BIRCHWOOD MEDIA CENTER RECOMMENDED READING
BOOKS FOR SECOND GRADERS
(See also the third and first grade lists)

Abbott, Tony - "The Secrets of Droon" series - THE SECRETS OF DROON books are for readers who enjoy exciting fantasy. Eric, Julie, and Neal, a trio of best friends from our world stumble upon the magical world of Droon, a place withwizards and sorcerers, helpful pillow-shaped folks called Purple Lumpies, fleet six-legged beasts called pilkas, and such strange landscapes as invisible cities, volcano palaces, vanishing islands, and castles under the sea. Click here to visit Tony Abbott's website.

Adler, David - "A Picture Book About..." Series, "Young Cam Jansen" Books, "Cam Jansen" Books (and others) Second graders enjoy Adler's many picture book biographies and mysteries. Click here to visit Adler's website.

Anderson, Laurie Halse - Thank You, Sarah!: The Woman Who Saved Thanksgiving - Anderson turns a little-known historical tidbit into a fresh, funny, and inspirational alternative to the standard Thanksgiving stories. Alarmed that the observance was dying out since many states did not observe it at all and those that did had no agreement as to date, Sarah Hale began 38 years of letter writing in support of making it a national holiday.

Auch, Mary Jane - The Princess and the Pizza, Peeping Beauty, Monster Brother (and others)

Blume, Judy - Freckle Juice, The One In The Middle Is A Green Kangaroo, The Pain And The Great One Click here to visit Judy Blume's website.

Branley, Franklyn - Comets, Hurricane Watch, Is There Life In Outer Space?, Rockets And Satellites, What Makes Day And Night? (and other nonfiction titles)

Brett, Jan - The First Dog, Trouble With Trolls, Armadillo Rodeo (and others) Click here to visit Jan Brett's website.

Brown, Marc - "Arthur" Books, D.W., The Picky Eater, "Marc Brown Arthur Chapter" Books, (and others)

Bunting, Eve - Big Red Barn, Valentine Bears, Wednesday Surprise, The Wall (and others)

Byars, Betsy - My Brother, Ant, "Golly Sister" Books, Beans on the Roof (and others)
Click here to visit Betsy Byar's website.

Cannon, Anne - The Bat in the Boot

Carrick, Carol - The Accident, Dark and Full of Secrets, The Foundling, Washout, Patrick's Dinosaurs, What a Wimp!, The Elephant in the Dark (and others)

Cole, Joanna - "Magic School Bus" Books, Bully Trouble, Hungry, Hungry Sharks, The Gator Girls (and others) Click here to visit the Magic School Bus Website.

Dahl, Roald - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, Matilda (and others)
Click here to visit Roald Dahl's website.

Denim, Sue - "Dumb Bunnies" Books

Devlin, Wende - "Cranberry" Books

Frankenhuyzen, Robbyn Smith V. - Adopted by an Owl: The True Story of Jackson the Owl - Jackson, a great horned owl, chooses to stay with the family that raised him after a boy stole him from his nest when he was just an owlet. (598.97)

DePaola, Tomie - Oliver Button Is A Sissy, The Popcorn Book, "Strega Nona" Books (and others)
Click here to visit Tomie DePaola's website.

Gantos, Jack - "Rotten Ralph" Books Click here to visit Jack Gantos' website.

Gerstein, Mordacai - The Man Who Walked Between the Towers, The Wild Boy, Arnold of the Ducks , (and others) Click here to visit Mordacai Gerstein's website.

This Caldecott Award winner gives us adventure, suspense, delight and, of course, sadness as we learn the story of Philippe Petit, a tightrope acrobat who did indeed walk between the World Trade Towers in 1974.

Giff, Patricia Reilly - "Polk Street School" Books, "New Kids Of The Polk Street School" Books, "Polka Dot Private Eye" Books Click here to visit Patricia Reilly Giff's website.

Greene, Stephanie - "Owen Foote" Books - You couldn't ask for a better best friend than Owen Foote, second grader. He's funny, has great ideas, and is a loyal friend. Of course, you will probably get into trouble every once in a while with Owen's schemes, but that's all part of the fun. Don't miss these great chapter books about a really great kid and his family and friends.

Heide, Florence - Tales For The Perfect Child

Howe, James - "Pinky And Rex" Books, Hot Fudge, Creepy-Crawly Birthday, "Horace, Morris, and Dolores" Books (and others)

Howitt, Mary Botham - The Spider and the Fly (illustrated by Tony Diterlizzi) - 2003 Caldecott Honor Book - An illustrated version of the well-known poem about a wily spider who preys on the vanity and innocence of a little fly.

Impey, Rose - The Ankle Grabber, The Flat Man, Jumble Joan, Scare Yourself To Sleep

Jordan, Dolores Salt in his Shoes: Michael Jordan in Pursuit of a Dream Jordan's mother and sister team up to reveal that even superstar Michael Jordan was once a child with doubts

Kellogg, Steven - "Pinkerton" Books, Mystery Of The Flying Orange Pumpkin (and others) Click here to visit Steven Kellogg's website.

Kimmel, Eric - Herschel And The Hanukkah Goblins, Zigazak! Click here to visit Eric Kimmel's website.

Kline, Suzy - "Horrible Harry" Books, "Mary Maroney" Books Click here to visit Suzy Kline's website.

Larson, Kirby - Cody and Quinn, Sitting in a Tree     Click here to visit Kirby Larson's website.

Lerengis, Peter - "Abracadabra" series - Max and his friends in the Abracadabra Club love magic.

Levy, Elizabeth - "Something Queer" Mystery Books Click here to visit Elizabeth Levy's website.

Lowry, Lois - Gooney Bird Greene, Gooney Bird and the Room Mother Through Gooney Bird and her tales, acclaimed author Lois Lowry introduces young readers to the concepts and elements of storytelling. By demonstrating some of the simple techniques that reveal the extraordinary in everyday events, these books will encourage the storyteller in everyone. Click here to visit Lois Lowry's website.

Martin, Anne - ""Babysitters Little Sister" Books

Marzollo, Jean - Soccer Sam, Red-Ribbon Rosie, "I Spy" Books (and others)
Click here to visit Jean Marzollo's website.

Miller, Sara- "Three Stories You Can Read" Books

Milton, Joyce - Dinosaur Days, Whales:The Gentle Giants

Munsch, Robert - Love You Forever, Alligator Baby , Love You Forever, Thomas' Snowsuit , Aaron's Hair, Stephanie's Ponytail , (and many others) These are funny, funny books. Click here to visit Robert Munsch's website.

Ogburne, Jacqueline - The Masked Maverick

Osborne, Mary Pope - "The Magic Treehouse" Books, "Magic Treehouse Research" Guides, The Brave Little Seamstress, Kate and the Beanstalk, New York's Bravest, "Spider Kane" Books (and others) Click here to visit Mary Pope Osborne's website.

Palatini, Margie Piggie Pie , Zoom Broom , Moo Who?, Bad Boys, Zak's Lunch (and others) - Palatini's hilarious books, usually filled with puns and traditional folk tale characters, are a laugh a minute. Find story related activities at http://www.margiepalatini.com/

Park, Barbara - "Junie B. Jones" Books

Peet, Bill - Big Bad Bruce, Chester The Worldly Pig, Cyrus The Unsinkable Sea Serpent (and others)

Peterson, P.J. - The Amazing Magic Show

Pilkey, Dav - The Hallo-Wiener, Dog Breath: The Horrible Trouble with Hally Tosis, "Captain Underpants" Books, "Ricky Ricotta Giant Robot" Books, (and others) Click here to visit Dav Pilkey's website.

Polacco, Patricia - Chicken Sunday, Thunder Cake, The Bee Tree (and many others)
Click here to visit Patricia Polacco's website.

Porte, Barbara - Harry In Trouble

Porter, Connie-"Addy" Books (The American Girls Collection)

Preller, James - "Jigsaw Jones" Mysteries - Missing hamsters, lost coins, haunted houses...Jigsaw Jones has seen it all before. With his top-secret detective journal, eye for detail, and ace partner Mila, Jigsaw is always ready to take on a new case.

Rathman, Peggy - Officer Buckle and Gloria, 10 Minutes to Bedtime, Ruby the Copycat, (and others)
Click here to visit Peggy Rathman's website.

Reeves, Faye - Howie Merton And The Magic Dust

Roy, Ron - "A to Z Mysteries" - Not only does Dink Duncan like to read mystery books, he also likes to solve crimes and capers in real life. Along with his two best friends, Josh and Ruth Rose, Dink unravels mysteries in his hometown of Green Lawn,Connecticut-and sometimes far away from home, too, at places like a dude ranch in Montana and a castle in Maine. Follow the clues along with Dink and his friends on each of their adventures! Click here to visit Ron Roy's website.

Rylant, Cynthia - "Henry And Mudge" Books, Birthday Presents,"Mr. Putter and Tabby" Books, "Poppleton" Books (and others)

Sadler, Marilyn - Alistair In Outer Space, Alistair's Time Machine (and others)

St. George, Judith - So You Want to be President, So You Want to be an Inventor , You're on Your Way, Teddy Roosevelt (and others) St. George's spirited nonfiction is filled with fascinating facts and infused with humor.

Schwartz, David - How Much Is A Million?,   If You Made a Million,  and  Millions to Measure  Adventures in the world of uncountable millions, billions and trillions in these three great books with with imaginative and humorous illustrations by Stephen Kellogg. Click here to visit David Schwartz's website.

Scieszka, Jon - The True Story Of The Three Little Pigs By A. Wolf, Math Curse, The Stinky Cheeseman and Other Fairly Stupid Tales, "Time Warp Trio" Books, Squids Will Be Squids: Fresh Morals for Beastly Fables, and Baloney, Henry P. Click here for Jon Scieszka'a website on Baloney, Henry P.

Sharmat, Marjorie - Gila Monsters Meet You At The Airport, "Nate The Great" Books (and others)

Shaw, Janet - "Kirsten" Books (The American Girls Collection)

Shepard, Aaron - The Legend Of Lightning Larry Click here to visit Aaron Shepard's website

Sloat, Teri - Ribticklers: A Book of Punny Animals Fifteen fun-packed scenes take young readers from "Pre-Hysterical Times" to "A Real Smash". The main characters here are dinosaurs, monkeys, lions, etc. Click here to visit Teri Sloat's website.

Stanley, Diane - The Giant and the Beanstalk, Goldie and the Three Bears, Rumplestiltskin's Daughter Stanley's inspired spins on popular fairy tales amuse second graders. Click here to visit Diane Stanley's website.

Steig, William - Shrek, Brave Irene, Dr. DeSoto, Sylvester And The Magic Pebble, The Amazing Bone, Grown-ups Get to do All the Driving, Wizzil, (and others) Click here to visit William Steig's website.

Stevens, Janet - Tops and Bottoms, From Pictures to Words , "Anansi" Books (and others)
Click here to visit Janet Steven's website.

Teague, Mark - Pigsty, How I Spent My Summer Vacation (and others)

Thomas, Jane - Scaredy Dog

Tripp, Valerie - "Molly" Books, "Samantha" Books, "Felicity" Books (The American Girls Collection) and others

Trivizas, Eugene - Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig Once upon a time, there were three cuddly little wolves with soft fur and fluffy tails.... They go out into the world to build a house for themselves only to be menaced by a big bad pig with a sledgehammer, pneumatic drill, and dynamite. Second graders love this twist on an old tale.

VanAllsburg, Chris - Jumanji, Zathura, The Garden of Abdul Gasazi, The Widow's Broom, Bad Day at Riverbend, Two Bad Ants (and others) Click here to visit Chris Van Allsburg's marvelous website.

Viorst, Judith - Alexander And The Terrible, Horrible No-Good, Very Bad Day, Alexander, Who Used To Be Rich Last Sunday (and others)

Warner, Gertrude Chandler - "Boxcar Children" Books

Willis, Jean - Earth Hounds as Explained by Professor Xargle and other "Professor Xargle" Books

Wood, Audrey - Heckedy Peg, The Flying Dragon Room, Weird Parents (and others)
Click here to visit Audrey Wood's website.

Yolen, Jane - "Commander Toad" Books, Sleeping Ugly , Owl Moon (and others)
Click here to visit Jane Yolen's website.

Yorinks, Arthur - Hey, Al, Bravo, Minski (and others)

Zelinsky, Paul - Rapunzel, Rumplestiltskin Stunning interpretations of favorite fairy tales. Second graders are captivated by these tales and the gorgeous Italian Renaissance style art.

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