bones and a big plan - tame a wolf from the glade! But this cheeky little white wolf keeps snatching bones and bolting into the trees. Can Jill outsmart a wolf who seems to be playing her own game? Will there be any bones left by sundown, or will she walk home empty-handed? This decodable reader builds confidence with 3+ syllable words such as ‘afternoon,’ ‘caterpillar,’ ’eleven,’ and ‘honestly.’
Crow, Stop Singing!
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.’
Cub
Jack wants a pet of his very own - something spectacular, something nobody else has. But when his search leads him across snow and ice to a lonely little polar bear cub, has he finally found the perfect friend? Or is something much, much bigger watching from the cliffs? Can Jack figure out the clues before it’s too late? This decodable reader practises prefix words such as ‘depend,’ ‘rename,’ ‘retreat,’ ‘decode,’ and ‘return.’
Dad, Read My Note!
Can one little note change everything? When Dad works so hard he falls asleep before he can even pick up his fishing rod, one determined kid decides it’s time for a plan. With a piece of paper and a few brave words, could a simple note finally bring Dad and his rod outside? And what surprises wait along the path through the green fields? This decodable reader practises the ‘ie’ phonogram in words like ‘brief,’ ‘piece,’ ‘fields,’ ‘cries,’ and ‘spied.’
The Calf and the Tiger!
A little calf spots a beautiful blue butterfly and just has to see where it goes. But what happens when she wanders deep into the jungle, past hidden snakes and chattering monkeys, and finds herself nose to nose with a tiger? Can she find her way back to Mum before it’s too late? This decodable reader practises VC/CV syllables in words such as ‘butterfly,’ ‘follow,’ ‘yellow,’ and ‘sudden.’
Don't Chase the Deer!
Joan’s little house sits by a quiet forest road, and she longs to explore the shadows beyond the trees. But when a white deer steps out of the woods and beckons her to follow, will she remember her mother’s warning? What wonders - and what dangers - wait along the path? Joan is about to find out she’s not alone in the forest. This decodable reader practises the ‘oa’ sound in words like ‘coat,’ ‘road,’ ‘roam,’ and ‘soaks.’