Second graders still benefit immensely from someone reading out loud to them.
Not only are they able to get into more in-depth stories and vocabulary, but it helps keep their love of reading growing. Here are 17 wonderful books 2nd grade students are sure to love!
Great Books for 2nd Graders to Read ALOUD
The Emperor’s New Clothes by Hans Christian Anderson 
Dick Whittington and His Cat by Marcia Brown 
Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton
The Ugly Duckling by Hans Christian Andersen
The Ralph Mouse Collection by Beverly Cleary
Ribsy by Beverly Cleary
The Bears on Hemlock Mountain by Alice Dalgliesh
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis
Time of Wonder by Robert McCloskey
Doctor De Soto by William Steig
The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams
The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner
Now We Are Six (Winnie-the-Pooh) by A. A. Milne
The Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks 
Tales of Desperaux by Kate DiCamillo 
Mystery of the Roman Ransom by Henry Winterfeld 
The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes
Stuart Little by E.B. White 
Chocolate Fever by Robert Kimmel Smith 
The Chocolate Touch by Patrick Skene Catling
The Miraculous Adventures of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo
Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events (Series) by Lemony Snicket
Jumanji by Chris Van Allsburg
Nim's Island by Wendy Orr
Toys Go Out by Emily Jenkins
The Enchanted Dolls' House by Robyn Johnson
The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies
Captain Awesome to the Rescue! by Stan Kirby 
Mercy Watson to the Rescue by Kate DiCamillo 
Good Masters! Sweet Ladies by Laura Amy Schlitz
Hidden Tales from Eastern Europe by Antonia Barber
Tales of Robin Hood by Tony Allan
The Cricket in Time Square by George Selden
Red Sails to Capri by Ann Weil
Aesop for Children by Milo Winters
The Little Riders by Margaretha Shemin
The Twenty-One Balloons by William Pene du Bois
Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle by Betty MacDonald
Homer Price by Robert McCloskey
What should my 2nd grader be reading?
Second graders are able to read a lot!
They can typically pick up about any picture book or short chapter book and read it. The important thing is to keep them reading! Have them read to younger siblings, read to you at bedtime, a chapter from their favorite Chapter Book Series, and on their own every day. As they learn more sight words, are quicker at sounding words out, and develop a richer vocabulary they will move on to more difficult books.
- Picture Books
- The BEST 2nd Grade Reading List
- Chapter Book Series for 1st-3rd Grade
- Any book that interests them (see the reading level here and then figure most 2nd graders read at 1.6-2.9 level and beyond)
Download Favorite 2nd Grade Read Alouds
To make it easies to pick out books at the library I made a printable from this list. Just pick the style you like and print that page. Fold in half and laminate for a convenient bookmark. Use a dry erase markers to cross off series you are finished with or your child didn’t particularly enjoy. You can also have your child note what book they are on in the series to make picking books up at the library a breeze!
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