Family Books for 2nd Graders
The Nest
Bird has waited three long weeks for her eggs to hatch, but when hunger pulls her off the nest, a curious dog comes sniffing around the leaves. Will she make it back in time? And what will her chicks do when they tumble out and meet the wrong mum first? This decodable reader practises le/al/el/il words such as ’little,’ ‘gobbles,’ ’tremble,’ and ‘huddle.’
Don't Drop That Mango!
It’s harvest day, and every single mango matters! Can you help balance the baskets, climb the trees, and keep the fruit safe from hungry insects and wobbly cousins? From the farm to the picnic blanket to the busy market, golden mangoes roll and tumble everywhere - but whatever you do, don’t drop that mango! Will every last one make it safely into the truck? This decodable reader practises VC/CV syllables in words like ‘basket,’ ‘mango,’ ‘picnic,’ and ‘farmer.’
Jim Brags Big
When Jim sees Len’s shiny new toy boat, something twisty happens in his tummy - and suddenly he’s bragging about owning the best stuff in the WORLD! But Jim’s toy box only holds a dented ball and an old board game. Could borrowing treasures from Grandpa’s plants, Gran’s craft basket, and Mum’s dresser save the day? Or will one missing perfume bottle give the whole game away? This decodable reader practises es plurals through words like ‘boxes,’ ‘bushes,’ ‘fixes,’ ‘dresses,’ and ‘riches.’
Trees Don't Take Naps!
What happens when a girl decides she’s a tree and trees absolutely, positively do NOT take naps? With leaf-hair dancing in the breeze, she zooms past bushes, bosses a whole row of trees around, and hides from Dad in the sneakiest spots. But what happens when the path disappears and her legs start feeling oh-so-heavy? This decodable reader practises ci/si/ti making /sh/ in words like ‘fraction,’ ‘attention,’ ‘sensation,’ ‘mission,’ and ‘motionless.’
Wait for Me, Dad!
Dad rides off to work every morning - but what if a little girl decided to chase him all the way across the world? Could a scooter be fast enough? A bus? A digger? From zooming roads to splashing waves, one determined girl refuses to give up until she spots something huge on the horizon. Which ride would YOU pick first? This decodable reader practises suffixes in words like ‘faster,’ ‘proudly,’ ’tightly,’ and ‘fearless.’
Who's Playing Up There?
Look up! Can you spot a human figure dancing in the clouds? When a cloud man waves down at three curious kids, a whole sky-band joins in with music, jigs, and opera singing. But what happens when the drummer pounds too hard and the sky turns dark? Will the children make it home before the storm? This decodable reader practises 2-syllable open words such as ‘human,’ ‘music,’ ’lady,’ and ’tiny.’
Don't Let Go, Bub!
When a cheeky gust of wind lifts Bub clean off the park bench - with the kite string still in her hand - who will hold on tight enough to bring her back down? Pup grabs her foot, Tim grabs Pup, Kim grabs Tim, and soon the whole family is dangling like a wobbly kite tail. Will Mum even notice before they float away? This decodable reader practises prefixes in words like ’nonstop,’ ‘unfair,’ ‘dismay,’ ‘return,’ and ‘unroll.’
Don't Look Around the Corner!
What happens when a brave girl sets off to walk to Grandad’s house all by herself for the very first time? The sunshine is warm, the pathway is familiar, and nothing could possibly go wrong - until a sharp YAP bursts from around the corner and her footsteps freeze. Is there a monstrous beast waiting just out of sight, or something else entirely? This decodable reader practises compound words such as ‘doorstep,’ ‘driveway,’ ‘pathway,’ ‘footsteps,’ and ‘sunshine.’
Look What I Can Do!
Can you cook and clean and ride a bike all in one day? One little helper is bursting with big plans and wants Mum to see every single thing they can do - from mixing lunch in the bowl to hanging clothes in a row and even pedalling a shiny bike. But will the bravest trick of all go to plan, or will something surprise them both? This decodable reader practises the ‘ow’ phonogram in words like ‘bowl,’ ‘down,’ ‘grow,’ and ‘wow.’
Joy and the Boy!
Joy has been counting down the days, and today is finally the day her cousin Roy is coming to stay! Can she really show him the best day ever? From the golden grain fields to a slippery catch in the stream, and a warm, crispy snack that makes their eyes go wide, this is a day packed with surprises - but what will turn out to be the very best part? This decodable reader practises oi/oy words such as ‘joy,’ ‘hoist,’ ’noise,’ ‘moist,’ and ‘voice.’