Your 7-year-old has outgrown nursery rhymes and board books. Now what? Often, 2nd grade is the time when kids begin to move up to more advanced stories and start reading chapter books, but it can be difficult to find the right 2nd-grade books.
“Children in grade 2 are just emerging as independent readers, and it is important to strike the right balance between building confidence as a reader and challenging children with regards to the complexity of vocabulary, sentence structure and plot,” says Renee Cormier of Mother Daughter Book Reviews. Alyson Beecher, an educator and children’s book reviewer, advises parents to look for books with “lots of humor, since this age group particularly loves funny stories.”
Here are 10 suggested books to add to your 2nd grader’s at-home library:
- “Super Fly: The World’s Smallest Superhero!” by Todd H. Doodler
A nerdy housefly turns into a superhero who must save the day in “Super Fly.” According to Beecher, this story of a “mild-mannered fly with super powers makes for a particularly fun read.”
- “Get into Gear, Stilton” by Geronimo Stilton
Stilton’s books are known for their humorous dialogue and are sprinkled with many campy references. “The entire Geronimo Stilton series is a great choice for emerging independent readers,” Cormier says, noting that they have beautiful illustrations and interesting yet simple plots.
- “Babymouse: Bad Babysitter” by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm
This 19th installment of the popular graphic novel series tells the tale of Babymouse’s adventures in babysitting. “With plenty of familiar references, especially to Mary Poppins, readers will find humor in Babymouse’s new role,” assures Beecher.
- “National Geographic Readers: Sea Turtles”
The entire National Geographic Kids Readers series offers short nonfiction books covering a variety of individual science-themed topics. “These are easy to read, beautifully laid out and chock full of interesting information,” Cormier says.
- “A Wilcox and Griswold Mystery: The Case of the Missing Carrot Cake” by Robyn Newman
“Newman has created an engaging mystery for early readers,” Beecher says. “Though only 36 pages in length, this story provides just enough for readers about to transition into a chapter book.”
- “Sleepover Sleuths (Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew Book #1)” by Carolyn Keene
This girls’ mystery series features an 8-year-old Nancy who, according to Cormier, “is faced with simple, age-appropriate mysteries to solve.”
- “The Lorax” by Dr. Seuss
This fun Dr. Seuss book also carries an environmental message expressed in a kid-friendly way. Cormier recommends Dr. Seuss books because they provide the perfect combination of easy-to-read text, loads of illustrations and simple concepts.
- “Attack of the Tyrannosaurus (Dinosaur Cove #1)” by Rex Stone
Cormier’s recommendation “may seem like an unusual choice, but these books feature two young boys, Tom and Jamie, who have a series of adventures when they stumble upon a secret world filled with dinosaurs.”
- “Three Ninja Pigs” by Corey Rosen Schwartz
Your 2nd grader will love this quick read, which is a humorous retelling of the three little pigs. The story stars three siblings who are kick-butt ninjas and refuse to take any bullying from the Big Bad Wolf.
- “Duck for President” by Doreen Cronin
A winner in the New York Times Illustrated Book Awards, this story shows some of the good and bad of politics in a funny way that kids will both appreciate and understand.
Using these suggestions as a starting point, you can help your child find 2nd-grade books he’ll love to read. “To really engage children in reading, find books that focus on topics of interest to your child,” Cormier says. “For example, if they love horses, introduce them to the ‘Black Stallion’ series.” If kids read what they love, they’ll continue to ask for more great stories.
Need even more great ideas for books to buy your little one? Check out Books for Kids Age 0 to Tween to learn a few additional titles your children may love.
Jennifer A. DiGiovanni is a freelance writer and small business owner. A mother of three, her youngest is currently in 2nd grade.
