Read Aloud Choices for Year 2

Three delightful stories about Too Small Tola, a young girl who, though small, is very determined. Tola lives in a flat in Lagos with her sister, Moji, who is very clever; her brother, Dapo, who is very fast; and Grandmummy, who is very bossy. Episodic stories are a good choice for year 2. They develop familiarity with characters but do not have to hold a long complex narrative in their heads from one read-aloud session to the next. There are more Tola stories to be enjoyed when you have finished this collection.

Mr Penguin, adventurer and penguin. Indiana Jones meets Hercule Poirot in this hilarious mystery series. Our reviewer, Laura Ovenden chose this book for her year 2 class. The language is quite challenging, so it may work best towards the end of year 2.

Everything on the Island of Ashes is grey, from the weather to the castle, the grass and the flowers. But then the red boat arrives, and with it a young man who believes he is cursed – everything he touches turns to colour. Princess Opal and the people of the island are enchanted, but the King is suspicious and imprisons him. This book is a hugely popular choice in our award-winning Reading Gladiators.

Nobody notices the Queen on the corner. Nobody, that is… except one young girl. An important story about recognising the worthofn all human beings regardless of their circumstances. This story was inspired by the author’s encounters with homeless people.

There once was a king who hated bath time so much that he never washed. He was a very smelly king! The king is finally persuaded to bathe in the river but no matter how clean the rest of him is, his feet stay dirty. Until someone has the bright idea of making a pair of shoes. Sally Pomme Clayton is a renowned storyteller and this comes across in this lively telling of this story – perfect for reading aloud.

A gorgeous and evocative story of how the animals got their colours. A majestic retelling of this fable perfectly matched with Laura Carlin’s illustration. Our reviewer, Jonny Walker, writes, ‘This is one of the best picture books I’ve reviewed in recent years, and by some margin. The language is precise and energetic, and Carlin’s illustrations contain much detail and life. A book to read aloud with a barely suppressed lump in the throat.’

A funny retelling of The Frog Prince told with characteristic rhyme and rhythm by Peter Bently. Children will also enjoy The King’s Birthday Suit based on Hans Andersen’s The Emperor’s New Clothes.

Lonely Alma longs to explore the lush forest beyond her narrow town, but her uncle has forbidden it. One night, she ventures into the trees to see the forest for herself. There she discovers a wonderful and welcoming place, and a frightened bear cub all alone. A short story with lovely full-colour illustrations.

With a shrill whistle, the Night Train is off, delivering its passengers to children’s dreams. The yeti, the ballet dancer, the friendly monster and the princess all have starring roles. A lovely read-aloud for a winter’s afternoon, this story has something of the feel of The Polar Express in the snowy landscapes the train travels through. Gorgeous colour illustrations will need sharing on the visualiser so children can appreciate them. It’s a pity this book doesn’t;t have chapters or marked stopping points, so you’ll need to plan them in advance.

When the Stewarts spend a sunny, frosty December day at London Zoo, they’re enchanted by one small penguin. At the delight of young Imogen and Arthur, Mrs Stewart insists the penguin “must come and stay with them whenever he likes.” But not one Stewart expects the penguin to turn up at their door that evening, rucksack labelled “Einstein” on his back… Children love to feel superior to characters in stories, particularly adults and they will delight in the incompetence of parents, teachers and zookeepers in this most enjoyable read aloud.

Most children will be familiar with Paddington from the popular films. The original episodic stories written by Michael Bond reflect the language and period detail of an earlier time. While the language might be a challenge for most independent readers in year 2, they are made accessible when read aloud by a teacher. Written in a classic storytelling voice.

The classic collection of episodic stories about a woman who shrinks to the size of a pepperpot and has lots of adventures. The joy of short stories is that you can dip in and choose a story when it suits.