Animal Books for 2nd Graders

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.”

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.’

Little Fish is tired of the same sandy floor, the same boring rocks, the same shallow sea every single day. What wonders might be hiding in the deeper water below? When he sneaks off while his mother’s back is turned, he finds glittering coral, curious crabs - and something far, far scarier resting on the ocean floor. Can Little Fish find his way back to safety? This decodable reader practises suffixes in words like ‘kindly,’ ‘boldly,’ ‘deeper,’ ‘faster,’ and ‘bravely.’

Ned is hungry, and rabbit stew sounds just perfect - but what happens when you shoot at a field of fluffy bunnies? The Book warns him to stop, yet Ned just can’t resist one more shot. Will the little rabbits hop away safely, or is something much bigger and scarier watching from the tall grass? Can Ned find a kinder way to fill his stomach? This decodable reader practises le/al/el/il words such as ’little,’ ‘middle,’ ‘wiggle,’ ‘settle,’ and ’trouble.’

Birds swoop, dragonflies dart, and butterflies drift past on fancy yellow wings - but what about kids without feathers? Could you climb onto a soft cloud and float away at sunset? Could a kite carry you upwards over forests and valleys? Three brilliant friends are determined to find out, even if a silly mistake or two might send them tumbling! This decodable reader practises VC/CV syllables in words like ‘rabbit,’ ‘sunset,’ ‘yellow,’ ‘mountains,’ and ‘until.’

Ned is DONE with fighting monsters - from now on, he’s a man of peace who bakes magnificent cakes! But cakes need milk, and milk needs cows, and cows need a pen… so what happens when darkness falls before the fence is finished? Can Ned bravely protect his new herd through a long, sleepless night? This decodable reader practises words with suffixes such as ‘bravely,’ ’tightly,’ ‘hopeful,’ ‘golden,’ and ’thankful.’

Zom the farmer is losing chickens, and a sneaky fox is to blame! He hammers planks, builds a mighty gate, and even practises his scariest growl - but nothing seems to stop her. Why does this clever fox keep slipping past every trap? Can Zom outwit her before his whole flock disappears? This decodable reader practises suffixes in words like ‘bravely,’ ‘swiftly,’ ‘farmer,’ ‘harder,’ and ‘smarter.’

Dr. Can Do has built the coolest machine ever - smooth blocks, shiny tools, and rows of bamboo shoots ready to feed his stove. But wait, who is that pecking at his beautiful invention? A sneaky little hen keeps breaking the rules, no matter how many times Jill scoots her back to the coop! Can Dr. Can Do figure out how she keeps escaping? This decodable reader practises the ‘oo’ phonogram in words like ‘cool,’ ’tool,’ ‘scoop,’ ‘roof,’ and ‘bloom.’

Paul has a special talent - he loves to draw, but he also loves to play a guessing game! He starts with simple shapes: a big circle, two little ones on top, then a box. Is it a frog? An owl? A car with eyes? Every time you guess, Paul just shakes his head and keeps drawing. Can you work out what Paul’s picture will be before he finishes? This decodable reader practises es plurals in words like ‘sketches,’ ‘rushes,’ ’lashes,’ and ‘dashes.’

Pillagers on the hilltop! Crossbows at the ready! Can one brave hero, an iron golem, and two very loyal dogs hold off wave after wave of raiders? Just when things start looking up, something ENORMOUS snorts out from behind the trees - grey as a storm cloud, with tusks like battering rams. Will a golden axe be enough to save the village? This decodable reader practises words with prefixes, such as ‘defend,’ ‘invade,’ ‘retreat,’ ‘rebuild,’ and ‘unfair.’