Hello and welcome from Second Grade! During my summer vacation after first grade, I shared my list of The Best Books for first graders to read independently. This list was getting me ready for a second-grader. However, now that I just completed my first semester in Second Grade, I would like to extend the list with my current Best Books. You can find my top picks at the end.
The more straightforward to-read list:
Author | Title |
---|---|
Alexander, Heather | “Wallace and Grace” series |
Bottner, Barbara * | Wallace’s Lists |
Bell, Cece | “Rabbit & Robot” series |
Brallier, Maz | “Mister Shivers” series |
Brett, Jan | Highly illustrated folktales and original stories |
Calmenson, Stephanie | “Gator Girls” series |
Cleary, Brian | Any of the “CATegorical” books |
DiCamillo, Kate | “Mercy Watson” series |
Egan, Tim | “Dodsworth” series |
Elliott, Rebecca | “Owl Diaries” series |
Evans, Christine | “The Wish Library” series |
Flintham, Thomas | “Press Start” series (Super Rabbit Boy) |
Fox, Mem | Night Noises |
Hunwick’s Egg | |
The Magic Hat | |
Kessler, Liz | “Poppy the Pirate Dog” series |
Manushkin, Fran | “Katie Woo” series |
“Pedro” series | |
Marko, Cyndi | “Kung Pow Chicken” series |
McDonald, Megan | “Judy Moody and Friends” series |
National Geographic Kids | Level 2 Information books on many subjects series |
O’Connor, Jane | “Fancy Nancy” series |
Parish, Peggy | Amelia Bedelia |
Runton, Andy | “Owly” graphic novel series |
Smith, Brian | “Pea, Bee, & Jay” series |
Sharmat, Marjorie | “Nate the Great” series |
Snyder, Laurel | “Charlie & Mouse” series |
Yee, Wong Herbert | “Mouse and Mole” series |
Yolen, Jane | “Commander Toad” series. |
* Must Reads
Do you ever wonder what else to read… between Percy Jackson and Harry Potter, of course?
More Difficult to-reads list:
Author | Title |
---|---|
Adler, David | “A Picture Book of…” biography series. |
“Cam Jansen” mystery series. | |
Bailey, Jacqui | Science books for young children. |
Barkley, Callie | “Critter Club” series. |
Barrows, Annie | “Ivy and Bean” series. |
Beaty, Andrea | “Questioneers” series. |
Brown, Jeff | “Flat Stanley” series. |
Butler, Dori | “The Buddy Files” mystery series. |
Chabert, Jack | “Eerie Elementary” series. |
Charman, Katrina | “The Last Firehawk” series. |
Citro, Asia | “Zoey and Sassafras” series. |
Cleary, Beverly | “Ramona” series. |
Cole, Joanna | Original “Magic School Bus” series. |
Danziger, Paula | “Amber Brown” series. |
DePaola, Tomie | “26 Fairmont Avenue” series (biography). |
DiCamillo, Kate | “Bink and Gollie” series. |
Holm, Jennifer, and Matthew | “Babymouse” series. |
Squish” series. | |
Kimmel, Eric | Count Silvernose and Easy Work: an Old Tale. |
Klein, Abby | “Ready, Freddy” series. |
Kline, Suzy | “Horrible Harry” series. |
Krulik, Nancy | “George Brown, Class Clown” series. |
“Katie Kazoo, Switcheroo” series. | |
Lee, Lyla | “Mindy Kim” series. |
May, Kyla | “Lotus Lane” series |
Meadows, Daisy | “Rainbow Magic” series |
Messner, Kate | “Fergus and Zeke” series |
Osborne, Mary Pope | “Magic Tree House” series |
Pallotta, Jerry | “Who Would Win?” animals comparison series |
Park, Barbara | “Junie B. Jones” series |
Preller, James | “Jigsaw Jones” mystery series |
Prelutsky, Jack | Awful Ogre Running Wild |
Beneath a Blue Umbrella | |
Other humorous poetry books. | |
Rappaport, Doreen | Biographies for young readers |
Rodda, Emily | “Fairy Realm” series |
Roy, Ron | “A to Z Mysteries” series |
Rylant, Cynthia | “Cobble Street Cousins” series |
Simon, Francesca | “Horrid Henry” series |
Simon, Seymour | non-fiction books |
Warner, Sally | “Ellray Jakes” series |
West, Tracey | “Dragon Masters” series |
*various authors* | “Magic School Bus Rides Again” |
*various authors* | “True Books” |
These are my top three picks with chapter books after all:

- Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White
- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
- The Trumpet of the Swan by E. B. White
And now my challenge for you is: Try to guess who my favorite author is! A hint is that her name is not on this page. 😉 😉 😉 😉
Bye-bye!
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