Second grade is a magical year in many ways. In second-grade children’s learning horizon expand a little bit and they develop reading fluency. They are ready to move from easy reader books into early chapter books. If you are wondering which are the books that could inspire a reader in your kids, here is a list of some books they will enjoy.
Magic Tree House Series
By Mary Pope Osborne (Author), Sal Murdocca (Illustrator)
The Magic Tree House series is one of those well-known favorites for many kids. Meet Jack and Annie! Jack and his younger sister, Annie, are just regular kids. But when they discover a treehouse in the woods, something magical happens. Jack and Annie are whisked back in time to the Age of Dinosaurs, a medieval castle, ancient pyramids, and treasure-seeking pirates.
Humphrey’s Tiny Tales Series
By Betty G. Birney, illustrated by Priscilla Burris
Humphrey spends his days as the class pet of Room 26 at Longfellow School. With a room full of friends, so much to learn, and a cage with a broken lock, Humphrey’s many adventures are perfect for fans of animal-centered stories.
Detective Camp: A To Z Mysteries
By Ron Roy (Author), John Steven Gurney (Illustrator)
Welcome to summer camp for detectives! The kids can’t wait to spend a week following clues and learning about the science of crime solving. Soon all the campers are working on a mystery. But while Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose are figuring out their part of the puzzle, they stumble onto something suspicious. Could a real crime be happening at detective camp?
Stink Series
By Megan McDonald (Author), Peter H. Reynolds (Illustrator
Stink is the shortest kid that ever lived, at least he feels like it, especially with all the teasing his older sister, Judy Moody, does to him. But Stink is a character kid would love. Kids will also love the illustrations with extras, like comic strips, tucked into these books.
Alvin Ho Series
By Lenore Look (Author), LeUyen Pham (Illustrator)
Alvin Ho is scared of everything. He’s especially scared of school. Too bad he can’t tackle starting second grade as his superhero alter ego, Firecracker Man. Kids will love rooting for Alvin as he learns to conquer his many fears.
EllRay Jakes Is Not a Chicken
By Sally Warner (Author), Jamie Harper (Illustrator)
EllRay Jakes is tired of being bullied by fellow classmate Jared Matthews. But when EllRay tries to defend himself, he winds up in trouble. Then his dad offers him a deal: If he stays out of trouble for one week, they’ll go to Disneyland! EllRay says he can do it. But saying it and doing it are two very different things.
Super Burp! #1 (George Brown, Class Clown)
by Nancy Krulik (Author), Aaron Blecha (Illustrator)
The first day at a new school is always the hardest, right? No, not always as George finds out the hard way. On the second day at…Sugarman Elementary School, he is suddenly seized by uncontrollable burps, burps so loud they practically break the sound barrier, burps that make him do wild and crazy stuff and land him in trouble with a capital T. One thing is for sure: these are not normal burps, they are magic burps—and they must be stopped! But how?
Amelia Bedelia
By Herman Parish (Author), Lynne Avril (Illustrator)
Short, fast-paced chapters, tons of friends and funny situations, and black-and-white illustrations on every page make the Amelia Bedelia chapter books an ideal choice for readers of the Ivy + Bean, Magic Tree House, and Junie B. Jones books. Each book features a guide to the idioms introduced in the story.
If you’re looking for chapter books for kids ages 6-8, don’t miss Amelia Bedelia! The Amelia Bedelia books have sold more than 35 million copies.
Dory Fantasmagory Series
By Abby Hanlon (Author)
It’s hard being the youngest sibling, especially when your brother and sister won’t play with you. Good thing Dory has an unbelievably wild imagination to keep her entertained. With its sharp-toothed robbers, bearded fairy godmothers, and a best friend who just happens to be a monster, this book is a real hoot.
Junie B. Jones
By Barbara Park (Author), Denise Brunkus (Illustrator)
Laugh yourself silly with Junie B. Jones as she starts kindergarten! Funny, feisty, and prone to mishaps, Junie B. Jones tackles the challenges of growing up in her own mischievous (and hilarious) way.
My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish
By Mo O’Hara (Author), Marek Jagucki (Illustrator)
Zapping Frankie the goldfish back to life with a battery was the best thing Tom’s ever done. A BIG FAT ZOMBIE GOLDFISH with incredible hypnotic powers is a great pet to have on your side when your big brother is an evil scientist whose plans regularly need to be thwarted. Join Tom and Frankie as they go on incredible adventures involving revenge plots, evil scientist older brothers, a Super Electric Zombie Eel, and other paranormal pets!
**Even though the links given in the post are affiliated, they are given just for readers’ convenience to locate the books. The books recommended in the post are my personal recommendations.
