The following books are recommended as good reading for second graders. Publisher's series in parenthesis indicate that more titles are available in this reading format and an asterisk after the author's name means that this book is part of a series. Your librarian can help you with additional suggestions of books to read by these and other authors.

Beginning Chapter Books | Easy Readers | Fairy Tales Folk Tales and Fables
Non-Fiction | Picture Books | Poetry

BEGINNING CHAPTER BOOKS

Backyard Basketball Superstar (I Am Reading) by Monica Klein. Jeremy is unhappy and jealous when his superstar little sister signs up for basketball tryouts.

Brutus the Wonder Poodle (A Stepping Stone Book) by Linda Gondosch. At first Ryan is disappointed when his parents give him a small toy poodle, but Brutus turns out to be a very smart dog!

Chicago and the Cat by Robin Michael Koontz.* A pushy cat becomes the unexpected house guest of Chicago the Rabbit.

Dinosaurs are 568 by Jean Rogers. Raymond does not want to go to school but changes his mind when he discovers that the school library has lots of books about dinosaurs.

Horrible Harry in Room 2B by Suzy Kline.* Harry, a second grader, loves to do horrible things in the classroom.

Old Enough for Magic (I Can Read) by Anola Pickett. When eight-year-old Peter receives a magic set for his birthday, his older sister manages to turn herself into a frog!

Pajama Party by Amy Hest. Best friends Jenny, Casey and Kate make special plans for their first pajama party.

Pee Wee Scouts-Cookies and Crutches by Judy Delton.* The Pee Wee Scouts are busy trying to earn their cooking and ice-skating badges.

Pinky and Rex Go to Camp by James Howe.* Rex is happy about going to sleep-away camp with her best friend Pinky, but Pinky is frightened about leaving home.

The Valentine Star (Polk Street Kids) by Patricia Reilly Giff.* It's time for everyone in Ms. Rooney's class to make cards for Valentine's Day.

EASY READERS

The Almost Awful Play by Patricia Reilly Giff.* Second-grader Ronald Morgan becomes the star of the class play.

Case of the Missing Dinosaur (Troll Easy-to-Read Mystery) by Keith Brandt.* Irving, the baseball team's mascot dinosaur is missing!

The Christmas Eve Mystery (First Read-Alone Mysteries) by Joan Lowery Nixon.* Susan and Mike overhear thieves discussing stolen money.

The Dog That Stole Football Plays by Matt Christopher.* Harry the dog is able to communicate the opposing team's football plays to his owner, Mike.

Greg's Microscope (Science I Can Read) by Millicent Selsam. Greg and his family and friends discover that everyday objects look very different when viewed under a microscope.

Harry's Visit by Barbara Ann Porte.* Harry finds that meeting new people can be fun.

In A Dark, Dark Room by Alvin Schwartz. Scary stories based on folktales from various countries.

My Dog and the Green Sock Mystery by David Adler.* Jennie's smart dog loves to solve mysteries.

Piet Potter Returns by Robert Quackenbush.* A young detective and his friend uncover the identity of the person who has been doing mischief in the neighborhood.

Sarah and the Dragon by Bruce Coville. Sarah is kidnapped by a dragon.

Sleeping Ugly by Jane Yolen. A funny tale about a beautiful but mean Princess, a plain looking but kind orphan girl, a magic fairy and a prince.

Soccer Sam (Step into Reading) by Jean Marzollo.* Cousin Marco, visiting from Mexico, teaches Sam's friends how to play soccer.

That Dog! by Nanette Newman. After Barnum dies Ben is certain that he'll never want another dog.

FAIRY TALES, FOLK TALES AND FABLES

The Hare and the Tortoise by LaFontaine, illus. by Brian Wildsmith. J398.21 The quick moving hare and the slow but wise tortoise agree to run a race with each other.

The Magic Porridge Pot by Paul Galdone. J398.2 G. A magic porridge pot produces all the food that a hungry mother and daughter can eat, but they must remember the magic words to stop the pot from filling up with porridge.

The Mitten by Jan Brett. J398.20947 B. When Nicki drops his mitten in the snow, several animals crawl inside where it is warm and cozy.

The Three Wishes: An Old Story by Margot Zemach. J398 A poor woodcutter and his wife and granted three wishes by a small imp.

NON-FICTION

Corn is Maize-The Gift of the Indians (Let's Read & Find Out Science Book) by Aliki. J633.15 The story of a plant discovered by the Indians.

My Visit to the Dinosaurs (Let's Read & Find Out Science Book) by Aliki. J568.1509 A.While visiting a museum, a boy learns about the giant dinosaurs who roamed the earth millions of years ago.

The Planets in Our Solar System (Let's Read & Find Out Science Book) by Franklyn Branley. J523.4 Introduction to the Solar System and to the nine planets that go around our sun.

Telephones, Televisions and Toilets (Discovery Readers) by Melvin and Gilda Berger. J643.6 When you talk on the phone, watch television or use the toilet, do you know exactly how these things work?-find out!

PICTURE BOOKS

Grandaddy and Janetta by Helen Griffith. Janetta travels to Georgia and enjoys a wonderful visit with her grandfather.

Me First by Helen Lester. Pinkerton the pig always has to be first in everything he does until a witch teaches him an important lesson.

The Owl and the Woodpecker by Brian Wildsmith. Owl and Woodpecker cannot get along. Owl likes to sleep during the day and Woodpecker sleeps all night.

Sleep Out by Carol Carrick. Christopher receives a sleeping bag, a canteen and a flashlight for his birthday and looks forward to camping out all by himself.

Something Queer on Vacation by Elizabeth Levy.* Determined to win the weekly sandcastle contest, Gwen and Jill must first track down the individual who has been wrecking their castles.

POETRY

Best Friends by Lee Bennett Hopkins. J811.08 Brightly illustrated poems celebrating friendship.

Blackberry Ink by Eve Merriam. J811.54 Mer. Poems about umbrellas, animals, food, monsters and silly situations.

It's Christmas by Jack Prelutsky. J811 Funny poems about Santa, Christmas trees and, of course, Christmas presents!

Soap Soup and Other Verses (I Can Read) by Karla Kuskin. Poems about observing and discovering the ordinary things in our everyday lives such as food, the seasons, parts of our bodies and our dreams.

Something Sleeping in the Hall (I Can Read) by Karla Kuskin. Humorous animal rhymes.

Surprises (I Can Read) by Lee Bennet Hopkins. J811.08 Poems about pets, weather, boats, trains, planes, nighttime and the world around us.

What I Did Last Summer by Jack Prelutsky. J811 P. Rhymes describing a boy's summer from the last day of school until the end of vacation in September.

This graded booklist was prepared by Ilene Leibowitz, North Merrick Library.