The Most Amazing 2nd Grade Books!

What are the best 2nd grade books for kids to read? By the beginning of second grade, most kids are well on their way to fluent, comfortable reading! Thankfully, for the majority of children, the days of struggling letter-by-letter to sound out the words are over. Whew! Most second graders are confident, comfortable readers who are excited to tackle new texts with more interesting plots and unique characters.

Second grade is the year of chapter books! These children often begin the year reading picture books containing longer sentences and richer vocabulary, then they quickly move from there into simple chapter books. Second graders get really excited to be reading real chapter books, even if the chapters are very tiny and short!

High Quality 2nd Grade Books

In the following list, we consider both types of 2nd grade books: those with and without chapters, with a focus on high quality literature. These picks were chosen for their engaging story lines that are sure to capture the interest of young readers. Many of these 2nd grade books are historical in nature and introduce readers to new and varied concepts. Other books focus on the good and lovely in life, like how to be a good friend or how to accept others who are different than yourself.

With 2nd grade books, students are typically reading in levels K, L, and M, although some students may be in levels I-J or dashing ahead to levels N-O. Knowing your child’s reading level is key to choosing the best 2nd grade books possible! Nothing frustrates a reluctant reader more than trying to grapple with a difficult book. If your second grader isn’t quite there yet, don’t worry, they will be soon! In the meantime, don’t be afraid to read some of the great literature from 1st grade books. If your 2nd grader seems drastically behind his peers and even the 1st grade books are a challenge, it may be time to consider dyslexia.

On the other hand, if the 2nd grade books seem too easy, jump ahead to 3rd grade books. At this age, kids move entirely at their own pace with reading, and that’s completely normal.

Key Features of 2nd Grade Books:

• Chapters!!
• More pages (usually 60-100 pages)
• Less picture support (meaning smaller images and fewer illustrations overall)
• Descriptive language
• Multi-syllable words that are more challenging to read
• Multiple characters
• Varied story-lines
• Beginning more complex plots

Each book featured in the list is linked to Amazon where I can earn a small affiliate commission if you purchase through my link.  It’s no additional cost for you, but helps me and my family.  I only promote books and products that I have used myself and truly believe in.  So, thanks for helping us out!

My picks for the best 2nd grade books:

1. One Day Everything Went Wrong by Elizabeth Vreeken

Have you ever had a bad day? Billy tries hard to be helpful to others, but nothing seems to go his way! A wonderfully written 2nd grade book about the day everything went wrong. This old classic can be a challenge to track down these days, but it is worth the search.

2. Berenstain Bears – Family Reunion by Stan & Jan Berenstain

This classic, lovable bear family is sure to be a favorite among beginning readers! The series has many titles available that are just right for 2nd grade books and readers! We love this one, a tale about a family reunion around the family tree house, but there are many more to choose from as well! Most kids really enjoy reading books in a series, and this is a great one to get ’em hooked!

3. Nate the Great by Marjorie Sharmat

This book is the first in the series of the great detective Nate as he solves problems like the missing picture for his friend, Anne. This series is a fun, entertaining read just right for beginning readers ready for the next level.

4. The Big Balloon Race by Eleanor Coerr

And they’re off! Join Ariel and her famous mother, Carlotta the Great, as they participate in a historically accurate representation of the 1800s balloon races. This is a fun 2nd grade book to introduce children to a true story based on history while practicing reading!

5. Keep the Lights Burning, Abbie by Peter Roop

This sweet book tells the compelling, true story of a young girl, Abbie, who must keep the lights of the lighthouse burning during a huge storm in 1856. Papa is depending on her! A exciting historical book for young readers.

6. Famous Explorers by Garnet Jackson

Explore the world with Christopher Columbus, Jacques Cartier, Henry Hudson, and Lewis & Clark over four short chapters that dive into the histories and contributions of these famous individuals. This reader is another winning 2nd grade book choice for introducing your child to history through literature!

7. The Littles by John Peterson

Meet the tiniest family around, the Littles, who live in the walls of the Bigg’s house. Even though they are tiny, they’re ready for BIG adventures! The Littles is the first in a series of books featuring this spunky family as they face the big, wide world.

8. Amelia Bedelia Chapter Book Box Set: Books 1-4 by Herman Parish

We love Amelia Bedelia! She is the silliest, craziest adult ever known in the world of children. She makes tons of mistakes and misunderstands all the words until we are rolling with laughter! This series of books is a great introduction to puns, idioms, and double meanings that delight 2nd grade students. There are many books in the Amelia Bedelia series and they have short, face-paced chapters that will keep your reader wanting more!

9. Cam Jansen: 6 Book Set by David Adler

Join super-sleuth Cam and her friend Eric as they solve mystery after mystery in a spunky, upbeat series for beginning readers. These 2nd grade chapter books will become a beloved series with hours of delightful reading!

10. Magic Treehouse Series by Mary Pope Osborne

This delightful series is a kid-favorite and parent pick alike due to its action packed sequences that take readers back in time to real historical situations. Join Annie and Jack as they travel back in time to see dinosaurs, visit mummies in Egypt, swim with dolphins, visit ancient Rome, and more. These chapter books are a welcome way to introduce young readers to new and interesting historical themes they may not have encountered before.

11. The Josefina Story Quilt by Eleanor Coerr

Josefina is a dearly loved little pet chicken who goes along with her family on the Wagon Trail towards California. This beautifully written historical fiction is a wonderful tool to introduce young readers to this important time period in American exploration.

12. Frog & Toad All Year by Arnold Lobel

This is one of our family’s favorite books! Frog and Toad are sweet friends all year long, in summer, fall, winter, and spring. With timeless wisdom and valuable life lessons, we learn and love right along with this winsome pair. This 2nd grade book is a fabulous pick for readers ready for longer sentences and small chapters. It is one of a series of four Frog and Toad books.

13. Lyle, Lyle Crocodile by Bernard Waber

Something kind of magical is bound to happen when a smiling crocodile shows up in your attic. He is incredibly helpful and charms everyone he meets until he encounters Mr. Grumps. With his sidekick cat, Mr. Grumps is sure Lyle is better off in the zoo and makes every effort to send him there. A whimsical, fun, lighthearted story sure to enthrall even reluctant readers! This 2nd grade book is the first in a series of Lyle stories and your kids will want to read them ALL! And then watch the super fun movie adaptation released in 2022.

14. The Bears on Hemlock Mountain by Alice Dalgliesh

This Newberry Honor book boasts 10 short chapters and tells the story of a young boy, eight years old, who braves it alone over Hemlock Mountain where he has been told time and again that there are no bears. But on a cold, winter night all by himself, he discovers all the grown ups are wrong about the bears. Will he find enough courage to face them and keep his wits enough to know what to do?

15. Molly’s Pilgrim by Barbara Cohen

Molly, a little immigrant girl from Russia, learns in school about the Thanksgiving story and identifies with the Pilgrims moving to America. This heart-warming classic addresses modern issues such as honoring diversity and moving through adversity when you are different than all the others and think you’ll never fit in.

READ: Stop! Do You Know Your Kid’s Reading Level?

These 2nd grade books represent a mix of some beloved classics and favorite series sure to bring a smile to your child’s face and help them fall in love with reading by falling into a great book! Now, time to dash off to the library!

RELATED POSTS:

• 1st Grade Books List
• 2nd Grade Books List
• 3rd Grade Books List
• 4th Grade Books List
• 5th Grade Books List
• 6th Grade Books List
• 7th-8th Grade Books List
• 100 Must-Read Classics for Kids: The Complete Elementary Reading List