Animal Books for 2nd Graders

Deep in a glowing cave, Steve spots something he’s never seen before - two grinning little creatures blinking up at him from a hidden pool! Who are these soggy new friends, and will they like the cosy pond Steve builds back home? Can one explorer really become an axolotl expert overnight? Join Steve for a squishy, splashy adventure full of surprises. This decodable reader practises le/al/el/il endings in words such as ’little,’ ‘puddle,’ ‘gentle,’ ‘sparkle,’ and ‘wriggle.’

A little bird has just flown into a brand-new town, and he doesn’t know a soul! Can he make friends by lending a wing to a fly-bothered rhino, a toothache-y croc, a giraffe with a stick stuck in his fur, and a hungry zebra on lion watch? And when his new pals finally offer to help HIM back, what on earth will he ask for? This cheerful decodable reader practises words with prefixes such as ‘invite,’ ‘detect,’ ‘dismiss,’ ‘unwell,’ and ‘reward.’

Bon’s summer holiday is off to a terrible start - Mum is busy, Dad has gone to work, and Su won’t even look up from her paper folding. Could the most boring summer in history be about to begin? Just when Bon is ready to give up, a wild idea starts to float into his head, and it involves Butter, the family parrot! This decodable reader focuses on the ‘oa’ sound in words like ‘float,’ ‘groan,’ ‘road,’ ‘oak,’ and ‘oats.’

Jack is brilliant at scaring crows and carving pumpkins, but caring for a cat? That’s brand new! Meow just stares with big round eyes, refusing every snack Jack offers - seeds, berries, even fancy salad. What does this mysterious little hunter actually want to eat? Can Jack solve the puzzle before Meow lives on bugs forever? Join him on a food-finding adventure full of surprises. This decodable reader practises ci/si/ti making /sh/ in words such as ‘attention,’ ‘mission,’ ‘passion,’ ‘patience,’ and ‘satisfaction.’

Ned has built a cosy shed, but there’s one big problem - he has no bed! Can a magic book really teach him how to make one? When Ned learns he needs wool from the shyest sheep on the hillside, his plan to shout “Free haircuts!” might not go quite the way he hopes. Will Ned ever get to sleep? This decodable reader practises compound words such as ‘haircut,’ ‘hillside,’ ‘sunshine,’ and ‘bedtime.’

Kalulu the hare watches Nzou the giant elephant drive every other thirsty animal off the last green meadow. But how can a small, quiet hare outwit the loudest, proudest beast along the great river? When Kalulu proposes a contest and Nzou booms his easy agreement, who really holds the cleverer plan? A tale of wit, fairness, and knowing when to ask for help. This Bookbot story practises two syllable words split between two vowels, with lesson words like ‘giant’, ‘quiet’, ‘prior’, and ’triumph’.

Simba the Lion rules the Zambezi, and every animal hides in the reeds when he roars. But when clever Kalulu the Hare is caught carrying his supper, he offers the greedy king an even bigger feast instead. Where is Kalulu really leading him, and can a small hare outwit a mighty lion? Read on to find out! This Bookbot EE level practises the ’ee’ sound, with lesson words like ‘deep’, ‘reeds’, ’trees’, ‘feet’ and ‘deer’.

When a hungry frog snaps up one little wasp for breakfast, he thinks he’s found the perfect snack - but what happens when a snake grabs the frog, a mongoose grabs the snake, and an eagle grabs them all? Can one tiny wasp possibly save this dangling chain of trouble from becoming lunch? Hold on tight for a wild ride through the sky! A decodable reader practising le/al/el/il words such as ’little,’ ’tangle,’ ’tremble,’ ‘humble,’ and ’eagle.’

Dot has a brand new cat, and he looks so sad she’s sure he must be starving! But what does a fussy little cat actually want to eat? Dot boldly tries bread, then juicy apples, then a freshly cooked egg - and nothing works! Will Dot ever figure out the secret to her clever cat’s tummy before the day is done? This decodable reader practises suffixes in words such as ’lovely,’ ‘boldly,’ ‘brightly,’ ‘hopeful,’ and ‘cheerful.’

Fish has decided he is done being a fish. Swimming is boring, bubbles are boring, and being wet all the time feels deeply unfair! So when a grinning cat by the shore claims to be his biggest fan, Fish can hardly believe his luck. But is this cat really the friend he’s been hoping for, or is something fishy going on? This decodable reader practises words with prefixes, including “dislike,” “misfit,” “pretend,” “return,” and “unsure.”