second grade book report books

31 BEST Chapter Books for Second Graders

Last Updated on December 1, 2023 by Louisa

Choosing chapter books for second graders can be a daunting task. At this age, it’s probably the first chapter book they’ve ever read, which makes it feel even more daunting.

But it doesn’t have to feel like a chore selecting that first chapter book for second grade kids. There are a ton of really great books for 2nd graders out there that kids absolutely love.

If you’re struggling to pick that perfect 2nd grade chapter book, don’t worry, because I have picked out the best of the best.

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31 of the BEST Chapter Books for 2nd Graders

So without further ado, here are the best chapter books for 2nd graders, whether it’s their first book or their fifth, these chapter books have been written for 6-8-year-olds, perfect for 2nd-grade kids.

1. Magic Tree House Series – Mary Pope Osborne

The New York Times number one bestselling early chapter book series for 2nd graders is The Magic Tree House . The series is filled with magic, mystery, and loads of adventure.

Jack and Annie’s lives are ordinary until they chance upon a magical tree house. The treehouse allows them to travel back in time into a world full of haunted castles, treasure chests, secret maps, and solve mysteries.

They also get a glimpse into Elizabethan England and the historic American Revolution.

Will they be able to return home in time or will they have to fight the dinosaurs?

These beautifully illustrated novels paired with simple words make it the best first chapter book for second graders.

It’s been a beloved favorite of children for over 25 years, and no doubt this chapter book series will instill a lifelong love for reading in your child.

View it on:

2. The Flat Stanley Collection – Jeff Brown

What Jeff Brown narrated as a bedtime story to his sons is now a famous book worldwide.

Stanley Lambchop was an ordinary boy until one night a bulletin board fell on him and made him flat forever.

Despite being only half an inch thick but Stanley has had some amazing, silly, and fun-filled adventures all over the world.

Be it sliding through the door-slit or mailing himself across the country in a tiny envelope or be it jetting off into an invisible space to rescue aliens, is there anything that Stanley can’t do?

A delightful read with black and white illustrations for 5 to 8-year-olds. 

3. The Invisible String – Patrice Karst

With half a million copies sold worldwide, The Invisible String holds a special place in the hearts of parents, educators, and children of course!

With heart-warming cute pictures, it simplifies various mental health issues like anxiety, grief, and separation in a very child-friendly manner.

It is a story of a mother who tells her kids that we are all bound by an invisible string called Love which cannot be seen but can only be felt.

The book tells how love can conquer everything and it also beautifully addresses deeper and more difficult conversations which kids can easily relate to but feel difficult to speak about.

This is a heartfelt chapter book full of love for your little one!

4. Dog Man: Grime And Punishment – Dav Pilkey

The ninth graphic novel of the series from Dog Man series, by worldwide bestselling author Dav Pilkey , is Dog Man Grime and Punishment .

Dogman loves to solve mysteries, and your 2nd graders will love solving mysteries with him.

Will his dog pack help him tackle it or will he have to face it alone?

Set against a backdrop of kindness, empathy, and good deeds, Dog Man is filled with hilarious moments which will have your child rolling with laughter. Some moments celebrate friendship and the victory of good over evil.

An interactive, colorful, and emotional graphic novel penned creatively into comic strips, which is read and re-read by kids and parents all over the world.

This is the ideal first chapter book for second graders because it has a lot of pictures to keep them engaged.

5. The Never Girls Collection (Disney Fairies) – Kiki Thorpe

A story of four best friends who meet a fairy, and by accident are whisked to Neverland in the blink of an eye.

A cute adaptation of the fairytale world filled with magical adventures in the forest, this book is an absolute favorite with kids and especially 2nd grade girls.

A wonderful gift for readers between the age of 6-8 years old, packed in an attractive box, this will keep them immersed in a world of dreams, fairies, and loads of magical moments as they get lost in these beautiful books for hours.

With a bit of a resemblance to the ‘Peter Pan’ series, this will surely be a hit for your second-grade child.

6. The Danger Gang – Tom Fletcher

Written by the UK’s most popular children’s book author (and singer of the pop rock band McFly), Tom Fletcher, The Danger Gang is the story of Franky who is moving out of his town, leaving his best friend Dani behind.

One night a scary storm, a strange green light, and a powerful thunder changed his life forever.

All his friends change as well, becoming a bit odd and gaining magical powers. Franky is excited with his new avatar as it resembles his hero Super Spy, Zack Danger, but what lies ahead? 

With well-written characters and a gripping plot, this makes The Danger Gang an enjoyable read not just for the kids but for the entire family as well.

7. The Diary Of A Wimpy Kid – Jeff Kinney

Written by #1 New York Times bestselling author Jeff Kinney , this book needs no introduction.

Said to be a ‘Novel in Cartoons’ and a part of extra-curricular reading, this is based on the adventures of an imaginary character, Greg Heffley, an avid video-game lover, who is forced into writing a diary by his mother.

His journal illustrates his daily life, school stories, adventures on his vacations and so much more, which makes it relatable to every kid who reads it.

Every character in this book, from Greg, his mom, and even his not-so-loved dog, is beautifully written and has turned millions of kids into avid readers.

8. Gangsta Granny – David Walliams

A bestseller from the critically acclaimed author David Walliams, this is the story of Ben who is dropped off at his granny’s place every Friday as his parents go to watch a ballet.

He finds her to be incredibly boring as she only plays Scrabble and makes dishes with cabbage, which Ben isn’t fond of.

What Ben doesn’t know is that his granny was once an international thief and has been plotting all her life to steal the crown jewels with Ben’s help. But will they succeed?

A suspenseful and hilarious book with a bittersweet ending that is worth adding to your child’s book collection.

9. Fancy Nancy Series – Jane O’Connor

A beautiful children’s picture book series based on the life of Nancy, a young girl with a larger-than-life persona who loves dressing up and likes all her things to be stylish.

She isn’t too pleased with how ordinary her family is, so she hosts a class on ‘The Art of Fanciness’ for them to which they oblige.

Filled with pleasing pastel artwork, detailed illustrations, and a variety of new words, this series will help your second-grade child learn valuable life lessons from the protagonist.

A beautiful gifting option that will help enrich your child’s vocabulary in the process of enjoying this wonderfully written series.

10. Diary Of An Ice Princess: Snow Place Like Home – Christina Soontornvat

Princess Lina hails from a magical family and stays in an enchanting palace in the clouds. She has the power to fly and her bedroom can magically transform into a real-life snow globe.

But all Princess Lina wants is a normal non-magical life in a non-magical school with her best friend Claudia. But will she be able to keep the secret of her icy life from others?

A visual delight, this awesome book is filled with values like the importance of friendship, love, and dealing with pressure from the family. A magical read for your kid!

11. Stink: The Super Incredible Shrinking Kid – Megan Mcdonald

Brother of the popular character, Judy Moody, Stink is a short boy and continues to shrink each day.

He measures himself daily only to realize there isn’t much that he can do about it and will only have to wait till he is older to become tall again.

A must-read for comic book fans, the child-savvy humor brings Stink’s story to life.

It perfectly captures the love between the two siblings with playful language and simple illustrations that will surely keep your child engrossed in this book for hours together.

A simple and funny book with good life lessons. If you’re looking for similar chapter books for 2nd graders, check out the Judy Moody was in a Mood series, too!

12. Yasmin Series – Saadia Faruqi

A colorful, inspiring, and wonderfully written series based on the life of a young girl, Yasmin, who describes incidents from her day-to-day life.

In one book she is stuck on an idea for her school project until recess time when she suddenly gets inspired and comes up with a new idea for the various roles she plays, such as a Teacher, a Chef, and many more.

What’s important is the way she deals with all her problems in her life creatively and cleverly, without ever giving up hope.

 This series will surely bring a smile to your child’s face! It comes with a craft suggestion at the end of the book which is an added bonus.

13. A Bear Called Paddington – Michael Bond

Meet Paddington! Our friendly bear wearing an old hat, a battered coat, and carrying a suitcase with a jar of marmalade. He is polite and kind-hearted but often innocently finds himself getting into trouble.

Found at the Paddington station and adopted by the Brown family, he has been receiving love from many generations across the world for his cute and funny adventures.

This bear will teach your child some of the most beautiful life lessons in an engaging way.

A delightful jolly ride with this loveable accident-prone bear is sure to make you and your child laugh out loud.

This is not only a great introductory chapter book for second graders, but a novel that will stay in the family for generations.

Related post: Books about Food for Children

14. The Zack Files – Dan Greenburg

The Zack Files is a humorous series based on the life of a ten-year-old who encounters paranormal problems.

Zack always manages to get into some trouble in the course of his adventures, but his best friends somehow manage to get him out of it in some way or the other.

Be it when Zack’s Grandpa had reincarnated into a cat or the time when he shared a room with a ghost, all these funny and silly misadventures are sure to tickle the funny bone of your little one!

A big hit with kids aged 7 and above.

15. Stuart Little – E.B. White

A famous and worldwide bestseller, E.B. White’s Stuart Little is based on the life of a tiny, smart, kind, and extremely brave mouse who loves adventures.

He lives in New York with his parents, elder brother, and a cat named Snowbell.

He loves his family and goes to great lengths to help them. He jumps down a drain to find his mom’s lost ring and crawls down a piano to fix the piano keys before his brother’s piano concert.

He befriends a cute bird named Margalo, but once she disappears suddenly, Stuart steps out of his house for the first time to find her. But what happens next?

This is a wonderful book worth buying for your young second-grade reader.

16. Martin Luther King Jr. (Little People Big Dreams) – Maria Isabel Sanchez V

A worldwide bestseller from the critically acclaimed author, this book chronicles the life of an inspiring minister and an activist for civil rights, Martin Luther King Jr.

An empowering series that highlights the importance of not tolerating injustice and fighting for what is right.

They say ‘A pen is mightier than the sword’ and he proved that. A real-life hero whose stories will greatly inspire your children. Important life lessons written in lucid language make this book worth adding to your child’s book collection.

It has some extra facts and a biographical timeline at the end of the book, which makes it very interesting to read.

17. Ivy And Bean – Annie Barrows

A fabulous book for young readers from Grade 1 to 4, Ivy and Bean is a story of two friends who are complete opposites.

Bean finds Ivy to be boring, but one fine day Bean rescues her from trouble and things take a U-turn. They both become the best of friends.

The book is filled with a plethora of new words which will enrich your child’s vocabulary and also some important lessons based on friendship, love, and empathy.

Some incidents make them incredibly happy and at the same time, they make some mistakes only to learn from them later. This book beautifully celebrates the joy of friendship.

18. Frog And Toad Are Friends – Arnold Lobel

Frog and Toad are Friends is a chapter book series of five adventurous tales of the friendship of a frog and a toad, written in simple language for those beginning chapter books.

The frog is cheerful and likes to relax and enjoy life, whereas the toad is a bit uptight, but they love going together for a swim, flying kites, and writing letters to each other.

They set a great example of friendship and loyalty by supporting each other through thick and thin times perfectly describing ‘A friend in need is a friend indeed’ .

Wonderfully illustrated, this chapter book series is filled with heartwarming stories and is sure to make your 2nd grade child fall in love with reading from an early age.

19. Hi! Fly Guy – Tedd Arnold

Imaginative and creatively written, this is a story of a boy named Buzz who has an unusual pet. A fly!

It is a hilarious novel showing their friendship and adventures through silly drawings. The fly accompanies Buzz wherever he goes, be it his school, garden as well as on his vacations.

There is never a dull moment when they are together and they have a sweet world of their own with its ups and downs.

A very simple and entertaining book that will help your little one experience the simple joy of reading from a young age.

20. Katie Woo And Friends – Fran Manushkin

Katie Woo and Friends is an award-winning series for 2nd graders. Just like other kids, Katie Woo has two best friends JoJo and Pedro.

The trio love going on adventures together, such as camping, losing a tooth, and even saying goodbye to their dog together.

A well-written story with simple characters that emphasizes the importance of true friendship and comradery.

The best part is that each chapter has a story of its own story, which makes it a favorite among young readers with short attention spans.

A pleasant and riveting read filled with lessons on empathy, forgiveness, and sharing that children can easily connect with.

This book would be a great addition to your child’s reading list.

21. Kay’s Marvellous Medicines: A Gross And Gruesome History Of The Human Body – Adam Kay, Jan Ravens Et Al

A hilarious read from bestselling authors, this book is filled with funny and informative facts about the human body with references to ancient history seasoned with loads of humor.

It takes you back to an era when doctors would experiment on the human body. Medicine meets history in this hilarious book.

It mentions funny facts like why ancient Egyptians felt that the brain was a useless load to why hairdressers chopped off their customer’s legs, which will leave your child amazed and laughing.

Though gruesome in some places, it makes the complexity of the human body approachable and will develop a liking for science in your little one and keep him or her engrossed for hours!

22. You Are An Amazing Girl: A Collection Of Inspiring Stories Of Courage, Friendship, Inner Strength And Self-Confidence – Nadia Ross

An encouraging and uplifting book especially for young girls, designed to help them realize how unique they are and that nobody is perfect.

To believe in their dreams and never give up in the toughest of situations. It tells how one should respect and love their parents and beautifully teaches them life lessons about confidence, self-esteem, and self-love.

Written in the form of ten short stories, it will encourage your little one to read the book by herself.

The protagonist deals with many situations in her daily life and the reader will surely relate to them. Absolutely recommended for all little girls and it is also a great gifting option.

23. Henry and Mudge – Cynthia Rylant

Henry and Mudge are best friends. Henry is a young boy who was feeling lonely when the other children on the street wouldn’t play with him. But he finds companionship in a lovable big dog named Mudge.

The books in this series are warm-hearted and funny, and written in simple vocabulary and accompanied by delightful illustrations, which make them the perfect first chapter books for children.

Another popular book by Cynthia Rylant is In Aunt Lucy’s Kitchen, the first book in the series, Cobble Street Cousins.

24. Mercy Watson Series – Kate Dicamillo

Another beloved chapter books for 2nd graders series is the Mercy Watson series by Kate Dicamillo.

Mercy Watson is a pig who loves a rollicking good time. Whether she’s foiling a robber or squeezing into a tutu, there’s no telling what adventures she will get into. 

Mercy Watson has been a beloved favorite for second grade children for decades and her adventures will have your child laughing and eager to read the next book.

25. Cam Jansen Series – David A. Adler

The Cam Jansen Series are some of the most popular chapter books for 2nd grade children of all time.

Cam Jansen loves a mystery, and with her amazing photographic memory, she’s great at solving them. The first novel of this series follows Cam as she helps to catch a diamond thief.

With the help of her best friend Eric, Cam and Eric help the police find the robber after they witness them arrest the wrong person. 

The Cam Jansen books are perfect for first time chapter book readers. Cam is a lovable young heroine who has been a favorite children’s hero for over two decades.

26. Junie B Jones Series – Barbara Park

The Junie B Jones Series follows the world’s most hilarious kindergartener as she starts school for the very first time.

This #1 New York Times bestselling chapter book series has sold over 65 million copies worldwide and has been helping children transition to chapter books for more than 25 years.

Follow Junie’s hilarious classroom antics, go on adventures, and follow the hilarious goings-on in her kindergarten class.

27. Nate the Great – Marjorie W. Sharmat, Mitchell Sharmat, Craig Sharmat

Nate the Great is the world’s greatest detective. In the first novel of the series, he is tasked with solving the mystery of the lost picture!

Targeted at beginner chapter book readers, this series will instill a love of reading as your child learns to problem solve along with Nate. 

Nate also teaches problem-solving by using logical thinking. 

28. Gooney Bird Greene – Lois Lowry

When Gooney Bird Greene turns up at Watertower Elementary School, she’s shocked everyone with her unique style and unusual lunches.

This second grader is quirky but in all the good ways, and that suits Gooney Bird just fine. She also has lots of “true” stories to tell!

From the highly acclaimed author of The Giver , Lois Lowry brings us a heartwarming series that makes for the perfect chapter book for second graders.

Not only because of the language, writing style, and illustrations but because the main character is a second-grade kid, too. 

29. Amelia Bedelia – Peggy Parish

Amelia Bedelia is a hilarious chapter book by Peggy Parish. The stories follow a young girl, Amelia, who does exactly what Mr and Mrs Rogers tell her not to do.

Sometimes she gets things mixed up and does everything wrong, but it always turns out alright in the end.

Amelia Bedelia has been a lovable beginner chapter book series for children in the second grade for decades and is sure to be loved for more decades to come.

30. Diary of an Ice Princess Series – Christina Soontornvat

The Diary of an Ice Princess is a collection of chapter books written for 2nd-grade reading level.

Each book in the series is a fun-filled story following Princess Lina. She has the princess life that all little girls dream of.

She lives in a palace in the clouds, and everyone in her family can control the weather. She can even fly!

Princess Lina enjoys turning lemons into lemon ice, riding the wind, and turning her bedroom into a snow globe.

But Princess Lina wants to go to a regular school for non-magic people with her best friend, Claudia. She promises not to reveal her magic…but can she?

31. Rainbow Magic – Orchard Books

The Rainbow Magic series is the perfect chapter book series for 2nd grade girls looking for a fairy adventure to get lost in.

The first book follows Kirsty and Rachel who are having a greatl time at the Fairytale Festival. But there’s a problem.

The evil Jack Frost has stolen the magical objects from the Fairytale Fairies’, and now the Fairytale characters are trapped in the human world!

It’s up to Rachel and Kirsty to find them and restore magic to fairytales everywhere.

The Rainbow Magic series are all based on well-known and beloved fairytales, from sleeping beauty to Cinderella to The Little Mermaid.

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Final Word on Best Chapter Books for Second Graders

So there you have it, those are my top chapter books for 2nd graders, suitable for both boys and girls, from ages 6-8.

These beginner novels will be the perfect starter book for your child that will help them fall in love with reading and develop an interest in new stories.

Of course, there are so many 2nd grade chapter books that couldn’t make it on my list. Have I missed anything? Let me know in the comments.

About Louisa Smith

Editor/Founder - Epic Book Society

Louisa is the Founder, Editor, and Head Honcho of Epic Book Society. She was born and raised in the United Kingdom and graduated from the University for the Creative Arts with a degree in Journalism. Louisa began her writing career at the age of 7 when her poetry was published in an anthology of poems to celebrate the Queen's Jubilee. Upon graduating university, she spent several years working as a journalist writing about books before transitioning to become a Primary School Teacher. Louisa loves all genres of books, but her favorites are Sci-Fi, Romance, Fantasy, and Young Adult Fiction. Read more Louisa's story here .

1 thought on “31 BEST Chapter Books for Second Graders”

Great blog post! I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the chapter book series for 2nd graders.

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50 Must-Read Books for Second Graders

by AuthorAmy

Welcome to Amy’s Bookshelf! Here, teachers will find carefully curated book lists for each grade level from kindergarten to twelfth grade. Moving forward, new lists filled with book recommendations will be published weekly. Sometimes, these lists will be organized around a specific theme, like a holiday or seasonal event. Other times, they will feature rockstar books – books practically guaranteed to get your students reading. 

Before jumping into reading recommendations, a few words about how books are selected.

First, it is so important that teachers prioritize reading interest over reading level. Students will often choose to read well above or below their reading level if they are particularly interested in a book or topic. Teachers only hurt students by limiting them to a specific selection of titles grouped according to an arbitrary number or level. Think of the books on these lists as starting places for you and your students, but if a student wants to read up (or down), that is a-ok.

Also, please note that these lists lean heavily toward modern selections as opposed to the classics many teachers are familiar with. A true renaissance is happening in children’s literature today, and the books coming out are truly exciting. One of the factors that makes this such an exciting time for kid lit is how diverse the selections are in terms of genre, characters and subject matter. These lists will feature fiction and nonfiction selection as well as graphic novels, novels written in verse, and more.

Any book list or classroom library worth its salt includes books featuring LGBTQIA+ characters, racially diverse characters, characters with disabilities, characters in the foster care system, characters from a wide variety of socioeconomic and religious backgrounds, and so on. Importantly, the diversity of the characters doesn’t always need to be the focus of the literature – in other words, a book featuring a black character or gay character doesn’t need to be about those individuals exploring their blackness or their gayness; those characters can have kid problems that apply to all children regardless of their race or sexual orientation. Similarly, students should be encouraged to read stories featuring people of diversity all year long – not just during a month set aside to celebrate a specific heritage.

One final note: today’s children’s literature does not shy away from frank discussions of gender, race, sex, sexuality, abuse, mental illness, and more – nor should it. I will not censor books from these lists based on these controversial areas. What books you recommend will depend on the specific district you work in and your clientele. I encourage you and your students to read widely without fear.

Second grade

This second-grade list contains a healthy mix of picture books and chapter books as elementary-aged students are stretching their reading wings and growing into reading independently. While second-graders may be more capable of reading on their own, they still love to hear stories out loud from the adults in their lives – and hearing stories outloud reinforces their growth as independent readers.

Just so you know, Bored Teachers may get a small share of the sales made through the links on this page.

1. Hello Lighthouse

by Sophie Blackall

Get it HERE .

Hello Lighthouse won the 2019 Caldecott Medal for exemplary illustrations in a picture book. This surprisingly emotional story tells the tale of a lighthouse keeper and his family. It’s outstanding.

2. Most Magnificent Thing

by Ashley Spires

A young girl has an idea for a new invention – a magnificent thing! She works hard to build her invention but can’t get it quite right. She gets mad and quits. She takes her dog for a walk and comes back to the project with renewed vigor and gets it just right! It’s a great story that teaches about the power of perseverance.

3. What Do You Do With an Idea?

by Kobi Yamada, illustrated by Mae Besom

This book explores the creative process and the ephemeral, uncertain way in which we are struck with new ideas. A young boy has an idea, but he doesn’t know exactly what to do with it. Soon he feels comfortable sharing his idea, and while some people laugh, others understand. Readers learn to trust their ideas and see them through to fruition.

4. The Princess in Black

by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale, illustrated by LeUyen Pham

Princess Magnolia is a dainty lady by day but the Princess in Black in secret. In her alter ego, she fights monsters and saves the day. This is the first book in a series of chapter books perfect for showing readers you don’t have to fit into a traditional role but can make it your own.

5. Firefly July

by Paul B. Janeczko, illustrated by Melissa Sweet

Thirty-six short poems explore the seasons in Firefly July. This is a great book that can act as a mentor text for students beginning to write their own short poems, too.              

6. The Hundred Dresses

by Eleanor Estes, illustrated by Louis Slobodkin

This is the story of a young girl named Wanda who is bullied by her classmates for wearing the same dress every day. Eventually, Wanda leaves the school and her classmates feel terrible. This was originally published in 1945 and was named a Newbery Honor Book.

7. The Paper Bag Princess

by Robert Munsch, illustrated by Michael Martchenko

The traditional fairy tale trope is turned on its head in this story as princess Elizabeth sets out to rescue Prince Ronald from a fierce dragon. It’s empowering and fun.

8. Feel the beat

by Marilyn Singer, illustrated by Kristi Valiant

This is a fantastic poetry collection in which the poems are written to mimic the style of various forms of dance, everything from hip-hop to samba. It makes the music of other cultures highly accessible and is just a ton of fun, too.

9. All the Colors of the Earth

by Sheila Hamanaka

This book celebrates both nature’s beauty and human diversity by comparing human skin and hair colors to the nature’s scenery and landscapes. It’s written in rhyming, poetic text that makes it a lovely read-aloud.

10. Billy Twitters and his Blue Whale Problem

by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Adam Rex

Billy isn’t following the rules at home, so his parents get him a pet whale as a punishment. Now Billy has to care for his blue whale, which includes taking it for walks through the hilly streets of San Francisco. It’s a ridiculous premise that delivers lots of laughs.

11. Joseph Had a Little Overcoat

by Simms Taback

This is an interactive book which is great to read with a child. Joseph has an old coat full of holes (these are actual holes in the book). Rather than just throwing the coat away, he turns it into something else.

12. A Bear Called Paddington

by Michael Bond, illustrated by Peggy Fortnum

A Bear Called Paddington has been a staple of children’s literature since 1958. It’s about a bear, originally from Peru, who winds up in London with the Brown family. This is the first in a series of novels starring Paddington and his adventures.

13. Bunnicula

by Deborah and James Howe

Howard, a pet dog, and his friend Chester, a pet cat, are a bit concerned when a baby bunny is added to the family. The bunny turns out to be a vampire bunny, and Chester and Howard set out to save their family from Bunnicula. It’s hilarious so a great choice for emerging readers.

14. Heckedy Peg

by Audrey Wood, illustrated by Don Wood

The authors of Heckedy Peg have created a modern fairy tale reminiscient of the Brothers Grimm. A mother leaves her seven children at home, each named for a day of the week, while she goes to the local village. A witch turns the children into food, and when the mother gets home, she has once chance to guess which child is which food item to get her children back.

15. The Lion and the Mouse

by Jerry Pinkney

This wordless picture book is a retelling of one of Aesop’s fables. A lion spares a small mouse, who returns one day to help the lion out of a hunter’s net. The moral is that no act of kindness is ever wasted. The illustrations are simply beautiful.

16. Not All Princesses Dress in Pink

by Jane Yolen, E. Y. Stemple, illustrated by Anne-Sophie Lanquetin                                                                                   

This empowering story shows girls playing baseball, climbing trees, and stomping in mud puddles – all while wearing tiaras! It’s a great way to encourage young readers to get outside and be active.

17. The Boy and the Whale

by Mordicai Gerstein

A boy finds a whale entangled in a net. Remembering the time when he almost drown ed as a child, he determines he will save the whale. The author based this story on a new report of a whale rescue.

18. The Princess and the Warrior: A Tale of Two Volcanoes

by Duncan Tonatiuh

Princess Izta rejects all her suitors until the warrior Popoca pledges his love to her. She gives him her hand, though her father isn’t sure. Popoca is told he may marry the princess if he can defeat the neighboring ruler. Popoca battles Jaguar Claw and ultimately wins, but the defeated ruler tricks Izta into falling into a poisoned sleep. Popoca, devestated, lays down beside her. Legend has it that both became sleeping volcanoes.

19. Drum Dream Girl

by Margarita Engle, illustrated by Rafael López

Drum Dream Girl was inspired by Millo Castro Zaldarriaga, a Chinese-African-Cuban girl who became a drummer in Cuba, defying the taboo against girl drummers. In this story, a girl grows up hearing that girls can’t be drummers, so she practices in secret. When the village hears her music, the taboo is broken.

20. Infinity and Me

by Kate Hosford, illustrated by Gabi Swiatkowska

A young girl named Uma ponders the concept of infinity, an abstract concept made much easier to grasp by the examples in the book.

21. On a Beam of Light

by Jennifer Berne, illustrated by Vladimir Radunsky

This is one of many, many picture book biographies that have been released in the last decade. On a Beam of Light tells the story of a young Einstein as he becomes the genuis we know him as.

22. The Boy Who Loved Math: The Improbable Life of Paul Erdos

by Deborah Heiligman, illustrated by LeUyen Pham

This picture book biography is about mathematician Paul Erdos, a genius who traveled the world collaborating on math projects. Young readers see the world numerically, through Paul’s eyes as the book also explores various mathematical concepts.

23. Wild About Books

by Judi Sierra, illustrated by Marc Brown

Molly McGrew drives the bookmobile – and one day, she drives it straight to the zoo! The animals are eager to check out the books, and the whole story is written in fantastic rhyming text with lots of allusions to popular texts.

24. Diary of a Wombat

by Jackie French, illustrated by Bruce Whatley

The book is quite literally what the title suggests – it’s the diary of a wombat who records his daily activities, especially his efforts to get nearby humans to feed him. The text is funny and contains a message about the importance of not feeding wildlife.

25. We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball

by Kadir Nelson

We Are the Ship could be just another nonfiction picture, but having an unnamed narrator tell the story of the Negro Leagues makes the reader feel incredibly close to the narrative, as if they are sitting on the back porch listening to someone tell the story. This book beautifully tells the story of players and owners who fought against segregation to make the Negro League baseball a reality.

26. Alligator Pie written

by Dennis Lee, illustrated by Frank Newfeld

Poet Dennis Lee is known as “Canada’s Father Goose,” and the classic book Alligator Pie is why. This is a quirky poetry collection featuring Lee’s well-known verses such as the popular “Willoughby Wallaby Woo.”

27. Library Lion

by Michelle Knudson, illustrated by Kevin Hawkes

Library Lion was published in 2009, but it has a much more timeless feel, like it belongs to the era of The Velveteen Rabbit. In this story, the strict librarian doesn’t quite know what to do when a lion wanders into her library – after all, he doesn’t actually break any of her rules. In the end, the lion saves the day and wins over the librarian.

28. Stellaluna

by Janell Cannon

A fruit bat named Stellaluna is separated from her mother in an owl attack and lands in a bird’s nest. This educational story teaches the differences between bats and birds, as Stellaluna learns the same.

29. Magic School Bus In the Time of the Dinosaurs

by Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen

Ms. Frizzle is the science teacher everyone wants to have. Instead of just teaching science, she loads up her class in the trusty old magic school bus and takes her students on an array of adventures. The entire Magic School Bus series is incredibly fun and educational. In this particular title, the bus transforms into a time machine and the Frizzle’s students travel back in time to meet dinosaurs face-to-face.

30. Magic Treehouse #1 Dinosaurs Before Dark

by Mary Pope Osborne

The Magic Treehouse series is a bestselling chapter book series about two children named Jack and Annie who discover a tree house filled with books. As it turns out, the tree house is magic and transports the siblings back in time. Throughout the series, Jack and Annie visit pirates, ninjas, Vikings, dinosaurs, and much more.

31. Winnie the Pooh

by A.A. Milne and illustrated by Ernest H. Shepard

Winnie-the-Pooh debuted in 1926 and since then has been a perennial favorite for generations. This is the first in a series of Pooh books. It’s a simple chapter book perfect for children ready to start reading longer books on their own.

32. Amelia Bedelia

by Peggy Parish, illustrated by Fritz Siebel

Amelia Bedelia is hired by the Rogers family as their new housekeeper. She’s eager to please – so eager, in fact, that she interprets all of Mrs. Rogers’ instructions quite literally. When instructed to dress the chicken, Amelia Bedelia quite literally puts the chicken in clothes. This, and all subsequent Amelia Bedelia books is a fun introduction to figures of speech and the idiosyncracies of the English language.

33. Amazing Grace

by Mary Hoffman, illustrated by Caroline Binch

Young Grace loves stories, and she loves to act out her favorite parts. When the school announces a production of Peter Pan, Grace decides she wants to be Pan himself. Her classmates tell her she can’t play Peter, because she’s a girl, and she’s black. Grace is determined, and her audition for Peter leaves no one doubting she’s meant for the role.

34. The Scar

by Charlotte Moundlic and illustrated by Olivier Tallec

The Scar is a portrait of grief, a story in which a young boy learns his mother has died and becomes terrified he will forget her. It’s excruciating to read, but powerful and unflinching for children who need it.

35. Balloons over Broadway

by Melissa Sweet

Balloons Over Broadway is a delightful history lesson about Tony Sarg, the man who turned puppets upside down and invented the famous balloons in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

36. Pop! The Invention of Bubble Gum

by Meghan McCarthy

This book chronicles the invention of a new kind of gum – gum that can be used to blow bubbles. The text is also filled with fun facts about the history of chewing gum.

37. The Boo-Boos That Changed the World

by Barry Wittenstein and illustrated by Chris Hsu

Quite similar to Pop! The Invention of Bubble Gum , The Boo-Boos That Changed the World  tells the story of an iconic American invention – the Band-Aid! It’s a narrative with a nice mix of accessible, humorous text and historical information.

38. Boys of Steel: The Creators of Superman

by Marc Tyler Nobleman, illustrated by Ross MacDonald

Writer Jerry Siegel and illustrator Joe Shuster worked together to create the character of Superman. It’s a great biography filled with facts to introduce readers to one of America’s most enduring superheros.

39. Clementine

by Sara Pennypacker, illustrated by Marla Frazee

This is the first book in a series featuring Clementine, a character reminiscent of Ramona Quimbly or Junie B. Jones. The first Clementine book chronicles the title character’s disastrous week.

40. Great Joy

by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline

Great Joy is a story for a cozy winter night when a reader wants to feel the Christmas spirit. It’s a quiet tale of young Frances. Frances sees a homeless organ grinder and his monkey appear outside her window, witnesses them sleeping outside in the cold. On the day of Frances’ Christmas pageant, she is inspired to perform a simple act of kindness that brings the organ grinder great joy.

41. The Miniature World of Marvin and James

by Elise Broach, illustrated by Kelly Murphy

James has a best friend named Marvin – and Marvin is a beetle. James goes on vacation and has to leave Marvin at home, which means poor Marvin spends the vacation worrying about whether their friendship will be the same when James returns. This is the first book in a series.

42. Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus

by Barbara Park

Kindergartner Junie B. Jones is not happy at all about having to ride the bus to school. She hates everything about the bus, from the kids to the smell of the exhaust. So, once at school, Junie B. Jones finds a way to get out of riding the bus back home. This is also the first book in a series featuring the same character.

43. Dory Fantasmagory

by Abby Hanlon

Dory’s older siblings ignore her, so she turns to her imagination to have fun. She invents wacky adventures that are sure to make readers laugh.

44. Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things

by Lenore Look and illustrated by LeUyen Pham

Alvin Ho features an Asian-American protagonist who is afraid of absolutely everything. While he never says a word at school, at home he plays the superhero known as Firecracker Man. Alvin Ho is the main character in a series of books featuring his adventures.

45. After the Fall (How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again)

by Dan Santat

This book is all about overcoming fears, dusting yourself off, and trying again. Humpty Dumpty is a birdwatcher, which is why he was sitting on the wall in the first place. After his great fall, he’s too scared to do the things he loved and must find a way to conquer his fears.

46. Hey Wall

by Susan Verde and illustrated by John Parra

A young boy rallies his community to create a mural on an ugly, graffiti-covered wall in his neighborhood. It’s a story told in verse and will inspire young readers to understand the power they have to make a difference in the world.

47. A Hundred Billion Trillion Stars

by Seth Fishman and illustrated by Isabel Greenberg

This book tackles big numbers – really, really big numbers, such as the hundred billion trillion stars in the universe that inspire the title. It helps readers get a handle on numbers when they move beyond the concrete to the abstract realm of almost too many to count.

by Wendy Mass and Rebecca Stead and illustrated by Nicholas Gannon

Last time Livy visited her grandmother in Australia, she told a creature known as Bob to hide in the closet and that, upon her return, she would help him find his family and his home. Now that Livy is back, it’s time she keeps her promise. This is a really nice chapter book with a touch of magical realism.

49. A Different Pond

by Bao Phi, illustrated by Thi Bui

A Different Pond was named a Caldecott Honor Book in 2018. It tells the story of a father and son who fish for their food in a Minnesota pond. While they fish, the father tells the son the story of his fishing in his homeland in Vietnam.

by Cynthia Rylant and illustrated by Brendan Wenzel

A variety of animals discuss what they love about life in a picture book that is simple and hopeful in tone. At its heart, it’s about overcoming adversity and finding beauty in the every day.

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Best Books for 2nd Graders

Explore books that 2nd graders will love this list features age-appropriate and highly recommended reads, ranked based on their prominence in educational and book-loving circles..

The 20 Best Chapter Books for 2nd Graders

Finding great chapter books for 2nd graders can be a challenge. You want to make sure your students have books at their reading level, but you also want to make sure they’ve got a good selection of books that will hold their interest. That’s why I created this book list for 2nd graders.

20 Awesome 2nd Grade Chapter Books

Whether you are trying to find the perfect book for your own reader or working to fill your classroom library, these chapter books are sure to engage and excite your second-grade readers.

To help you determine which books are the best fit for your kiddos, I shared a short summary of the book and the reading level. When possible, I also shared links to a literature circle companion pack to help save you prep time. Read more about what these book studies look like here.

I know your second graders will love these great stories! 

1. Magic Tree House #1: Dinosaurs Before Dark by Mary Pope Osborne

This chapter book series is perfect for 2nd grade readers, and they’re really engaging.

In this book, readers are introduced to Jack and Annie, two kids who have discovered a magic tree house in the woods behind their home.

The treehouse transports them back to the time of dinosaurs, and they’ve got to figure out how to solve a mystery and get back before their parents notice they are gone.

This story offers so many opportunities to make connections between reading comprehension and science topics, as the book blends factual information about dinosaurs throughout the plotline. The entire chapter book series follows suit offering great ways to make cross-curricular connections to science and social studies topics.

Reading Level:

• Guided Reading: M

Get the No Prep Novel Study:   Magic Tree House: Dinosaurs Before Dark  Novel Study

2. Katie Woo & Friends by Fran Manushkin

If you’re looking for some books for your 2nd-grade girls, check out the Katie Woo series. These short, easy-to-read chapter books are approachable for your lower-level second-grade readers. This story follows the main character, Katie. She’s a friendly first grader who faces many of the same challenges your students experience in their everyday lives. In this book, Katie and her best friends do everything together and find ways to work through their differences to keep their friendship going strong.

As a teacher, I love that this realistic fiction book has lots of illustrations and is just a few chapters. It really gives readers a great introduction to chapter books.

• Below-level
• Guided Reading: H

3. My Father’s Dragon by Ruth Styles Gannett

My Father’s Dragon  is a chapter book about Elmer, who runs away to rescue a baby dragon. With vibrant details and some crazy adventures, this book captures the imagination of young readers and takes them along on Elmer’s journey.

Facing danger and braving challenges are consistent components of this story, which is presented as a story told to the narrator by his father many years ago. Using only everyday objects he has in his backpack, Elmer disarms the many dangerous animals of Wild Island on his journey.

The book has beautiful illustrations, which are great for visualizing and supporting early readers. Perfect for teaching character traits and sequencing, this story is truly a gem that will stick with your readers for years to come.

• Guided Reading: N

Get the No Prep Book Study:   My Father’s Dragon  Book Study

4. Keena Ford & the Second Grade Mix-up by Melissa Thomson

Exposing your students to diverse characters is important, but it can be hard to find chapter books for 2nd graders that offer that opportunity. This book is one of my favorites.

The story revolves around a girl named Keena Ford, who is a second-grader. When she finds herself accidentally thrust into adventures, a great story ensues.

This book has great black & white illustrations and a relatable main character that is sure to capture your reader’s attention and leave them wanting more.

The good news? There’s a whole chapter book series about Keena Ford and her adventures.

• Guided Reading: K

5. The Littles by John Peterson

Imagine there were tiny people living in your house without you even knowing it. They used your things, borrowed your scraps, and made themselves right at home despite the numerous dangers the typical house presents when you’re tiny. That is the plot of  The Littles .

This fantasy novel is awesome because it has a clear, well-developed plot. There are many opportunities to discuss critical reading comprehension skills as the Littles work to navigate the world at their size.

Considered by many to be a must-read classic, I’ve included it on my list because it is the first of a whole series of books about this miniature family. As you can probably tell, I love it when there’s a whole chapter book series because it means I’ve opened a whole new book list for second-grade students just by introducing them to this one novel.

Get the No Prep Novel Study: The Littles Novel Study

6. Hi! Fly Guy by Tedd Arnold

I’ve already shared some great chapter books for girls, but this one is a perfect 2nd grade chapter book for the boys in your class.

Hi! Fly Guy  is a hilarious fiction novel that uses a lot of great sight words and easily decoded vocabulary. The story follows Buzz as he enters a fly into a pet talent show. His parents and the judges aren’t quite sure about a fly as a pet, but Fly Guy steals the show.

Fly Guy is just gross enough that kids love him, and you’ll love watching your readers devour this chapter book. This is another great book series to add to your 2nd grade collection.

• Guided Reading: I

7. Nate the Great by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat

This somewhat silly mystery was a favorite of mine back in the day, and now I love sharing it with students.

The story revolves around Nate the Great and his hunt for Annie’s missing picture. Nate’s detective skills have helped him find lost balloons, books, slippers, and more so he’s sure he can find Annie’s picture. Students follow Nate’s quest for clues, as he works to unravel the mystery.

The book has a fun ending and is a great introduction to mystery books for 2nd grade students. It is truly a must-have for your book collection.

Get the No Prep Book Study:   Nate the Great Book Study

8. Henry & Mudge – The First Book of Their Adventure by Cynthia Rylant

Cynthia Rylant i is an amazing author, and this book is perfect for your second-grade students.

Your kiddos will love to watch Henry and Mudge’s relationship develop and see how Henry’s loneliness vanishes when he finds the companionship of his new 180 pound best friend.

A great way to build in literature circles for your barely on-level readers, this story is great for animal lovers and offers a whole series of engaging stories.

• Guided Reading: J

9. Mercy Watson to the Rescue by Kate DiCamillo

Kate DiCamillo is an amazing author! I am a huge fan of The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane and Because of Winn-Dixie and was so excited to see that she wrote books for younger readers.

Mercy Watson is a pig, but to his owners, he’s not just any pig. He’s AMAZING! Everything is great until Mercy decides to get some snuggles by hopping into bed with them. When the bed breaks, his owners find themselves in trouble. Mercy heads to get the fire department, but they worry he’ll get sidetracked and they might be stuck forever.

Mercy is such a great character, and your kiddos will love this book.

10. Ivy & Bean by Annie Barrows & Sophie Blackall

Another great chapter book for your classroom, Ivy & Bean is the story of an unlikely friendship. On the outside, the girls couldn’t be more different, but once they get to know each other, they become the best of friends.

With a fun and engaging storyline and characters who could be classroom peers, Ivy & Bean is perfect for getting readers hooked on a new series.

There are lots of great opportunities to discuss cause and effect in the story, and the storyline lends itself to introducing problem and solution.

Get the No Prep Book Unit:   Ivy & Bean Book Study

11. Cam Jansen: The Mystery of the Stolen Diamonds by David Adler

Another great mystery book for 2nd grade, Cam Jansen is sure to be a winner in your classroom. Relatable characters and great adventures follow Cam as she works to solve crimes and unravel mysteries.

The gist of the story is: Cam Jansen and her friend, Eric, team up to help free an innocent man who’s been accused of robbing Parker’s Jewelry Store. The pair takes matters into their own hands as they search for clues to discover who REALLY took the missing diamonds.

• Guided Reading: L

12. Frog and Toad are Friends by Arnold Lobel

We haven’t talked much about classic books for 2nd grade students, but that ends now! Frog & Toad are Friends is a classic story that is an easy independent read for your barely on-level readers.

The story takes place in April, as Frog tries to wake his best friend Toad from his long winter nap. Once he finally awakens him, the pair have a year full of amazing adventures and continue to build their wonderful friendship. When Frog is feeling sick, Toad is there to help. When Toad is sad because he never gets mail, Frog’s there to lend a hand.

While the illustrations are pretty bland, this award-winning book is great for your beginning readers.

13. Super Narwhal & Jelly Jolt by Ben Clanton

My list wouldn’t be complete without a graphic novel, and Super Narwhal & Jelly Jolt is the perfect superhero book for your second graders.

The story contains three mini-plotlines. In the first story, Narwhal reveals his alter-ego and asks his buddy Jelly to help him discover his superpower. Then the pair then head off to help a lost friend. The final story is all about Narwhal cheering up Jelly.

With fun plotlines that center on the theme of friendship, even your reluctant readers will feel confident tackling this superhero graphic novel.

14. Junie B. Jones & the Stupid Smelly Bus by Barbara Park

This realistic fiction series of chapter books for 2nd graders has relatable characters and situations your students might have experienced themselves, making it perfect for independent reading.

The main character, Junie B. Jones, is preparing to start kindergarten when she discovers she’ll have to ride the bus. This news makes her mad, and the situation only gets worse when she actually experiences the bus for the first time.

Things get better once she arrives at school. That is until Junie finds herself in a predicament that ends with a call to 9-1-1. This text is another great one for conversations about problem and solution. You might also consider using it to discuss appropriate school behavior!

15. Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown

After being flattened by a bulletin board, Stanley wakes up to discover he is FLAT! While this predicament has its downsides, the positive is he can be rolled up, easily mailed anywhere, and even used as a kite on a windy day. His situation also makes him a hero when he thwarts some art thieves.

This original Flat Stanley book is a quick, easy read that you can connect with so many cross-curricular projects. This is a great chapter book for 2nd graders to use when working on friendly letters!

Perfect for literature circles at the end of your school year, this story offers opportunities to teach many important reading comprehension skills in an engaging format that lends itself to an engaging discussion.

Get the No Prep Book Study:   Flat Stanley Book Study

16. Horrible Harry in Room 2B by Suzy Klein

My introduction to the Horrible Harry series came when my team decided to use Horrible Harry & the Holidaze to teach about different winter holidays. These realistic fiction books are simple to read and have relatable storylines.

Horrible Harry in Room 2B is the first in this series, which will appeal to both the boys and girls in your classroom. The main character, Harry, is a bit of a troublemaker which leads to some interesting conversations with students.

The plotline revolves around Harry and his best friend, Doug. Despite his troublemaking ways, Doug sees the best in Harry and recognizes him as a true friend. This book is great for character traits discussions, as well as making comparisons between characters. The whole series is a great choice if you’re looking for chapter books for 2nd graders.

17. A to Z Mysteries: The Absent Author by Ron Roy

Ron Roy writes mysteries that draw young readers in making this a great series of chapter books for 2nd graders. In this book, Dink Duncan and his best friends discover that their favorite author, Wallis Wallace, has gone missing, and they’re on the hunt to find him…even if the police don’t believe their story.

As they hunt down clues and get closer to the kidnapper, they discover the unexpected.

This is a great mystery that your students can follow along with and track the clues right along with Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose. The whole series is really interesting and the book titles progress from A to Z – hence the series title, A to Z Mysteries .

Buy the book: A to Z Mysteries: The Absent Author

Get the No Prep Book Unit:   A to Z Mysteries: The Absent Author Book Unit

18. Dog Man by Dav Pilkey

As the second superhero book on the list, this story by celebrated author, Dav Pilkey, is a great story for your advanced readers. If your readers are itching to read Captain Underpants , they’ll love this graphic novel.

The main characters George and Harold create a new kind of superhero, and this one is half-man and half-dog. With a human body and canine head, this unlikely hero fights to defeat his archnemesis, Petey the Cat.

A great chapter book for reluctant readers, this book is perfect for boys in your classroom.

• Guided Reading: P

19. The Real Slam Dunk by Charisse K. Richardson

A lot of books for this level focus on topics of interest to girls. Between female main characters and storylines that revolve around girls, it can be hard to find some great chapter books for 2nd graders who are boys. The Real Slam Dunk is a great chapter book for the high-reading boys in your class

This book revolves around Marcus, a boy who wants to be a pro basketball player when he grows up. When his class is about to meet a real-life professional basketball player, Marcus can barely contain his excitement. However, when the day comes, he learns some unexpected lessons about both school and sports.

Another great story with diverse characters, you’ll love the lessons this book can provide to your reluctant or disengaged learners.

20. Gooney Bird Green e by Lois Lowry

Want a funny book for second graders that will keep your students talking? This is it!

Written by the award-winning author of The Giver , Gooney Bird Greene is the story of a girl who loves to be the center of attention. A natural storyteller with a unique fashion sense, Gooney Bird wants to be in the middle of everything.

Problems arise when Gooney Bird’s desire for attention keeps her from realizing her peers deserve to share, too.

This funny series of chapter books for 2nd graders has so many great lessons, and it is such an engaging story.

Ready to Plan Your 2nd Grade Novel Study?

Now that you’re here, grab your favorite chapter books for 2nd graders and my free novel study planning roadmap to get step-by-step support to plan a high-quality literature unit for your second-grade students whether you’re in the classroom or homeschooling.

Whether you’re a planning your first novel study or just looking for new ideas for using chapter books to teach reading, you’ll love this great tool.

Looking for more great chapter books to add to your library?

If you’ve got a broad range of reading levels or are trying to diversify your classroom library without spending a ton of money , here are some of my favorite books for other reading levels.

If you’ve already filled your book list for 2nd grade, don’t worry! I’ve got you covered. Check out the links below to access more great novels and chapter books for other grade levels.

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Favorite books for 2nd graders

by: The GreatSchools Editorial Team

Print book list

Clara and the Bookwagon

by: Nancy Smiler Levinson , illustrated by: Carolyn Croll - (Harper Collins, 1988) 64 pages.

The year is 1905 and young Clara would like nothing more than to go to school with the other kids. However, life on the farm takes a lot of work and she is needed to help out with chores and her younger siblings. The new town librarian has devised a way of using a wagon to bring books to the farmers and their families who can’t get to the library. Can Clara and the librarian persuade father to let her learn to read? Based on a true story.

Perfect for: Kids who like historical fiction.

Find Clara and the Bookwagon at your local library.

Could You? Would You?

by: Trudy White - (Kane/Miller, 2007) 89 pages.

This wonderful book allows children to imagine the things they would do if they could. This is a story everyone can relate to, no matter his or her background.

Perfect for: Kids who like adventure stories.

Find Could You? Would You? at your local library.

Evangeline Mudd and the Golden-Haired Apes of the Ikkinasti Jungle

by: David Elliott , illustrated by: Andrea Wesson - (Candlewick, 2007) 196 pages.

In this first book in a series, the main character, Evangeline, has a pair of primatologist parents. When her parents are called away on a research trip to the Ikkinasti Jungle and mysteriously fail to return, it’s up to Evangeline to find them. With a wild, fast-paced adventure and illustrations that drive the narrative, this book about a plucky heroine will have your child asking for the next book in the series. Perfect for those “climb into a tree and read” summer days.

Find Evangeline Mudd and the Golden-Haired Apes of the Ikkinasti Jungle at your local library.

Mom and Dad Are Palindromes

by: Mark Shulman , illustrated by: Adam McCauley - (Chronicle Books, 2006) 36 pages.

Children don’t often want to be singled out by their teachers, but this is just what happens when Bob learns that he — horror of horrors! — is, in fact, a palindrome. Soon Bob begins to spot these forward/backward verbal oddities everywhere – in his family, out on the street, even while running away on a ship (where the available jobs involve radar or the rotor). Bob’s manic struggle to escape this bothersome label is both silly and clever, and his final “solution” to the dilemma is the book’s punch line. Author Mark Shulman and illustrator Adam McCauley embed more than 101 palindromes in the text and pictures, making this wacky story a highly visual exercise in wordplay. … A fun read-aloud for children and parents (or teachers) to share.

Perfect for: Kids who like humor stories.

Find Mom and Dad Are Palindromes at your local library.

My Dad’s a Birdman

by: David Almond , illustrated by: Polly Dunbar - (Candlewick Press, 2008) 115 pages.

My Dad’s a Birdman , originally a play, is a chapter book that is whimsically illustrated and darkly comic in a very British way. The story of Lizzie and her dad bonding over the Great Human Bird Competition has both the strange lightheartedness and the emotional maturity of Roald Dahl’s Matilda. I dare anyone to read it and not laugh — or cry.

Perfect for: Kids who like fantasy stories.

Find My Dad’s a Birdman at your local library.

Mr. George Baker

by: Amy Hest , illustrated by: Jon J. Muth - (Candlewick Press, 2004) 32 pages.

Mr. George Baker is one hundred years old! Monday through Friday, he sits on his porch with his 6-year-old neighbor, Harry, awaiting the arrival of the big yellow school bus that will take them off to learn to read. The book contains stunning watercolors by 2006 Caldecott honoree, Jon J Muth.

Perfect for: Kids who like realism.

Find Mr. George Baker at your local library.

Once Upon a Time

by: Niki Daly - (Farrar, Strauss & Giroux, 2003) 32 pages.

This is the triumphant story of Sarie, a South African girl who loves to learn but hates to be called on to read aloud in class. She is frequently made fun of because she reads so slowly and cautiously. With the support of her auntie, a fairytale book and a kind classmate, Sarie develops the confidence she needs.

Find Once Upon a Time at your local library.

The Random House Book of Poetry for Children

by: Jack Prelutsky , illustrated by: Arnold Lobel - (Random House, 1983) 32 pages.

The one poetry collection no home can be without. Whether the poet is Carl Sandburg or Shel Silverstein, Prelutsky’s anthology has a poem for every mood, every topic, and every child in one big, fat book that contains over 500 poems, sorted into 14 categories. A few of these poems each day will delight the ear, charm the senses, and satisfy our human need for rhyme and rhythm.

Perfect for: For kids who like poetry.

Find The Random House Book of Poetry for Children at your local library.

A Fine, Fine School

by: Sharon Creech , illustrated by: Harry Bliss - (Joanna Cotler Books/HarperCollins Pub., 2001) 32 pages.

Mr. Keene, an exuberant principal, loves his school so much that he decides to have school every Saturday and even during holidays and summer vacation. Your child will love finding out about Tillie’s creative plan to save her vacations.

Perfect for: Kids who like school.

Find A Fine, Fine School at your local library.

Get Ready for Second Grade, Amber Brown

by: Paula Danziger - (Puffin, 2002) 48 pages.

Like all students, Amber is nervous about starting a new school year with a new teacher. Is it true that her new teacher, Mrs. Light, thinks second graders are “knee biters”? Will Amber survive the year with a bully named Hannah? Luckily, Amber’s best friend Justin is also in her class and together they can handle anything.

Find Get Ready for Second Grade, Amber Brown at your local library.

It’s Test Day, Tiger Turcotte

by: Pansie Hart Flood , illustrated by: Amy Wummer - (Carolrhoda Books, 2004) 80 pages.

Tiger Turcotte is nervous about taking a standardized test. His biggest problem, though, is filling out the racial identification section of the test because he is multiracial. Themes of racial or ethnic identity and pride are incorporated in the plot.

Find It’s Test Day, Tiger Turcotte at your local library.

Virgie Goes to School with Us Boys

by: Elizabeth Fitzgerald Howard , illustrated by: Earl B. Lewis - (Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, 2000) 32 pages.

Virgie’s brothers walk many miles to go to school in Jonesboro, but she is not allowed to go. She fights to go with them, showing her resolve and strength.

Find Virgie Goes to School with Us Boys at your local library.

Ira Sleeps Over

by: Bernard Waber - (Houghton Mifflin, 1972) 48 pages.

When Reggie invites Ira for his first sleepover, the boy is over the moon — until his sister asks (with older sisterly malice) if he plans to bring his teddy bear. Ira always sleeps with his beloved bear, Tah Tah. He’s embarrassed to bring the stuffie &mash; but also worried about not bringing him. “Reggie will laugh,” his sister tells him. “He won’t laugh,” his parents say. In the end Ira decides for himself, and learns he made the right choice.

Find Ira Sleeps Over at your local library.

The Adventures of Taxi Dog

by: Debra & Sal Barracca , illustrated by: Mark Buehner - (Dial Books for Young Readers, 1990) 32 pages.

A stray dog in New York City is adopted by a taxi driver, with whom he rides and shares adventures each day.

Find The Adventures of Taxi Dog at your local library.

Sneakers, the Seaside Cat

by: Margaret Wise Brown , illustrated by: Anne Mortimer - (HarperCollins, 2003) 32 pages.

Sneakers goes on a trip to the seaside, where he finds many curious creatures. He discovers fish to catch in the ocean and amuses himself with playful shrimp and crabs. Anne Mortimer’s bright and beautiful illustrations portray the cat’s spirited adventure in a way that your child will surely enjoy.

Find Sneakers, the Seaside Cat at your local library.

by: Sally Grindley , illustrated by: Tony Ross - (Simon & Schuster, 2006) 144 pages.

Max develops a friendship with his favorite author through the lost art of letter writing. The two give each other advice about writing, friendship and life in this touching story.

Perfect for: Kids who like making friends.

Find Dear Max at your local library.

by: Andrew Clements , illustrated by: Tim Bowers - (Simon & Schuster, 2007) 40 pages.

Dogku is a clever and sweet little story about a stray dog who finds a loving home. Such plots are a staple of children’s literature and entertainment, but what sets this book apart is the method of telling the tale — each page is written in haiku. … For example, Clements writes: “Morning brings children/Hugs, licks, barking, and laughing./Warmer than sunshine.” The oil on canvas illustrations by Tim Bowers are just as warm and cheerful as the text. There is a helpful author’s note at the end of the book, giving a simple and enthusiastic explanation of haiku for the child reader. … A novel way for young children to experiment with language.

Find Dogku at your local library.

Fox and His Friends

by: Edward Marshall , illustrated by: James Marshall - (Dial Press, 1982) 56 pages.

How can Fox have fun with his friends when his little sister tags along everywhere he goes? Your child will love finding out if Louise really does spoil all the fun.

Find Fox and His Friends at your local library.

Frog and Toad Together

by: Arnold Lobel - (Harper Collins, 1972) 64 pages.

The hook: Frog and Toad are best friends who will do anything for each other. Your child will enjoy finding out about their escapades in five short chapters as the amphibious duo bake cookies, test their bravery and plant a garden together. If your child enjoys this chapter book, he may also like Frog and Toad All Year and Days with Frog and Toad . Newbery Honor, 1973.

Find our favorites at your local library: Frog and Toad Together , Frog and Toad All Year , Days with Frog and Toad .

We Are Best Friends

by: Aliki - (Greenwillow, 1982) 32 pages.

In this story, Robert and Peter struggle with how they can remain best friends after Peter moves away. Aliki’s simple illustrations and text capture the boys’ loneliness while sending a reassuring message that your child will appreciate.

Find We Are Best Friends at your local library.

Painted Dreams

by: Karen Lynn Williams - (Lothrop, Lee & Shepard, 1998) 40 pages.

Little Marie dreams about being an artist. Whenever she is not doing chores for her family, she uses leftover paints, feathers and goat hair to create new works of art. This beautifully illustrated story set in Haiti presents details about Haitian art and ways of life.

Perfect for: Kids who like art.

Find Painted Dreams at your local library.

The Chocolate Touch

by: Patrick Skene Catling , illustrated by: Margot Apple - (Morrow, 1952) 128 pages.

Ah, my fantasy… Everything our hero John Midas touches turns into chocolate! However, he soon finds out you can certainly have too much of anything, even chocolate. A cross between Bread and Jam for Frances and King Midas and the Golden Touch. For a strong reader or a bedtime “read to me.”

Perfect for: Kids who like classic stories.

Find The Chocolate Touch at your local library.

Little Toot

by: Hardie Gramatky - (G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1939) 96 pages.

I can’t think of another book more perfect for a little boy or girl than this story of a scrappy little tugboat. Although he gets himself in too deep, Little Toot learns that he can do it! The nostalgic illustrations are the perfect compliment to this tale reminiscent of The Little Engine That Could .

Find Little Toot at your local library.

Make Way for Ducklings

by: Robert McCloskey - (Viking Press, 1941) 64 pages.

Mr. and Mrs. Mallard search for the perfect place in Boston to hatch their ducklings. They travel all over the city until they find a quaint little island on the Charles River. Once their ducklings hatch, Mrs. Mallard teaches them how to swim, dive and walk in a straight row through the busy city streets. Watch your child smile and laugh with delight with this historic award-winner.

Find Make Way for Ducklings at your local library.

The Puppy Sister

by: S.E. Hinton , illustrated by: Jacqueline Rogers - (Bantam Books, 1995) 128 pages.

Powerful message of how family love overcomes sibling rivalry. The few illustrations are perfect for this well-told story. Reading level and content make it a great read-alone, even for reluctant readers.

Find The Puppy Sister at your local library.

Atomic Ace (He’s Just My Dad)

by: Jeff Weigel - (Albert Whitman and Company, 2004) 32 pages.

This book tells the story of a young boy whose Dad just happens to be a superhero. His friends don’t understand, but when his Dad “saves the day,” he is truly a hero. Children really like the cartoon illustrations.

Find Atomic Ace (He’s Just My Dad) at your local library.

The Bee-Man of Orn

by: Frank R. Stockton , illustrated by: P.J. Lynch - (Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1964) 50 pages.

This beautifully illustrated retelling follows the Bee-man’s search for his original form. The Sorcerer hopes the poor shriveled man living among bees will make something better of his life next time. Students can predict what he will become years later.

Find The Bee-Man of Orn at your local library.

Dinosaurs Before Dark, Magic Tree House series

by: Mary Pope Osborne , illustrated by: Sal Murdocca - (Random House, 1992) 80 pages.

Children cannot get enough of the adventures of Jack and Annie, as they travel back in time in their tree house. The tree house is magical and filled with books on subjects such as dinosaurs, knights, Egypt, China, and volcanoes. In this first adventure, Jack and Annie happen upon a book about dinosaurs. Before they know it, they are whisked back in time to 65 million years ago. Children get a lesson in history and experience an unforgettable adventure.

Find Dinosaurs Before Dark, Magic Tree House Series at your local library.

Duck for President

by: Doreen Cronin , illustrated by: Betsy Lewin - (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2004) 40 pages.

Duck brings democracy and elections to the farm in a bid to avoid work. Unfortunately, it’s campaigning, not serving, that captivates Duck. He abdicates the presidency to return to the farm and write his memoirs. A red, white, and blue delight!

Find Duck for President at your local library.

Dude, Where’s My Spaceship?

by: Dan Greenburg , illustrated by: Macky Pamintuan - (Random House, 2006) 96 pages.

Author Dan Greenburg’s specialty is writing fun chapter books featuring boys, like his very popular earlier series, The Zack Files. It’s a challenge for some boys to slow down to read a book, but titles like Dude, Where’s My Spaceship? keep boys (and girls, too) turning the pages. Dude is the first in his Weird Planet series, featuring an alien family and their shenanigans on Earth. This is an exciting, rollicking story for readers who love adventure.

Find Dude, Where’s My Spaceship? at your local library.

Hansel and Gretel

by: Rika Lesser , illustrated by: Paul O. Zelinsky - (Dodd, Mead & Co., 1984) 40 pages.

This Caldecott Honor book presents an understated retelling of the Grimm classic. Zelinsky’s paintings in this work originally published in 1984 show the beauty and lushness that would result in his 1998 Caldecott Medal for Rapunzel. This is a beautiful and scary world, and the effect is heightened by Lesser’s spare, poetic language. Zelinsky’s artwork makes this version one that children will not soon forget. The story captures childhood fears and yearnings: abandonment, fantastic candy supplies and reuniting with loved ones. Classic folktales survive and are retold over and over because they serve the purpose of helping protect our children. Luckily for us, such artistry as Zelinsky’s help to bring the point home with shadows and magic, elegance and grace.

Find Hansel and Gretel at your local library.

My Father’s Dragon

by: Ruth Stiles Gannett - (Random House, 1948) 112 pages.

Pardon me while I gush. This book is, by far, the most memorable early chapter-book of my childhood. While it has never been forgotten in my household, I find that many people nowadays don’t know about this magical book, the first of a trilogy featuring Elmer Elevator and his adventures. In My Father’s Dragon, Elmer rescues a baby dragon from the cruel animals on Wild Island and in the process takes you on a fantastic journey. My most highly recommended book on this list.

Find My Father’s Dragon at your local library.

Roger the Jolly Pirate

by: Brett Helquist - (HarperCollins Children's Books, 2004) 40 pages.

Roger isn’t like the other pirates. He longs to be accepted and finally manages a way to earn their favor with quite a bang. This is a delightful glimpse into the life and vocabulary of a pirate.

Find Roger the Jolly Pirate at your local library.

Space Station Mars

by: Daniel San Souci - (Tricycle Press, 2005) 40 pages.

An action-packed and whimsically illustrated narrative describing the adventures of seven young boys. This is another “clubhouse” mission complete with aliens, spaceships, and secret codes, sure to tap imaginations and lead to sharing of stories. Aliens beware!

Find Space Station Mars at your local library.

Tales Our Abuelitas Told: A Hispanic Folktale Collection

by: F. Isabel Campoy and Alma Flor Ada , illustrated by: Felipe Davalos, Susan Guevara, Leyla Torres and Vivi Escrivia - (Simon & Schuster, 2006) 128 pages.

Gathered from the various spots on the globe that make up the Hispanic heritage – from the Basques northeast and Celtic northwest corners of Spain through the Arab influences of southern Spain to the Americas, these 12 stories have been polished by the retellings from one generation to another; from grandmothers to grandchildren. In this welcome addition to a folktale library, each story has an end-piece with specific information about the origins and versions of the tale.

Find Tales Our Abuelitas Told: A Hispanic Folktale Collection at your local library.

Toys Go Out: Being the Adventures of a Knowledgeable Stingray, a Toughy Little Buffalo, and Someone Called Plastic

by: Emily Jenkins , illustrated by: Paul O. Zelinsky - (Random House Children's Books, 2006) 128 pages.

There’s more than a spot of borrowing in this updated homage to the hundred-acre wood: we meet our heroes (and heroines) coming “buh-buh bump!” down the stairs just like Pooh, albeit in an up-to-the-minute backpack; one character, like Eeyore, parts company with his tail; and another, like Roo, is prone to bounce. Still, there’s plenty to love in a story about a ball named “Plastic,” a buffalo named Lumphy, and a stingray named StingRay.

Find Toys Go Out: Being the Adventures of a Knowledgeable Stingray, a Toughy Little Buffalo, and Someone Called Plastic at your local library.

Traction Man Is Here!

by: Mini Grey - (Random House Children's Books, 2005) 32 pages.

Traction Man is a toy figure who protects his master and the world he lives in. The book captures children’s imagination about having a superhero action toy that keeps a scrubbing brush as a pet and tolerates granny’s knitted outfit.

Find Traction Man Is Here! at your local library.

Why the Sky Is Far Away: A Nigerian Folktale

by: Mary-Joan Gerson , illustrated by: Carla Golembe - (Little, Brown, 1995) 32 pages.

This traditional folktale, from the Bini tribe of Nigeria, tells of a time not so long ago when the sky was so close that even the smallest child could reach right up and grab a piece to munch on. The sky got very angry and moved out of reach when the tribe became greedy and wasteful.

Find Why the Sky Is Far Away: A Nigerian Folktale at your local library.

The Worst Witch at School

by: Jill Murphy - (Candlewick Press, 2007) 175 pages.

This book comprises two titles in the Worst Witch series: The Worst Witch and The Worst Witch Strikes Again. It’s a great precursor for readers not ready for the Harry Potter series, mixing friendship, adventures and fantasy. The accident-prone Mildred Hubble experiences a series of mishaps in witch school causing her humiliation, fear (not much), and frustration. She’s a likable character who has good friends and a couple of enemies, including a sharp-nosed teacher named Miss Hardbroom. Children fall from broomsticks, are turned into animals by the wrong spells and threatened by a band of misfit witches.

Find The Worst Witch at School at your local library.

Baseball Saved Us

by: Ken Mochizuki , illustrated by: Dom Lee - (Lee & Low Books, 1993) 30 pages.

Children will love this moving tale in which hope triumphs over evil. In this picture book, a young boy tells the story of his parents’ internment in a camp for Japanese Americans in 1942. Despite the deplorable conditions in the camp, the prisoners use an improvised baseball game to keep their hope alive.

Find Baseball Saved Us at your local library.

Chig and the Second Spread

by: Gwenyth Swain - (Delacorte Press, 2003) 199 pages.

Chig’s difficulties with size and speaking up will resonate with many readers, and may provide an opportunity for discussion. The harshness of the Depression is kept mostly at bay in this book.

Find Chig and the Second Spread at your local library.

The Enchanted Dolls’ House

by: Robyn Johnson - (Handprint Books, 2006) 32 pages.

Peer through windows, unfold letters and open closet doors of dollhouses from the medieval times through the 1900s. Search for 10 little boys in the pages of this book filled with information about dollhouses through the ages.

Find The Enchanted Dolls’ House at your local library.

by: Jacqueline Woodson , illustrated by: Hudson Talbott - (Penguin Putnam, 2005) 40 pages.

This is a beautifully sewn story of women who travel from slavery to freedom. Parents need to know that though this is a picture book, it’s really aimed at middle-grade kids. There are historical references here that will need explaining, especially for younger kids, as will the information in the collages. There are some references to violence: a slave is killed, a silhouette of the capture of a runaway, news images from protest marches. Families who read this book could discuss the history. What was slavery and how did it end? What happened to the freed slaves? What was the Civil Rights era? How is life for African Americans different now than it was even in Mom and Dad’s childhood?

Find Show Way at your local library.

Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Babe Ruth Baseball

by: David Adler , illustrated by: Susanna Natti - (Viking Press, 1982) 64 pages.

The hook: Jennifer “Camera” Jansen uses her photographic memory to save the day once again! At a hobby show a man’s prized Babe Ruth baseball goes missing. Cam clearly remembers a boy in a green jacket standing very close to that same baseball, but can she prove it.

Perfect for: Kids who like mysteries.

Find our favorites at your local library: The Mystery of the Babe Ruth Baseball , The Mystery of the Stolen Diamonds , The Mystery of the Gold Coins , The Catnapping Mystery , The Snowy Day Mystery .

Julian, Secret Agent

by: Ann Cameron - (Random House, 1988) 64 pages.

Julian, his brother Huey and their friend Gloria see a wanted poster at the post office with a reward of $25,000. All they have to do is find a certain master of disguise who loves to cook. Or stop a bank robber or even a dognapper. Suddenly, cracking the case is the name of the game!

Find Julian, Secret Agent at your local library.

The Seven Treasure Hunts

by: Betsy Byars , illustrated by: Jennifer Barrett - (HarperCollins, 1991) 80 pages.

Jackson and Goat love trying to outsmart each other by creating treasure hunts for one another. But when Jackson misunderstands a clue, he lands Goat in hot water with his sister Rachel.

Find The Seven Treasure Hunts at your local library.

Tuff Fluff: The Case of Duckie’s Missing Brain

by: Scott Nash - (Candlewick Press, 2004) 40 pages.

When Duckie, resident storytelling toy of Los Attic, loses some of his brainy stuffing and can’t tell tales anymore, Tuff Fluff, Private Investigator, is on the case. Creative surgery and sharing between friends puts Duckie back in action. Case closed.

Find Tuff Fluff: The Case of Duckie’s Missing Brain at your local library.

by: Tony Kushner , illustrated by: Maurice Sendak - (Hyperion Books for Children, 2003) 56 pages.

Although older children and adults will certainly notice that several of the characters in the book wear yellow armbands with a Star of David, and that Brundibar, with his bristly, cropped mustache, bears a strong resemblance to Hitler, the historical context is not necessary to an appreciation of the story. All children are familiar with bullies, and the small children’s triumph in the story is cheering and satisfying. In the end they say to the reader, “Remember, please be brave and bullies will behave!” Unfortunately, justice is sometimes a long time coming.

Find Brundibar at your local library.

Building With Dad

by: Carol Nevius , illustrated by: Bill Thomson - (Marshall Cavendish, 2006) 32 pages.

Children fascinated by construction sites and the resident massive equipment are bound to enjoy Carol Nevius’s new picture book. Here, the world of building becomes even more up close and personal for one young boy and his construction worker father. The boy is getting a brand-new school, and the storyline follows the work’s progress from groundbreaking all the way to the first day of class. Each page consists of a rhymed couplet, in which we’re introduced to a different facet of the job. … Nevius’s text is sweet and simple, and the boy’s feeling of pride for both his father and the school are evident. Bill Thomson’s acrylic and colored pencil illustrations are startlingly realistic — at first glance each page looks like a photograph — and will thrill young construction fans.

Find Building With Dad at your local library.

Hachiko: The True Story of a Loyal Dog

by: Pamela S. Turner , illustrated by: Yan Nascimbene - (Houghton Mifflin, 2004) 32 pages.

Based on a true story, this touching tale pays tribute to a dog named Hachiko, who waited for nearly 10 years at a Tokyo train station for his master, who never returned. Also tells about the bronze statue in Shibuya Station in Japan and the festival that is held every April, honoring this incredible canine.

Find Hachiko: The True Story of a Loyal Dog at your local library.

Mr. Peabody’s Apples

by: Madonna , illustrated by: Loren Long - (Callaway, 2003) 40 pages.

Inspired by a 300-year old Ukrainian story, this tale teaches a lesson about the dangers of gossip, the power of words and how rumors can cause harm to others. With its warm illustrations and important message, this is an amazing children’s book, one that should be shared at an early age.

Perfect for: Kids who like realism stories.

Find Mr. Peabody’s Apples at your local library.

Sam and the Lucky Money

by: Karen Chinn , illustrated by: Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu - (Lee & Low Books, 1997) 32 pages.

For Chinese New Year, Sam receives the traditional token of a red envelope with money. While out with his family, with the money burning a hole in his pocket, he sees a homeless man with no socks on his feet and no food to eat. Sam realizes that the right, lucky thing to do is to use his money to buy the man some socks.

Find Sam and the Lucky Money at your local library.

Velma Gratch & the Way Cool Butterfly

by: Alan Madison , illustrated by: Kevin Hawkes - (Schwartz & Wade, 2007) 40 pages.

A study of butterflies, a trip to the Butterfly Conservatory and one specific Monarch opens a spunky little girl’s eyes to the magic of life, and she changes forever. And, the reader will too. While the metamorphosis of a butterfly may be an easy, obvious metaphor for growth and development, its use in this book is made fresh and exciting by the personality of Velma Gratch. From her “carroty curls” pulled up in springy ponytails to her “knobby knees” and “spaghetti arms” to her determination to learn important big words like “metamorphosis,” “conservatory” and “migration,” Velma is an individual, though she doesn’t know it yet. In her, both author and illustrator combine their talents to create the kind of independent, confident spirit that we hope all kids will discover in themselves.

Find Velma Gratch & the Way Cool Butterfly at your local library.

Babymouse: Skater Girl

by: Jennifer L. Holm & Matthew Holm - (Random House, 2007) 96 pages.

This charming mouse has starred in six of her own graphic novels and in this seventh in the series she does not disappoint. Babymouse has the chance to show what she is best at after all her friends are named best at something. When she is discovered by a famous ice-skating coach, her fun hobby treads on thin ice. Jennifer L. Holm is the Newbery Honor-winning author of Our Only May Amelia , so the writing is wonderful. Her brother Matthew draws Babymouse whimsically. You’d be hard pressed to find a 9-year-old girl who isn’t pining for this icy Babymouse book.

Find Babymouse: Skater Girl at your local library.

Come on, Rain

by: Karen Hesse , illustrated by: Jon L. Muth - (Scholastic, 1999) 32 pages.

The yellow haze of unrelenting heat steams off every page of this beautifully water-colored story of leggy little girls waiting for rain. Just when everyone in the city is wilting, a delicate breeze through the kitchen window brings hope for refreshing rain. Little girls who dance in the welcome downpour are joined by their Mamas, who can’t resist the cleansing storm either. With rich word choice that sizzles, thunders, drenches and simmers, the story concludes with a parched city now glistening after a rain storm that refreshes even the reader.

Find Come on, Rain at your local library.

Marja’s Skis

by: Jean E. Pendziwol , illustrated by: Jirina Marton - (Groundwood Books, 2007) 32 pages.

In this beautifully illustrated picture book, Marja learns about self-reliance. When she longs to ski to school alone like her older sister, she remembers the words her father once told her, “When you are strong inside, you can do anything.” The memory of her father and his words come back to her when her new-found strength is put to the test. This is a moving story with a lasting message.

Perfect for: Kids who likes realism.

Find Marja’s Skis at your local library.

Nate the Great and the Mushy Valentine

by: Marjorie Weinman Sharmat , illustrated by: Marc Simont - (Delacorte Press, 1994) 32 pages.

For those Nate the Great fans, you won’t be disappointed by his latest adventure. Nate tries to solve, not one, but two mysteries. Valentine’s Day is a day Nate would rather forget because he hates mushy, gushy stuff! Can he ignore a good mystery when it involves his dog Sludge and his friend Annie? I think not! Read to find out if Nate gets any Valentines of his own.

Find Nate the Great and the Mushy Valentine at your local library.

Poppleton in Winter

by: Cynthia Rylant - (Blue Sky Press, 2001) 48 pages.

This collection features three short stories for early readers. In “Icicles,” the downfall of Poppleton’s beloved icicles leads to a new friendship. In “The Bust,” Poppleton’s creative juices get flowing, inspiring him to take up sculpting. And in “The Sleigh Ride,” he’s disappointed that all of his friends stay inside to bake when he wants to go for a sleigh ride … until he finds out that they were baking in honor of his birthday! Cynthia Rylant’s Poppleton in Winter is creative and fun — a perfect read on a snowy day.

Find Poppleton in Winter at your local library.

The Race of the Birkebeiners

by: Lise Lunge-Larsen , illustrated by: Mary Azarian - (Houghton Mifflin, 2001) 32 pages.

Based on an account documenting a true incident in Norwegian history, this book tells the story of the Birkebeiners, a group of brave warriors in 1264, who race to protect a baby, Prince Hakon, the future King of Norway, from his enemies, the Baglers. Woodcuts from the illustrator of Snowflake Bentley add dramatic effect to this mesmerizing tale.

Find The Race of the Birkebeiners at your local library.

Snow Wonder

by: Charles Ghigna - (Random House, 2008) 24 pages.

With so much to do — like sledding, ice skating and cookie-baking with grandma — it’s “snow” wonder that this brother-and-sister duo have such a great day of wintry fun. Early readers will love Snow Wonder for its rhyming story, sticker sheets and colorful illustrations. (The little dog is especially cute!)

Find Snow Wonder at your local library.

The Snowy Day

by: Ezra Jack Keats - (Macmillan, 1962) 40 pages.

Young Peter wakes up to find that snow has fallen — and he can’t wait to go outside and play! Although he’s disappointed when he finds that he can’t save a snowball in his pocket, his sadness melts when he wakes up the next morning to yet another day of snowy fun. Keats’s collage-style illustrations are wonderful — especially the sharp contrast of Peter in his red snow suit (with its little pointy hood) against the snowy landscape. Keats’s classic Snowy Day beautifully captures a child’s sense of wonder.

Find The Snowy Day at your local library.

by: Mélanie Watt - (Kids Can Press, 2007) 32 pages.

“Once upon a time,” a huge cat named Chester took a red marker and rewrote Watt’s story about a “boring” mouse. Chester’s editing delights young readers as his humorous revisions make him the star of the book.

Find Chester at your local library.

Diary of a Worm

by: Doreen Cronin - (Joanna Cotler Books, 2003) 40 pages.

Doreen Cronin has done it again with this first person narrative told from the point of view of a boy worm. This book introduces the concept of a diary in a fun way. Young readers will identify with all the escapades of a worm, as he interacts with family members, goes to school and vacations at Compost Island. Children will laugh and learn facts in a fun way while learning to appreciate living creatures.

Want to see the movie? Check out the Scholastic video collection Diary of a Worm… And Four More Great Animal Tales , which also includes favorites like Anatole and Frog Goes to Dinner .

Find Diary of a Worm at your local library.

Down Girl and Sit: Smarter than Squirrels

by: Lucy Nolan , illustrated by: Mike Reed - (Marshall Cavendish, 2004) 68 pages.

Four hilarious stories about the adventures of two dogs told from a dog’s perspective by Down Girl. Whether it’s getting Rruff (her master) up early so he doesn’t have to hear the alarm clock, chasing squirrels and Here Kitty Kitty, or eating an entire bag of dog food in one afternoon, we see life with humans through the loving eyes of our best friends. This simply illustrated, laugh out loud chapter book will make all listeners eager for a sequel.

Find Down Girl and Sit: Smarter than Squirrels at your local library.

Drooling and Dangerous: The Riot Brothers Return

by: Mary Amato , illustrated by: Ethan Long - (Holiday House, 2006) 176 pages.

The hook: Three separate hilarious adventures of brothers Orville and Wilbur and their mother, who is also a school principal, will attract young readers who love silliness. With plastic bugs constantly flying, the brothers become spies and movie stars, celebrate “dwitch say,” and almost get into big trouble.

Perfect for: Siblings with a sense of fun.

Find our favorites at your local library: Drooling and Dangerous: The Riot Brothers Return , Take the Mummy and Run: The Riot Brothers are on a Roll .

Gator Gumbo

by: Candace Fleming , illustrated by: Sally Anne Lambert - (Farrar Straus Giroux, 2004) 32 pages.

Monsieur Gator is teased mercilessly by a pack of pesky swamp critters who clearly haven’t read about Brer Rabbit and the Tar Baby or they wouldn’t get so close to his bubbling cauldron. Monsieur may not be as young as he used to be but his wits and his maman’s recipe get him both dinner and revenge. A beautifully illustrated tale with just a touch of Cajun dialect will delight the ear of the giggling listeners who will know what Mr. Gator is up to long before his tormentors do.

Find Gator Gumbo at your local library.

Gooney Bird Greene

by: Lois Lowry , illustrated by: Middy Thomas - (Houghton Mifflin, 2002) 96 pages.

The hook: Gooney Bird arrives in second grade in the middle of a school day, which suits her fine. She wants to be in the center of all action — but especially of all attention. Wearing colorful, creative costumes daily, Gooney Bird soon becomes the brightest — in every sense of the word — star of second grade. Her teacher, who is trying to explain the nature of good stories to her class, tolerantly allows Gooney Bird to upstage her by telling melodramatic stories that appear to be whoppers. Declaring, “I tell only absolutely true stories,” Gooney Bird enters the annals of funny young protagonists. The format of her book is excellent for transitional readers; her stories, filtered through a fine imagination, are entertaining; and they will leave readers hoping for more.

Perfect for: Attention-seekers and their wallflower admirers.

Find our favorites at your local library: Gooney Bird Greene , Gooney the Fabulous , Gooney Bird is So Absurd .

How to Save Your Tail

by: Mary Hansen - (Schwartz & Wade Books, 2007) 93 pages.

Once upon a time, there was a verbally creative rat, Bob, who managed to save his tail by telling tall tales. Bob loved two things above all others — reading and baking cookies. One afternoon, when Bob is cornered by two hungry cats, he puts his talents to work to save himself. He enchants the cats with fanciful tales while serving up warm-from-the-oven, mouthwatering cookies alongside fresh saucers of milk. This amusing story is the perfect read-aloud that is sure to elicit a giggle or two. Young readers will quickly recognize that Bob’s tales have much in common with classic fairy tales. The illustrations provide a delightful accompaniment to the story, so bake up a batch of cookies, pour a glass of milk, curl up and enjoy this charming tale.

Perfect for: Storytellers and any child who enjoys a tall tale.

Find How to Save Your Tail at your local library.

It’s Raining Pigs & Noodles

by: Jack Prelutsky , illustrated by: James Stevenson - (Greenwillow Books, 2000) 160 pages.

The title, which is also the first line, sets the playful tone. Delightfully anti-authoritarian and anti-establishment, Prelutsky is the unexcelled master of word-playing nonsense. His laugh-aloud poems are rude, disrespectful, annoying and perceptive. In a word, marvelous. Childish readers, however, will read, laugh and pay him the ultimate compliment. They will memorize and repeat them with pickle relish.

Perfect for: Kids who delight in rebellious behavior.

Find It’s Raining Pigs & Noodles at your local library.

Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Stuart Little

by: Peggy Gifford , illustrated by: Valorie Fisher - (Schwatz & Wade Books, 2008) 92 pages.

Every child goes through the plot of this book at some point in his or her school career: It’s the day before school starts and you haven’t read the book that was required for summer reading. You’ve got this pit in your stomach because you know that you’re in trouble, but you just can’t bring yourself to do the reading. Moxy is in the same boat. It’s not that she hates to read — she just doesn’t want to read what somebody else tells her to read. This laugh-out-loud book is full of wit and charm. Moxy is a lovable character, even if her schemes are scatter-brained. The action takes place in the course of a fateful day in which a bowl of peaches, a garden hose and Moxy’s mother’s garden play vital roles. The story will leave you with a smirk on your face.

Find Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Stuart Little at your local library.

Ready Freddy: Don’t Sit on My Lunch

by: Abby Klein , illustrated by: John Mckinley - (Blue Sky Press, 2005) 96 pages.

The hook: Second graders can’t get enough of this hilarious series. Both boys and girls relate to Freddy and his best friend, Jessie, who happens to be a girl. In fact, she is the star hockey player on the peewee hockey team. Readers delight in Freddy and Jessie’s antics, as Jessie tries to help Freddy get a spot on her team. Of course, no school story would be complete without a class bully. Find out if Freddy can outplay “Max the Bully” in this entertaining read.

Find our favorites at your local library: Don’t Sit on My Lunch , Talent Show Scaredy-Pants , Shark Tooth Tale , Stop That Hamster!

Science Verse

by: Jon Scieszka , illustrated by: Lane Smith - (Viking Juvenile, 2004) 40 pages.

Loosely based on a variety of famous poems (“Listen, my children, and you shall hear/Of how loud noises go in your ear.”), these 21 wacky poems – accompanied by Lane Smith’s equally goofy illustrations — cover everything from the “Water Cycle” (“It’s raining, it’s pouring/For H20, it’s boring”) to anatomy (“I think that I ain’t never seen/A poem ugly as a spleen”) to parasites (“Mary had a little worm./She thought it was a chigger./But everything that Mary ate/Only made it bigger.”) The main thing you’ll learn about science is that it can be a lot of fun.

Perfect for: Kids who like a little scientific humor.

Find Science Verse at your local library.

Soupy Saturdays with the Pain and the Great One

by: Judy Blume , illustrated by: James Stevenson - (Delacorte Press, 2007) 108 pages.

This book is about an older sister (“the Great One”) and a younger brother (“the Pain”). Each chapter is told from alternating perspectives, so both kids get equal time telling their stories, which are funny, realistic and endearing. Though they both make cases for detesting each other, it is clear that the siblings are close. For example, when the Pain is afraid to get his hair cut, the Great One makes him a pair of fake ears, saying that if he wears one and gets cut, the barber will suffer from the curse that she placed on the ears. A perfect read-aloud for the whole family, this can easily be read by a newer reader. Parents who grew up on Judy Blume will enjoy it, as I did. Siblings will empathize with the characters, and everyone will laugh at the situations that are unmistakably “Judy Blume.”

Find Soupy Saturdays with the Pain and the Great One at your local library.

Tacky in Trouble

by: Helen Lester , illustrated by: Lynn M. Munsinger - (Houghton Mifflin, 1998) 32 pages.

Tacky is back, getting himself into predicaments that can only result in delighted, yet understanding, young readers. This time, Tacky is surfing while his more subdued penguin pals are napping on their iceberg. Tacky’s flowered shirt catches a mighty gust of wind and he is transported to a tropical island. An elephant (Tacky thinks she’s a large grey rock) mistakes Tacky’s shirt for a perfect bouquet of flowers to grace her kitchen table. What can Tacky do to escape? He does “penguinish” things to prove he is not a table dressing: He marches, dives, slides and hops until the tablecloth is covered with food. As usual, Munsinger’s watercolor illustrations are hilarious, and the story is told in Lester’s dry, witty tone. Tacky will certainly find new fans with this book, while old fans will be reminded to reread the other Tacky books!

Find Tacky in Trouble at your local library.

Three Stories You Can Read to Your Dog

by: Sara Swan Miller , illustrated by: True Kelley - (Houghton Mifflin, 1995) 48 pages.

Hilarious cartoon illustrations scamper across the pages of this three-chapter book. Told in the second person, these rollicking tales of “The Burglar,” “The Bone,” and “The Wild Dog” will delight humans and dogs of all ages. Anyone who’s ever loved a dog will recognize their beloved pet in these canine adventures. Cat-lovers will be as delighted with the equal opportunity sequel, Three Stories You Can Read to Your Cat (1997). Miller’s books are an irresistible transition from picture books to chapter books.

Find Three Stories You Can Read to Your Dog at your local library.

Mama Played Baseball

by: David Adler , illustrated by: Chris O'Leary - (Gulliver Books, 2003) 32 pages.

Adler and O’Leary honor the women who played in the All-American Girl’s Professional Baseball League from 1943-1954. Started when the men were fighting in World War II, talented females fed the love of the national pastime for loyal fans. The story of one such athlete is told by her daughter who takes fielding practice with her mama while they wait patiently for her daddy to come home safely. Illustrations in oil paints add movement and life to the story of a devoted little girl who captures women?s baseball in pictures she draws for her soldier father.

Perfect for: Kids who like sports.

Find Mama Played Baseball at your local library.

Emperor Penguins

by: Roberta Edwards - (Grosset & Dunlap, 2007) 48 pages.

This early reader is full of fun facts about emperor penguins — their lifecycle, habitat, predators and even what they like to do for fun. With easy-to-understand explanations and plenty of illustrations, Emperor Penguins is a great choice for young animal lovers.

Perfect for: Kids who like animals.

Find Emperor Penguins at your local library.

Encyclopedia Prehistorica: Dinosaurs

by: Matthew Reinhart and Robert Sabuda - (Candlewick Press, 2005) 12 pages.

Parents need to know that this book is both too delicate, and possibly too scary (on one page the jaws of a T-rex come out at the reader) for young kids. Also, though thoroughly researched, some of the information presented, both verbally and pictorially, is controversial, though the author is usually careful to indicate this. Families who read this book could discuss the science behind it, the sleuthing and inferences made by paleontologists. How did they figure out what the dinosaurs looked like and ate? What has caused their ideas to change? Families can also do further research together on the types of dinosaurs presented, or find out about other species.

Find Encyclopedia Prehistorica: Dinosaurs at your local library.

Look What Tails Can Do

by: Dorothy Souza - (Lerner Publications Co., 2007) 48 pages.

This book proves that a tail can be more than just a tail. The appearance and function of tails as different as the prehensile tail of an opossum to the deadly tail of a scorpion to the beautiful tail of the Central American quetzal are discussed. Simple vocabulary and close-up color photographs enhance the appeal for young readers. If this book is a hit, there are additional titles in this series (Look What Animals Can Do).

Find Look What Tails Can Do at your local library.

by: Zahavit Shalev - (DK Publishing, 2005) 48 pages.

This book follows the daily routine of five diverse animals at a water hole on the African savannah from dawn until midnight. The pages, which include a clock indicating the time of day, are packed with facts about the eating, playing, resting and sleeping behaviors of the animals found in this particular habitat. The visually appealing photographs and the conversational style may just hook those reluctant readers. There are additional titles in the series, including Coral Reef, Mountain, Arctic, Rain Forest, and Desert.

Find Water Hole at your local library.

The Flyer Flew! The Invention of the Airplane

by: Lee Sullivan Hill , illustrated by: Craig Orback - (Millbrook Press, 2006) 48 pages.

This brief chapter book featuring short simple sentences and basic vocabulary introduces the story of Wilbur and Orville Wright, inventors of the airplane. The brothers, who ran a bicycle shop, read about the flight research of German flier Otto Lilienthal. When Lilienthal dies in a crash, the brothers decide to continue his research and begin to build gliders. Technical terms are explained in words and pictures. An afterword provides an introduction to their scientific method, and a glossary is included. This would be the perfect read for inquiring young scientists and those kids fascinated by aircraft and flight.

Perfect for: Kids who like to read about real people.

Roberto Clemente: Pride of the Pittsburgh Pirates

by: Jonah Winter , illustrated by: Raul Colon - (Atheneum, 2005) 40 pages.

This beautifully illustrated book chronicles the career of Latino baseball star Roberto Clemente, from his childhood in Puerto Rico, through his major league career, and finally to his tragic death in a plane crash on his way to aid earthquake victims in Central America. This inspirational story follows Clemente from humble beginnings (his first baseball glove was made from a coffee-bean sack) to World Series fame in the major leagues to his legacy as a role model for aspiring baseball players and as a hero to the people of Puerto Rico for his humanitarian work.

Find Roberto Clemente: Pride of the Pittsburgh Pirates at your local library.

Sixteen Years in Sixteen Seconds: The Sammy Lee Story

by: Paula Yoo , illustrated by: Dom Lee - (Lee & Low Books, 2005) 32 pages.

This is the moving and inspirational story of Sammy Lee, an Olympian diver. Growing up Korean American in 1930s Los Angeles, Sammy was only allowed to use the pool one day a week because he was viewed as “Colored.” Sammy did not let this obstacle stand in his way. He knew that diving was in his soul, so he spent his days practicing in sand near his home, and his nights studying to be a doctor in order to honor his father’s wishes. In 1948, Dr. Sammy Lee became the first Asian American to win a gold medal in the Olympics. Accompanied by sensitive, thoughtful illustrations.

Find Sixteen Years in Sixteen Seconds: The Sammy Lee Story at your local library.

Smart About – George Washington Carver, The Peanut Wizard

by: Laura Driscoll , illustrated by: Jill Weber - (Grosset & Dunlap, 2003) 32 pages.

In this installation of the Smart About? series, student Annie Marcus has chosen her favorite scientist, George Washington Carver, as the subject of her assignment. Through Annie’s journal, which includes great illustrations and photographs, readers learn that George Washington Carver was one of the first farmers to introduce crop rotation for better and healthier crops. He also pioneered the commercial use of peanuts, including the invention of peanut butter!

Find Smart About – George Washington Carver, The Peanut Wizard at your local library.

What Presidents Are Made Of

by: Hanoch Piven - (Atheneum, 2004) 40 pages.

A humorous yet informative look at the U.S. Presidents in chronological order. Piven uses found objects to comprise the facial features of the presidents with hilarious results. Fun tidbits that actually stick with you!

Find What Presidents Are Made Of at your local library.

George Crum and the Saratoga Chip

by: Gaylia Taylor , illustrated by: Frank Morrison - (Lee & Low Books, 2006) 32 pages.

Growing up in the 1830s in Saratoga Springs, New York, George Crum experienced prejudice because of his mixed Native-American and African-American racial heritage. With a passion for cooking and against the odds, he landed a job as a chef at a fine restaurant frequented by an upscale clientele. He prided himself on his culinary talent and reputation, and the popularity of his cuisine grew. One day a diner complains that her French-fried potatoes, a fashionable new dish at the time, are cut too thick. In a fit of aggravation and to teach the customer a lesson, George accidentally creates the all-American snack food, potato chips. The lively and comical acrylic illustrations add to the fun of this quirky true-life story.

Perfect for: Kids who like history.

Find George Crum and the Saratoga Chip at your local library.

It’s Disgusting and We Ate It!: True Food Facts From Around the World and Throughout History

by: James Solheim , illustrated by: Eric Brace - (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 1998) 48 pages.

This book is filled with outrageous stories, facts, and fascinating tidbits about food from around the world. If your child has an interest in unique historical facts, this is the book for him.

Find It’s Disgusting and We Ate It!: True Food Facts From Around the World and Throughout History at your local library.

On the Mayflower

by: Kate Waters , illustrated by: Russ Kendall - (Scholastic, 1996) 40 pages.

What would it be like to have traveled to America on board the Mayflower? Why did people leave their homeland and come to the New World? What was it like on this long treacherous voyage? The answers to these questions and more are answered in this historical account of an apprentice boy and a passenger girl as they journeyed to Plymouth.

Find On the Mayflower at your local library.

Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World: The Extraordinary True Story of Shackleton and the Endurance

by: Jennifer Armstrong , illustrated by: Frank Hurley - (Random House, 1998) 128 pages.

This is a survival saga of the man who attempted to cross the Antarctic in 1914. Better than fictional survival stories, beautifully written, illustrated with photos that survived from the voyage, this is history as exciting adventure.

Find Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World: The Extraordinary True Story of Shackleton and the Endurance at your local library.

The Story of the Pilgrims

by: Katherine Ross , illustrated by: Carolyn Croll - (Random House Books for Young Readers, 1995) 24 pages.

The Story of the Pilgrims, a picture book, begins with the plight of a group of people who were being persecuted for their religious beliefs. Though the risks were many, the Pilgrims decided to leave England. Ross takes readers on the harsh journey to the New World and explains the suffering during the Pilgrims’ first winter. She also explores the relationships the colonists had with the Indians, and she brings the feast of the first Thanksgiving to life for primary readers.

Find The Story of the Pilgrims at your local library.

How to Be a Baby, by Me the Big Sister

by: Sally Lloyd-Jones , illustrated by: Sue Heap - (Schwartz & Wade Books/Random House Children's Books, 2007) 40 pages.

A big sister explains things you can’t do as a baby and things you can do as an older child. The humorous story and illustrations help older children appreciate their accomplishments while gaining a better understanding of younger siblings.

Perfect for: Kids who like nonfiction.

Find How to Be a Baby, by Me the Big Sister at your local library.

My Senator and Me

by: Edward M. Kennedy , illustrated by: David Small - (Scholastic Press, 2006) 56 pages.

Splash, a Portuguese water spaniel, follows his owner, Senator Edward Kennedy, through a typical day on Capitol Hill, providing commentary on what goes on there. This book is a look at our legislative process that is considerably more entertaining than most, thanks in part to David Small’s humorous illustrations. Included in the book is additional information on Senator Kennedy, Splash the water spaniel (and how to contact him by email), and the process by which a bill becomes a law.

Find My Senator and Me at your local library.

Compost, by Gosh! An Adventure With Vermicomposting

by: Michelle Eva Portman - (Flower Press, 2002) 42 pages.

What is vermicomposting? It’s a system for turning food waste into planting soil with the help of worms. Michelle Eva Portman provides a primer on the process as an entertaining story — a young girl and her mom convert a storage box into a house for their new “pets.” The box is a vermicomposting bin, and the pets are redworms. Accompanied by adorable illustrations, Compost, by Gosh! includes a how-to section for children to try composting at home.

Perfect for: Kids who like science and nature.

Find Compost by Gosh! at your local library.

Dear Children of the Earth

by: Schim Schimmel - (Northword Press, 1994) 32 pages.

This book delivers an extremely important message. It’s a letter to all children from Mother Nature, asking them to please love her as she loves them. The illustrations are absolutely stunning! Adults as well as children can benefit and will be impacted by this book.

Find Dear Children of the Earth at your local library.

Michael Recycle

by: Ellie Bethel , illustrated by: Alexandra Colombo - (Worthwhile Books, 2008) 28 pages.

Written to celebrate Earth Day (April 22), Michael Recycle recounts the adventures of a young superhero whose powers allow him to teach people about recycling. Kids will relate to this “green-caped crusader” and the idea that one person can make a difference.

Find Michael Recycle at your local library.

Recycle! A Handbook for Kids

by: Gail Gibbons - (Little, Brown Young Readers, 1992) 32 pages.

Prolific children’s author Gail Gibbons’s cartoons in primary shapes and colors illustrate how to recycle various products to cut down on the need for landfills. Paper, plastic, glass and cans — each is covered — how to recycle them, why it’s necessary and its benefits. A first-rate introduction to the world of recycling and its environmental benefits.

Find Recycle! A Handbook for Kids at your local library.

Thanksgiving Day

by: Gail Gibbons - (Holiday House, 1983) 32 pages.

Gail Gibbons has yet again written a delightful picture book that highlights the origins of the first Thanksgiving, as well as the way the celebration has evolved over the years. Gail Gibbons’ simple text and bold, beautiful pictures present both historical and current contexts in a way that satisfies the curiosity of young children.

Perfect for: Kids who like holiday.

Find Thanksgiving Day at your local library.

The Busy Body Book: A Kid’s Guide to Fitness

by: Lizzy Rockwell - (Crown Books for Young Readers, 2004) 40 pages.

In this guide to fitness, the author illustrates the parts of the body involved in being physically active: the skeleton, muscles, brain and nerves, lungs, heart, and vessels. She also explains what the body needs to fuel activity: food, water, oxygen, and rest. Finally, the author suggests activities to keep the body strong and healthy.

Perfect for: Kids who like sports and health.

Find The Busy Body Book: A Kid’s Guide to Fitness at your local library.

The Kids Summer Games Book

by: Jane Drake and Ann Love - (Kids Can Press, Ltd., 1998) 176 pages.

A perfect game guide for group leaders looking to plan summer activities, this book is extremely accessible, both for kids and adults alike. There are 150+ games included, ranging from hide-and-seek to treasure hunting to capture the flag. The book is broken up into types of games and activities, such as “Indoor Games,” which include card games and dominoes, and “Land Action” which gives us badminton, Frisbee and croquet. While “Games to Make” suggests pickup sticks and home-style bingo, “Water Games” reminds us that water safety is no game. There are also suggestions for individual activities that involve card games and magic tricks. Soft-pencil illustrations enliven the explanation of rules. Drake and Love are sisters who grew up playing these games and put their family experiences into this book, as well as their bestselling The Kids’ Summer Handbook and The Kids Campfire Book .

Perfect for: Kids who like to play games.

Find The Kids Summer Games Book at your local library.

Winter of the Ice Wizard

by: Mary Pope Osborne - (Random House, 2004) 128 pages.

If you are a fan of the Magic Tree House series, you are sure to love Mary Pope Osborne’s next adventure into the magical frozen land of the Ice Wizard. Jack and Annie are summoned by their friends from Camelot — Teddy and Kathleen — to help solve the mystery of the disappearance of Merlin and Morgan Le Fay. The team is equipped with only two things to help them: a mysterious rhyme from the Ice Wizard and a magical rope. Will they find Merlin and Morgan Le Fay? Are you brave enough to travel along?

Find Winter of the Ice Wizard at your local library.

by: Jane Yolen , illustrated by: John Schoenherr - (Philomel Books, 1987) 32 pages.

This exquisitely written story about a special adventure between a young daughter and her father during a quiet winter night is an absolute treasure. Owl Moon  won the 1988 Caldecott Medal. Find Owl Moon at your local library.

Ladybug Girl

by: Jackie Davis , illustrated by: David Soman - (Dial Books, 2008) 40 pages.

Everybody’s busy: Lulu’s older brother won’t let her tag along because she is too “little,” and Mom and Dad don’t have time. What’s a girl to do? Enter Lulu’s alter ego: Ladybug Girl. Complete with wings and a ladybug polka-dot skirt, Lulu and her faithful sidekick, the family basset hound who is never too busy, go off on their own adventures saving the yard from danger. With wonderful illustrations accompanying the hilarious text, Ladybug Girl is one of my favorite picture books. It is a riotous read.

Find Ladybug Girl at your local library.

Bartholomew and the Oobleck

by: Dr. Seuss - (Random House, 1949) 48 pages.

Hilarious Seussian text and zany pictures to match. A great pleasure to read aloud. Questions the wisdom of tampering with nature. May prompt discussion about weather. The merits of apologizing are pointed out through well-crafted writing.

Find Bartholomew and the Oobleck at your local library.

Actual Size

by: Steve Jenkins - (Houghton Mifflin, 2004) 34 pages.

There are many books about animals for children, but none that provide information about their relative sizes in such a meaningful way. Caldecott-winning author Jenkins uses his unique cut- and torn-paper illustrations to show readers the “actual size” of a collection of animals. Smaller creatures like the atlas moth fit comfortably on the page, but the head of the saltwater crocodile requires a fold-out, and the head of the Siberian tiger extends off of two large pages! Text is minimal, usually restricted to statistics about the size of each of the creatures illustrated, but there are additional notes about each of the animals at the end of the book.

Find Actual Size at your local library.

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Keep your students reading and boost the development of more complex language and reading comprehension with this collection of titles just right for the second grade classroom.

From quintessential classics like Charlotte's Web to more contemporary favorites like Dog Man, there's something for every interest and skill level in this diverse book list featuring picture books, early readers, chapter books, and nonfiction. Spanning a variety of genres, these titles are perfect for classroom read-alouds and individual reading from the very first day and throughout the school year. 

Shop books for second graders below. You can find all books and activities at  The Teacher Store .

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Best Books for Second-Graders

Age 7 or 8 is a time when kids have a huge range of reading levels. Some are really ready for chapter books, while others are just getting the hang of storytime in general. The challenge at this age is finding good books they'll stick with. Humor and family stories, as well as mystery and fantasy tales, are great for second graders, and we've got plenty of each. Some are series , which are a great way to provide hours of reading and adventure and get early readers hooked on their favorite characters. So check these out, and when your kid is ready, try these books for third graders .

The Boxcar Children Series

Engaging classic mystery series great for beginning readers.

Charlotte's Web

Gentle, much-loved barnyard classic delights all ages.

Half Magic: Tales of Magic, Book 1

Delightful, charming classic has adventure, humor, heart.

The Magic School Bus Series

Smart science-based series mixes facts and fun.

Ramona the Pest

Ramona tale helps young kids build empathy.

Secrets of Droon Series

Simple but inventive series great for first fantasy reading.

The Best of Iggy: Iggy, Book 1

Funny look at boy whose impulsive ideas get the best of him.

Black Brother, Black Brother

Boy challenges school bully in exciting sports story.

The Blossoming Universe of Violet Diamond

Sweet tale of biracial girl in search of lost family.

The City of Ember

Part fantasy, part mystery, part treasure hunt.

Strange, surreal tale sure to creep kids out.

Dragons in a Bag, Book 1

Exciting tale of New York kid's journey to magical world.

Enola Holmes: The Case of the Missing Marquess: The Enola Holmes Mysteries, Book 1

Teen girl detective is a fun twist on famous family name.

Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures

Funny, poignant tale of cynical girl, superpowered squirrel.

From the Desk of Zoe Washington

Girl works to clear her father of a crime in smart tale.

Goblin Secrets

Orphan boy seeks lost brother in exciting, funny tale.

A Good Kind of Trouble

Girl learns to be brave in triumphant coming-of-age tale.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone: Harry Potter, Book 1

Magical start of the fantastic boy-wizard series.

Hidden Figures Young Readers' Edition

Powerful true story of African American women at NASA.

The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom

Engaging fairy tale spoof is clever and funny.

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• Best Books for First-Graders
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• Graphic Novels and Memoirs
• How to Raise a Reader
• How Comics Helped My Kid Love Reading
• Help Your Kids Find Books with Diverse Characters

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Book report second grade

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2nd Grade Book Report Template PDF – Free Download (PRINTABLE)

Are you looking for an easy and convenient way to have your 2nd-grade students report on all the different books they read? Look no further – our 2nd grade book report template PDF is here to save the day! Our PDF template is ready to print and is totally free to download. It includes all the necessary components of a book report and comes with helpful instructions and easy-to-follow guidelines.

Features of the Template

• Aesthetic Design – The beautiful design of our template makes it attractive to your students. The layout is simple and clean, and the colors are easy on the eyes.
• Easy to Read – The text formatting of our template is simple and legible, making it easier for 2nd-grade students to follow instructions and complete their reports.
• Instructions & Guidance – This template comes with helpful instructions and guidelines, making it easier for students to know what to include in their reports.
• Reusable & Customizable – The template is reusable and customizable, making it the perfect option for teachers who need to have their students report on different books.

How to Use the Template

Using our 2nd grade book report template PDF is incredibly easy. All you need to do is follow these simple steps:

• Download the template and save it to your device.
• Open the template in your PDF reader.
• Read the instructions and guidelines carefully.
• Fill out the template with the required information.
• Print out the template.
• Do a quick review of your report and make sure it is complete.

As you can see, our 2nd-grade book report template PDF is the perfect way to have your students report on different books. It is easy to use, attractive to look at, and totally free to download. So what are you waiting for? Download the template now and have your students start writing their book reports!

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Book Report Templates for Kinder, First, and Second Grade

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Often, when we think of writing book reports, we think of older or high school students. However, kids of all ages can also learn valuable elements of a book. It will also help them with reading comprehension and improve their writing skills in a fun way. One thing to remember is that it’s always a good idea to make it simple and fun. Our young students are just beginning to read. Using a book report template printable you can keep up that excitement, not turn it into something negative.

Elements of a Story

Before doing a book report on paper, we want to make sure that the students familiarize all the terms that may come up in a book report such as book title, author, illustrator, and the story elements.

You can fit making posters into your lesson plans to introduce different elements of a story. I like to introduce one or two posters at a time to young children. For example, we will talk about authors vs. illustrators and we will study some of our class’s favorites and find out who the authors and illustrators are. We will learn about setting, and compare and contrast the settings in different stories we’ve read.

I like to do a read aloud and identify parts of a book and elements of a story with my students. The more you talk about them, the more they will be comfortable identifying them in the books they read and using them in sentences. All this oral exercise will prepare them to eventually write their own book report.

These are some of the basic questions you can ask as you introduce different parts of a book and elements of a story.

What is the title of the story?

Is the book fiction or nonfiction?

By looking at the cover and the title, can you guess what the book is about?

What is the setting of the story?

Who are the main characters?

What happened at the beginning, middle, and end of the story?

Free Book Response Cues

I created these Book Response Cues that you can use once your students are more fluent in identifying the terms in the books they read. Print, cut, and stick them on popsicle sticks or straws, and put them in a little can. After reading a story together, you can have a student pull out a stick to answer the question. This is a great way to do a whole group book study.

Now, it’s time for a book report! You want to give them something that is kid-friendly and not overwhelming. Let them know they are doing something special- something that older kids do. LEVEL UP! They are growing up!

These printables book report forms were specifically made for kindergarten and first graders who are new to book reports. Writing a book report for young kids should not be intense. For this reason, all of the pages are simple and straightforward, and they focus on a few key words at a time. They can be used in reading/listening centers, as a guided reading extensions, or to assist students in retelling a story.

For me, it is important for my students to familiarize different components and elements of a book, practice writing sentences, and additionally practice handwriting.

Doing a book study together will encourage students to talk about the books that they read. They may have a read a great book and recommend to their friends or they may even talk about a book that was not that fun for them. Reading a book with the intention of reviewing it may even give a little nudge on your students to pay closer attention.

Write a Letter to the Author

Another thing you can do when using a book report template printable is get your students to write a friendly letter to the author, illustrator, or to one of the characters. Here’s a link to free letter templates  you can use. An easy way you can make it fun is by dressing up as one of the characters or select a day or week where your kids can dress up as characters in a book. This is always my favorite part of using a book report template printable with the class! If you have any other fun ideas to share, please share them in the comments below! 🙂

See what others have to say about these book reports!

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16 Excellent Chapter Books for 2nd Graders

Second graders are starting to gain reading fluency and confidence. It can feel exciting to a young reader to pick up a chapter book just like the big kids!

Since a second grade classroom full of 7- and 8-year-olds includes students of a wide range of reading levels, it's important to have a selection of good, diverse chapter books for second graders at the ready. That's where this book list is useful.

You want to find just the right book for your beginning chapter book reader, a book or series that holds their interest and keeps them reading. The books on this list include a variety of genres and protagonists from all walks of life so every kid can find a story they will love.

Note: this post contains Amazon and Bookshop affiliate links. Purchases made through these links may earn commission for this blog. Bookshop supports independent booksellers.

Best 2nd Grade Chapter Books

Depending on reading level, all these books for second graders are appropriate for kids ages 6-10. Would it help you to have a printable version of this book list? At the end of the post you can get one!

JOJO MAKOONS (series) by Dawn Quigley, illustrated by Tara Audibert

Find it: Amazon | Bookshop

JoJo is a clever, spunky heroine and she makes lots of mistakes–but she's learning! JoJo's narrative voice is irresistible, and Quigley includes wonderful word play and sly humor throughout. The story centers around JoJo's experiences at school and with her friend, Fern, with whom she's having some difficulties. A wonderful new series!

J.D. AND THE GREAT BARBER BATTLE (series) by J. Dillard, illustrated by Akeem S. Roberts

This is a sweet and very funny series! J.D.'s mom has given him a terrible haircut, and when J.D. tries to remedy the situation he discovers that he is actually a hair-cutting genius! But when the town barber gets fed up with losing all his clients to J.D., it's time for a show-down!

THE CHICKEN SQUAD (series) by Doreen Cronin, illustrated by Kevin Cornell

In this very funny series, Dirt, Sugar, Poppy, and Sweetie are chicks with varying degrees of intelligence. They solve backyard crimes that inevitably involve the squirrel population, a friendly dog, and a lot of laughs.

MORE: Funny chapter books for 6-10 year olds

POLLY DIAMOND AND THE MAGIC BOOK (series) by Alice Kuipers, illustrated by Diana Toledano

Polly is a charming heroine and this is a relentlessly ( in a good way! ) cheerful book. One day, Polly gets a book and is delighted to find out that whatever she writes comes true. But there is a catch, Polly must get the wording exactly right. Luckily, Polly loves words and stories. As you can imagine, things get a little out of hand but all is well in the end!

BADIR AND THE BEAVER by Shannon Stewart, illustrated by Christian Down

One day Badir, a recent Tunisian immigrant to Canada, spots a beaver. He is entranced by the animal, which he thinks is a large swimming rat. Badir soon learns that the beaver is the national animal of Canada and that some residents want the "pest" removed from the park because of damage to trees. Badir and his friends rally to learn all they can about beavers and help the animal. Stewart deftly weaves themes of belonging and cultural diversity into this marvelous story.

SATO THE RABBIT by Yuki Ainoya

Ainoya's lyrical book series has much less text than the other 2nd grade reading choices on this list. However, the vocabulary is still challenging and the story sweeps you up into Sato's imagination. A young child wearing a rabbit suit uses their imagination to transform ordinary tasks into the extraordinary. Water from the hose becomes a winding river, a watermelon is a boat, a walnut is a tiny home. Surreal and enchanting. Would make a great read aloud.

MORE: Best chapter books in translation

DEFINITELY DOMINGUITA (series) by Terry Catasus Jennings, illustrated by Fatima Anaya

This is a great chapter book series with an indomitable, book-loving heroine. In the first book of the series, Dominguita's abuela has just moved away and Dom loves reading Don Quixote , abuela's favorite book. It makes her feel closer to abuela. Dom attempt to set out on some knightly adventures of her own and prove to the class bully that girls can be knights.

A BEAR NAMED BJORN by Delphine Perret

Find it: Bookshop | Amazon

Perret's story and line-drawn illustrations of a bear and and his forest friends is both calming and whimsical. The short, episodic tale takes place over six chapters and fans of Winnie-the-Pooh will enjoy reading about Bear's acquisition of a new sofa, Owl's prescription for Bear to wear glasses and Bear's hunt for the perfect gift, among other droll events. Utterly delightful and I love that the pages are green!

THE FABLED STABLES (series) by Jonathan Auxier, illustrated by Olga Demidova

Willa the Wisp is the first title in The Fabled Stables series. Auggie lives on an island and has a job taking care of one-of-a-kind animals. His sidekick is a shape-shifting stick-like creature called a "Stick-in-the-Mud," named Fen. When a new stall magically appears in the stables, Auggie knows there is a creature who needs rescuing. Thus begins his quest to find and save a will-o'-the-wisp. This is a truly magical series, perfect for kids who love magic and mythical beasts.

MORE: Action and adventure early chapter books

HOCKEY NIGHT IN KENYA by Danson Mutinda and Eric Walters, illustrated by Claudia Dávila

Set in modern day Africa, this book about boys dreaming of playing ice hockey is an inspiring read. Two boys, Kitoo and Nigosi, learn about Canadian ice hockey in a book they check out from the library. They are determined to play this intriguing sport, despite the lack of snow and ice in their home country. It's a wonderful, positive story about friendship and perseverance.

MORE: Beginning chapter books with diverse characters

KONDO & KEZUMI VISIT GIANT ISLAND (series) by David Goodner, illustrated by Andrea Tsurumi

This is a very easy chapter book series with colorful illustrations that's likely to appeal to even reluctant readers. Kondo and Kezumi are great friends who spend their days frolicking and looking for berries. One day a message with a map in a bottle washes up on shore and the pair build a boat and set out to see the islands on the map. After visiting Dairy Isle and Fireskull Island, they land on Giant Island where they meet Albert, an anthropomorphized mountain who is so delighted to have some company he doesn't want them to leave. Not to worry, it all ends happily.

OUR FRIEND HEDGEHOG: THE STORY OF US by Lauren Castillo

What a marvelous book. I have long admired Castillo's illustrations and this gentle chapter book is perfect for kids who like cozy and gentle reads. A storm carries away Hedgehog's stuffed toy dog, Mutty, leaving Hedgehog feeling lonely. She sets out to find Mutty, following clues that lead her to encounters with other friendly animals who help her. Eventually all the creatures meet a human, Annika May, who has lost something of her own. All the animals have charmingly distinctive personalities. With full color illustrations, Castillo's book is also a great read aloud for young children.

AVEN GREEN, SLEUTHING MACHINE (series) by Dusti Bowling, illustrated by Gina Perry

I adored Bowling's middle grade novel, Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus , and its heroine, Aven Green, is now the star of her very own early chapter book series. In this series, Green is a third-grader who has a penchant for solving mysteries. A funny series with a unique and tremendously likable protagonists.

MORE: Mystery early chapter books

MAYBE MAYBE MAYBE MARISOL RAINEY (series) by Erin Entrada Kelly

Marisol Rainey is trying to be brave enough to climb the magnolia tree in her backyard but she has a fear of falling. Her friend, Jada, climbs the tree and Marisol hopes that this is the summer in which she will get over her fears. This is a lovely chapter book about friendship, courage and family relationships.

BROWN by Håkon Øvreås, illustrated by Øyvind Torseter

I love this book from Norwegian author, Øvreås. Rusty is the target of three bullies. He decides it's time to take matters into his own hands and creates an alter ego, a superhero named "Brown." Brown wears ( you guessed it ) brown clothes and enacts revenge with brown paint. Two of his friends become "Black" and "Blue" and together they roam at night, leaving their colored calling cards around the town. Full of tongue in cheek, laugh-out-loud humor. Oh, and don't worry, the bullies get their comeuppance.

MIA MAYHEM (series) by Kara West, illustrated by Leeza Hernandez

This is an easy and good chapter book series about an 8-year-old girl who finds out she is a superhero when she receives an invitation to attend an after school Program for In-Training Superheroes. Now she must figure out a way to be both a regular girl AND a secret superhero.

MORE: Children's books about girl superheroes!

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Free Book Report Templates: Printables for Grades 3-5 for Fiction or Nonfiction Books

Take a new spin on your book report assignment. 📚😍

The Nocturnals are fun-filled animal adventure books with companion nonfiction for elementary school classrooms. Check out The Nocturnals World , a resource hub with free turnkey printable activities and educator guides, and browse The Nocturnals bookstore!

Building lifelong readers is one of the most important things we can do in our classrooms. The benefits of reading are wide-ranging, from improving vocabulary skills to boosting cognitive development, concentration skills, and curiosity for learning. So, how do we get young learners excited about reading and sharing what they’ve learned? Check out our free book report template printables .

Four different activities are ready to print to help you take a new spin on your next book report assignment for fiction or nonfiction books. Students will love filling in their mini book report one-pagers or making their selections from the choice board to share details about what they read.

Worksheets Included:

My mini book report—fiction and nonfiction.

These book report one-pagers are a great way for students to reflect on their readings as they complete different sections of the worksheet. There’s a version for both fiction and nonfiction.

Book Report Choice Board

Give students choices on how they want to complete their book report assignment. This choice board offers eight fun options, from designing a comic to creating a playlist or writing interview questions, so students can let their creativity guide them.

Designing Water Bottle Stickers

Students are obsessed with stickers. In this unique activity, students will design water bottle stickers that the main character of the book would love to have, along with a short description of their choices.

Give students fun-filled books to choose from

Animal adventure books from The Nocturnals are the perfect way to get your upper elementary students excited about reading. Paired with nonfiction companion texts that explore nocturnal animal facts, this series is great for hi-lo readers. Visit The Nocturnals World for more free printable activities and educator guides.

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Inspire your students to share their love of books. Continue Reading

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Books Every Second Grader Should Know

Free Second Grade Books

Shapes are Terrific

Where is the Party Hat?

A Salamander

Ladybug, Ladybug

The Poetry of the Butterfly

The Hummingbird

The Sun is Very Important

Night and Day

Science Garden Fun