Family Books for 2nd Graders

Mia spots Lily’s shiny new birthday jacket hanging on the bedspread and just HAS to try it on - only for a second, right? But what happens when paint spills all over it in the classroom? Can Mia hide it in the microwave, scrub it clean in the bathtub, and keep her sister from finding out? Or will the truth come tumbling through the doorway? This decodable reader practises compound words such as ‘bedspread,’ ‘classroom,’ ‘microwave,’ ‘bathtub,’ and ‘birthday.’

Have you ever met a grandma who simply cannot stop juggling? Gran can toss anything - pans, spoons, pocket watches, even umbrellas - sending them spinning high through the air! But when a ripe mango goes SPLAT on the wrong head, Gran needs a new plan. Will bright juggling balls save the day, or is more mischief on the way? Watch Gran flip, toss, and twirl under the stars! This decodable reader practises the ‘igh’ phonogram in words such as ‘bright,’ ‘high,’ ’night,’ and ’tight.’

Boy’s little brother snatches everything - even his favourite purple toy! When Mum marches in and sends them both to bed, Boy wishes, just once, he could have something all his own. But what happens when a wild adventure with an enormous elephant puts his brother in real danger? Will Boy reach him in time? This decodable reader practises es plurals in words like ‘bushes,’ ‘dishes,’ ‘branches,’ and ‘crosses.’

When a sudden tapping wakes Kim from her nap, she tiptoes out the doorway to find where the noise is coming from. What could be hiding inside a dusty cottage? And what happens when Kim sits down at a loom that weaves all by itself? Follow along as a brilliant pattern carries her somewhere she never expected to go. This decodable reader practises VC/CV syllables in words such as ‘cottage,’ ‘pattern,’ ‘yellow,’ and ‘sudden.’

When Allie spots an old photo of Mum with a short, pretty haircut, she decides she simply must have one too - so she grabs the craft scissors and gets snipping! But what happens when Allie sees herself in the mirror? Can noodles, green beans, or a blanket of spinach leaves really fix a haircut gone wrong? This decodable reader practises VC/CV syllables in words like ‘haircut,’ ‘mirror,’ ‘scissors,’ ‘blanket,’ and ‘picture.’

Tal only has one job: walk the new calf home before dark. Easy, right? But when his friends call him over for a game on the hill, the rope slips, the calf finds grass, and time slips away too. Can Tal tug, push, and heave a stubborn calf all the way home before the sun sinks? And what happens when a far-off moo drifts across the hills? This decodable reader practises the ’ew’ sound in words like ’new,’ ‘knew,’ ‘flew,’ ‘drew,’ and ‘phew.’

When three wild siblings sneak a peek at Dad’s magic mirror, they expect to see treasure - but horrid green monsters stare back instead! Why does the mirror show trolls with horns and jagged grins? Can a fancy jacket or a big smile fix what’s staring back from the glass? Or is something else going on inside these rotten little troublemakers? This decodable reader practises VC/CV syllables in words like ‘bucket,’ ‘pumpkin,’ ‘fancy,’ and ‘jacket.’

Old Musa has never lost a fishing contest on the lake, and his winning spot could save Otieno’s struggling family. But Musa guards a clever secret, and can a boy with only three small fish outwit him before sunset? Slip into the boat, feel the pull of the deep, and find out how Otieno reads the water. This book helps young readers practise two-syllable words with open syllables, quoting lesson words like ‘moment’, ‘secret’, ‘over’, ‘only’, and ‘quiet’.

Opio is ten, and today he takes the family canoe out alone to check the fish trap. But when a thick fog rolls in and hides the shore, will he remember how to find his way home? As his canoe drifts on the wide open lake, Opio must stay calm and think like his father taught him. What does not move when everything else does? This Bookbot ES story practises ’es’ plurals across two syllables, with lesson words like ‘splashes’, ‘catches’, ‘rushes’, ‘searches’, and ‘watches’.

Sam and his sister are the greatest monster slayers in the whole entire world - no question! But what happens when a new kind of monster creeps in, one that hides inside Sam’s head like a fog and won’t budge, no matter how loudly you shout? Can a broom, a bucket, and a whole lot of love help bring the real Sam back? This decodable reader practises es plurals in words like ‘crushes,’ ‘wishes,’ ‘pushes,’ ‘searches,’ and ‘inches.’