Animal Books for 2nd Graders
Stop That Crab!
When Deb’s cat Jack leads her to a deep hole in the yard, what could possibly be hiding at the bottom? A crab with snapping claws, that’s what - and soon one hungry visitor becomes a whole scuttling family! Can Deb catch the tiny babies before they vanish into the sand, or will her garden turn into a crab playground? This decodable reader practises the ‘ie’ phonogram in words like ‘cries,’ ‘flies,’ ‘shield,’ ‘spied,’ and ’tries.’
That Pile Stole My Cat!
When Ben calls his cat for dinner, not a whisker stirs - so where has she gone? Following paw prints through the soil, Ben finds his cat perched like a queen on a huge pile of junk. Then the pile BLINKS. Then it WALKS. Can Ben rescue one very happy cat from a rubbish-munching monster that just keeps growing? This decodable reader practises the oi/oy phonogram in words such as ‘soil,’ ‘coin,’ ‘joy,’ ’noise,’ and ’toys.’
Mer Joins In
Jack leaps into the sea with a shout of joy - until the fish start vanishing! Who is the huge shape lurking in the deep? When a gang of honking, hissing lotls zooms up from the dark, Jack, Zom and Skel bolt for shore. They need someone brave, someone who never flinches. Could Mer be the answer? This decodable reader practises the oi/oy sound in words such as ‘joy,’ ‘join,’ ‘choice,’ ‘foil,’ and ‘ploy.’
Akyekyere and the Shadow
Deep in the Ashanti forest, a clever little tortoise named Akyekyere is not fast and not strong, but his mind is sharp as a chisel. So when a hungry leopard blocks his path one morning, what could a slow creature in a hard shell possibly do? Can a shell really beat a sword? Read on to find out how Akyekyere thinks his way home. This Bookbot level practises two-syllable words split between consonants, like ’tortoise’, ‘forest’, ‘morning’, ‘burrow’ and ‘yellow’.
Who Painted My House?!
The Great Village Parade is only three days away, and Pep the painter has ENORMOUS plans. But when his paint buckets tip over, the swirling colours give him a wild idea - why stop at one little float when he could paint the WHOLE village? Will the animals love his rainbow makeover, or chase him up the hill with brushes waving? This decodable reader practises 2-syllable open words such as ’lemon,’ ‘only,’ ‘over,’ and ’even.’
No Room for Pokey!
Poor Pokey just wants a warm, dry spot to curl up for the night - but every bed on the street is taken! A box full of grumpy cats, a trash can with glowing eyes, and now cold rain splatting on his head. Will Pokey ever find somewhere safe to sleep? And when a storm turns scary, what will he do about the cats who said no room for him? This decodable reader practises the aw/au phonogram in words like ‘claws,’ ‘crawl,’ ‘pause,’ and ‘yawn.’
Pedal, Mama, Pedal!
When the school bell rings in Animal Town, every mum and dad zooms off to pick up their kids - every single one except poor Mama Bear, who always arrives last. Can a bear who has never ridden before really learn to pedal? And what happens when wobbly wheels meet a brave heart and a cheering cub? Hop on and find out! This decodable reader practises suffixes in words like ’loudly,’ ‘proudly,’ ‘happiness,’ and ‘hopeless.’
Snap! Missed Me!
Dan the monkey loves to play outside in the sunshine, leaping from branch to branch in search of the perfect crunchy leaf. But what happens when a giant fish with snapping jaws is waiting in the stream below? Can Dan dodge those teeth, or will his wild cartwheels land him headfirst into trouble? A cheeky, heart-thumping adventure full of swings, splashes, and near misses! This decodable reader builds confidence with compound words such as ‘sunshine,’ ‘daydream,’ ‘headfirst,’ and ‘midair.’
The Dog Got Out!
When Mum heads to work, one clever little dog has big plans - and they definitely don’t involve staying in the yard! Can he leap the fence, find his pals, and sneak back home before anyone notices he’s gone? With wagging tails, wiggling bottoms, and a surprise sing-along next door, every day is an adventure waiting to happen. What mischief will he get up to today? This decodable reader practises le/al/el/il endings in words like ‘kennel,’ ’little,’ ‘purple,’ ‘wiggle,’ and ‘scrambled.’
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.’