2nd grade book report books

Elementary Assessments

8 Book Report Ideas For Second Grade Teachers Love

Instead of or in addition to assigning your second graders a reading test to assess how well they understood a book, you’ve decided to assign a book report. 

To jumpstart the process, I’ve compiled the best book report ideas for second grade students. 

Not only are these book projects for second graders fun and creative, but they help students analyze information so that they have a deeper understanding of what they read. 

What’s more, these book report ideas for second grade serve all reading abilities, from struggling learners to gifted students. 

So take a look at these fun and creative book project ideas, and consider assigning one (or more) of them to your second graders.

Book Report Ideas For Second Grade

Do a cereal box book report. .

For this second-grade book report idea, students will use a cereal box to create a 3-D book report. 

Each face of the cereal box will present certain information about the book. As an example…

• Front of the Box = title of the book along with author’s name plus a picture that represents the main idea of the story.
• Right Side of the Box = story elements (characters, setting, problem, and solution) 
• Left Side of the Box = summary of the book 
• Back of the Box = book recommendation or book review
• Top of the Box = new vocabulary words learned

These are just suggestions; there are many ways to approach this creative book report idea.

As the teacher, you ultimately decide what information you want students to write on each side of the box.

Other information you may consider includes facts/opinions, text features , and figurative language.

Assemble a Story Board.

Students will create a storyboard using a tri-fold project board. 

The board will be accompanied by a written project along with various images and written information that tells the main ideas of the story. 

See Dinosaurs Before Dark (Mary Pope Osborne) Board storyboard example . 

Related Content:

11 More Book Report Ideas Students and Teachers Love

Create a Story Cube. 

Another creative book report idea for second graders is to have them use a tissue box or some other type of rectangular/square prism to create a story cube. 

Similar to the cereal box project idea, each face of the story cube will show certain information from the story such as facts/opinions, characters, problem, solution, connections, predictions, new vocabulary, summary, etc. 

Afterward, students can present their story cubes in front of the class.

This is one of many book report ideas for second grade that makes for an eye-catching library or hallway display. 

Make a Top 10 Facts Sheet.

This book project idea works especially well for nonfiction books. 

After reading a book, students will brainstorm the Top 10 facts presented in their books.

These facts should ideally be information that is not as well-known. 

To take things to another level, you could have students draft a series of Top 10 facts: facts about each subject or idea presented in the book. 

Complete a 3-D Graphic Organizer.

Turn a plain graphic organizer into a 3-D experience using Foldables . 

First, choose a literacy objective that you would like to target such as the main idea, sequencing, or character traits, and then assign a Foldables activity that will address that particular skill. 

Students will then create and complete a Foldable project based on their specific book.  

Inspire your second graders to produce something special by sharing with them these Foldable examples . 

11+ Free Printable Book Report Templates

Design a Character Puppet.

If you seek fun book report ideas for second graders, this one will serve you well.

Give to students a small brown paper bag, and guide them in making a character puppet based on a favorite character from their respective book. 

They will write a short script to accompany their puppets. The script should be based on a scene from the book and/or something significant that the character said.

Afterward, students will present their character puppets to the class.

Retell the Story.

If you seek easy, yet powerful, book report ideas for second graders, this project is a good fit. 

Using the 5Ws + H (who, what, when, where, why, how), or SWBST (Somebody Wanted But So Then), students will retell the book in their own words. 

They may record their information in a reader’s notebook, or you may provide them with a template.  

Additionally, request that your second grades sketch a picture to accompany their retelling.

Link a Story Chain. 

This is a fun and creative idea that helps students to understand the sequence of events. It consists of two parts: creating the actual chain and then presenting it to the class. 

To get started, provide students with an 8.5 x 11-inch sheet of white paper that is divided into 10 strips.

Grab a sentence strips sequencing template here . 

Before cutting and separating the strips, students will write a significant event from their book on each strip. That means that they should have a total of 10 different events written on the strips.

After recording the events, students will cut apart the strips, sequence them, and then loop them together in sequential order . 

For the second part of the project, students will present to classmates the sequence of events as it relates to their chains. 

They should explain how one event caused another.

Final Thoughts On Book Report Ideas For Second Graders

While there is definitely a place for traditional reading assessments in the classroom, why not mix things up a bit by incorporating book reports? 

This list of book report ideas for second grade helps you to jump-start that process.

You no longer need to spend your precious time searching all over for the best creative book project ideas. 

Everything you need is right here.

These second-grade book report ideas are sure to engage and motivate students to produce something great. 

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42 Creative Book Report Ideas for Students

Inspire your students to share their love of books.

Responding to what you read is an important literacy skill. Reading about other people’s experiences and perspectives helps kids learn about the world. And although students don’t need to dive deeply into every single book they read, occasionally digging into characters, settings, and themes can help them learn to look beyond the prose. Here are 42 creative book report ideas designed to make reading more meaningful for kids.

1. Concrete Found Poem

This clever activity is basically a shape poem made up of words, phrases, and whole sentences found in the books students read. The words come together to create an image that represents something from the story.

2. Graphic Novel

Have students rewrite the book they are reading, or a chapter of their book, as a graphic novel. Set parameters for the assignment such as including six scenes from the story, three characters, details about the setting, etc. And, of course, include detailed illustrations to accompany the story.

3. Book Snaps

Book Snaps are a way for students to visually show how they are reacting to, processing, and/or connecting with a text. First, students snap a picture of a page in the book they are reading. Then, they add comments, images, highlights, and more.

4. Diary Entry

Have your students place themselves in the shoes of one of the characters from their book and write a first-person diary entry of a critical moment from the story. Ask them to choose a moment in the story where the character has plenty of interaction and emotion to share in a diary entry.

5. Pizza Box Book Report

If you’re looking for creative book report ideas that use upcycled materials, try this one using a pizza box. It works well for both nonfiction and fiction book reports. The top lid provides a picture of the book cover. Each wedge of the pizza pie tells part of the story.

6. Book Jacket

Have students create a new book jacket for their story. Include an attractive illustrated cover, a summary, a short biography of the author, and a few reviews from readers.

7. Mint Tin Book Report

There are so many super-creative, open-ended projects you can use mint tins for. Teacher blogger Teacher Thrive describes the process of creating book reports using them. There’s even a free template for cards that fit inside.

8. Fictional Yearbook Entries

Ask your students to create a yearbook based on the characters and setting in the book. What do they look like? Cut out magazine pictures to give a good visual image for their school picture. What kind of superlative might they get? Best-looking? Class clown? What clubs would they be in or lead? Did they win any awards? It should be obvious from their small yearbooks whether your students dug deep into the characters in their books. They may also learn that who we are as individuals is reflected in what we choose to do with our lives.

9. Book Report Cake

This project would be perfect for a book tasting in your classroom! Each student presents their book report in the shape of food. Learn more about book tastings .

10. Current Events Comparison

Have students locate three to five current events articles a character in their book might be interested in. After they’ve found the articles, have them explain why the character would find them interesting and how they relate to the book. Learning about how current events affect time, place, and people is critical to helping develop opinions about what we read and experience in life.

11. Sandwich Book Report

Yum! You’ll notice a lot of our creative book report ideas revolve around food. In this oldie but goodie, each layer of this book report sandwich covers a different element of the book—characters, setting, conflict, etc.

12. Book Alphabet

Choose 15 to 20 alphabet books to help give your students examples of how they work around themes. Then ask your students to create their own Book Alphabet based on the book they read. What artifacts, vocabulary words, and names reflect the important parts of the book? After they find a word to represent each letter, have them write one sentence that explains where the word fits in.

13. Peekaboo Book Report

Using cardboard lap books (or small science report boards), students include details about their book’s main characters, plot, setting, conflict, resolution, etc. Then they draw a head and arms on card stock and attach them to the board from behind to make it look like the main character is peeking over this book report.

14. Act the Part

Have students dress up as their favorite character from the book and present an oral book report. If their favorite character is not the main character, retell the story from their point of view.

15. T-shirt Book Report

Another fun and creative idea: Create a wearable book report with a plain white tee. Come up with your own using Sharpie pens and acrylic paint.

16. Bookmark

Have students create a custom illustrated bookmark that includes drawings and words from either their favorite chapter or the entire book.

17. Rays of Sunshine Book Report

This is great for biography research projects. Students cut out a photocopied image of their subject and glue it in the middle. Then, they draw lines from the image to the edges of the paper, like rays of sunshine, and fill in each section with information about the person. As a book report template, the center image could be a copy of the book cover, and each section expands on key information such as character names, theme(s), conflict, resolution, etc.

18. Reading Lists for Characters

Ask your students to think about a character in their book. What kinds of books might that character like to read? Take them to the library to choose five books the character might have on their to-be-read list. Have them list the books and explain what each book might mean to the character. Post the to-be-read lists for others to see and choose from—there’s nothing like trying out a book character’s style when developing your own identity.

19. Character To-Do List

This fun activity is an off-the-beaten-path way to dive deep into character analysis. Get inside the head of the main character in a book and write a to-do list that they might write. Use actual information from the text, but also make inferences into what that character may wish to accomplish.

20. Collage

Create a collage using pictures and words that represent different parts of the book. Use old magazines or print pictures from the Internet.

21. Book Reports in a Bag

Looking for book report ideas that really encourage creative thinking? With book reports in a bag, students read a book and write a summary. Then, they decorate a paper grocery bag with a scene from the book, place five items that represent something from the book inside the bag, and present the bag to the class.

22. Timeline

Have students create a timeline of the main events from their book. Be sure to include character names and details for each event. Use 8″ x 11″ sheets of paper taped together or a long portion of bulletin board paper.

23. File Folder Book Report

Also called a lap book, this easy-to-make book report hits on all the major elements of a book study and gives students a chance to show what they know in a colorful way.

24. Public Service Announcement

If a student has read a book about a cause that affects people, animals, or the environment, teach them about public service announcements . Once they understand what a PSA is, have them research the issue or cause that stood out in the book. Then provide a template for a storyboard so they can create their own PSA. Some students might want to take it a step further and create a video based on their storyboard. Consider sharing their storyboard or video with an organization that supports the cause or issue.

25. Triorama Book Report

Who doesn’t love a multidimensional book report? This image shows a 3D model, but you can also try an accordion-folded book report, a quadrama, or an info-sphere.

26. Character Cards

Make trading cards (like baseball cards) for a few characters from the book. On the front side, draw the character. On the back side, make a list of their character traits and include a quote or two.

27. Book Report Mobile

This creative project doesn’t require a fancy or expensive supply list. Students just need an ordinary clothes hanger, strings, and paper. The body of the hanger is used to identify the book, and the cards on the strings dangling below are filled with key elements of the book, like characters, setting, and a summary.

28. Fact Sheet

Have students create a list of 10 facts that they learned from reading the book. Have them write the facts in complete sentences, and be sure that each fact is something that they didn’t know before they read the book.

29. Dodecahedron Book Report

Creative book report ideas think outside the box. In this case, it’s a ball! SO much information can be covered on the 12 panels, and it allows students to take a deep dive in a creative way.

30. Be a Character Therapist

Therapists work to uncover their clients’ fears based on their words and actions. When we read books, we must learn to use a character’s actions and dialogue to infer their fears. Many plots revolve around a character’s fear and the work it takes to overcome that fear. Ask students to identify a character’s fear and find 8 to 10 scenes that prove this fear exists. Then have them write about ways the character overcame the fear (or didn’t) in the story. What might the character have done differently?

31. Charm Bracelet Book Report

What a “charming” way to write a book report! Each illustrated bracelet charm captures a character, an event in the plot, setting, or other detail.

32. Mind Maps

Mind maps can be a great way to synthesize what students have learned from reading a book. Plus, there are so many ways to approach them. Begin by writing a central idea in the middle of the page. For example, general information, characters, plot, etc. Then branch out from the center with ideas, thoughts, and connections to material from the book.

33. Book Report Booklets

This clever book report is made from ordinary paper bags. Stack the paper bags on top of each other, fold them in half, and staple the closed-off ends of the bags together. Students can write, draw, and decorate on the paper bag pages. They can also record information on writing or drawing paper and glue the paper onto the pages. The open ends of the bags can be used as pockets to insert photos, cut-outs, postcards, or other flat items that help them tell their story.

34. Letter to the Author

Have kids write a letter to the author of the book. Tell them three things you really liked about the story. Ask three questions about the plot, characters, or anything else you’re curious about.

35. Cardboard Box TV

This cardboard box TV book report project is a low-tech version of a television made from a cereal box and two paper towel rolls. Students create the viewing screen cut out at the top, then insert a scroll of paper with writing and illustrations inside the box. When the cardboard roll is rotated, the story unfolds.

36. Board games

This is a great project if you want your students to develop a little more insight into what they’re reading. Have them think about the elements of their favorite board games and how they can be adapted to fit this assignment.

37. Foldables

From Rainbows Within Reach, this clever idea would be a great introduction to writing book reports. Adapt the flap categories for students at different levels. Adjust the number of categories (or flaps) per the needs of your students.

38. Timeline

Create a timeline using a long roll of butcher paper, a poster board, or index cards taped together. For each event on the timeline, write a brief description of what happens. Add pictures, clip art, word art, and symbols to make the timeline more lively and colorful.

39. Comic Strips

If you’re looking for creative book report ideas for students who like graphic novels, try comic strip book reports. Include an illustrated cover with the title and author. The pages of the book should retell the story using dialogue and descriptions of the setting and characters. Of course, no comic book would be complete without copious illustrations and thought bubbles.

40. Movie Version

If the book your students have read has been made into a movie, have them write a report about how the versions are alike and different. If the book has not been made into a movie, have them write a report telling how they would make it into a movie, using specific details from the book.

41. Wanted Poster

Make a Wanted poster for one of the book’s main characters. Indicate whether they are wanted dead or alive. Include a picture of the character and a description of what the character is “wanted” for, three examples of the character showing this trait, and a detailed account of where the character was last seen.

42. Wheaties Box Book Report

Recycle a cereal box and create a book report to look like an old-fashioned Wheaties box that features sports heroes. Include a main image on the front side of the box. Decorate the sides of the box with information about the book’s characters, setting, plot, summary, etc.

Come share your own creative book report ideas in our We Are Teachers HELPLINE group on Facebook.

Plus, dont’ miss 100 famous children’s books every kid should read (plus free printable).

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100 Best Chapter Books for 2nd Graders (7 Year Olds)

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If you’re a parent, teacher, or librarian looking for the best 2nd books for 2nd graders (7 year olds) boys and girls, this chapter book list can help with recommendations of funny books to fantasy and realistic books; you’ll find your next favorite beginning chapter book for every child and interest. I read all the newly published chapter books and update this book list every month.

I love this age. (2nd grade in the United States is about ages 7 and 8.) Do you? It’s a time of growth and discovery.

When I taught elementary school, I thought 2nd graders were the best. And when my own children were in 2nd grade, I remember the growth they made in reading and writing, which was brilliant to watch.

As you know, it’s so important to keep your growing readers immersed in books, reading on a daily basis for at least 20 minutes or more . Daily reading means that children will grow in their reading abilities.

But, what should they read? Children need good  chapter books  that they get to choose themselves; books that they are interested in reading, and books that are comprehensible to them at their reading level.

That’s where I can help. I ‘ve curated a list of good chapter books with my original reviews for 2nd graders , so you have a list of the best books to share with your students or children. 

How do you know if a book is at the right reading level for your 7-year-old child (in 2nd grade)?

1. Glance over the density and size of the text and see if there are illustrations. I can usually tell from a glance by the amount of words on the page and their size whether or not it’s going to be around a 2nd grade reading level. Of course, I still need to read the words to investigate further if it’s a good book for 2nd graders. 

2. Have your 2nd grade child use the  five-finger test  to see if the book is too easy, just right, or too hard . Ask the child to read a page out loud and for each word they don’t know, hold up a finger. If they have between 1 to 5 fingers, it’s probably a just-right book for them. (It’s not a perfect way to tell if the book is a great choice, but it’s a helpful starting point.)

Remember, if your child really wants to read a book, but it’s too challenging, you can save it for a later time when they’ve grown as a reader or use it as a  read aloud  choice.

3. It is OK to read books that are hard and that are easy . If your child is interested in a book, don’t get stuck in thinking they shouldn’t read it because of difficulty. Let them try it. Sometimes interest in the book or topic is a great motivator.

CHOICE is essential for young readers.

Support young readers with book choices. Visit the beginning chapter book section in your library or bookstore. Or, pre-select some books that you think they’ll like. Then, ask them to look at the books and find which one they want to read next.

If they’re struggling with knowing how to choose a book, model for them your process…look at the description on the back, look at the title, make a prediction of what it will be about, flip through the pages to notice if there are illustrations, and give the 5-finger rule a try.

What other book lists will help your 2nd-grade reader find good books? Check out these lists:

Series Books for 2nd Graders

–> Best Book  Series for 2nd Graders.

Read Aloud Books for 2nd Graders

–>  Read Aloud Books for 2nd Grade Children (Age 7)

Nonfiction Books for 2nd Graders

–>  NONFICTION books  for 7 year olds

More Books for 2nd Graders:

–> Wholesome Easy Chapter Books for Boys. (No sass, no potty humor.)

–> Wholesome Easy Chapter Books for Girls. (No rudeness, no sass.)

–> 2nd Grade Summer Reading List .

If you are searching for more challenging books, check out my best books for 3rd graders .

If you need easier books, go to my best easy chapter books for 1st graders .

Happy reading!

SHOP THIS LIST

Best Chapter Books for 2nd Graders (7 Year Olds)

Orris and Timble The Beginning written by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Carmen Mok I highly recommend this sweet, sweet story about a rat named Orris who peeks out of his hole in the wall and sees a barn owl named Timble stuck in a trap. “ Make the good and noble choice ,” he repeats to himself several times as he considers if he should save the predator that might eat him. He considers the Lion and the Mouse story and decides to risk it! And the two unlikely friends become friends. Awwww…

Princess in Black  by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale, illustrated by LeUyen Pham FANTASY Princess Magnolia isn’t a regular royal — she’s also a monster-fighting “princess in black”. Not only are these books filled with girl power, but they’re also funny and entertaining. ( If you like The Princess in Black, you’ll also like these books .)

Owly: The Way Home  by Andy Runton FRIENDSHIP It ‘s hard for a predator like Owly to make friends.  But when he saves a worm from a rainstorm, he makes a friend for life. His kindness and gentle spirit help him befriend more new friends after that.

Rise of the Earth Dragon (Dragon Masters)  by Tracey West, illustrated by Graham Howells FANTASY In the times of castles and kingdoms,  Drake learns he is a dragon master (and that dragons are real!)  He must train with the other kids to master his dragon, an earth dragon. This is an adventurous fantasy chapter book that will interest almost any child as it has just the right amount of conflict, adventure, and excitement.

Mimi and the Cutie Catastrophe  by Shauna J. Grant MAGICAL FRIENDSHIP Mimi doesn’t want to be called cute, so she asks her magical plush friend Penelope to transform her into a superhero! She gets a superhero outfit. Next, she tries to be a teacher, and after that, a “cool kid”. Finally, Mimi realizes that being herself is best! Expressive and charming pink and purple-centric illustrations add so much cuteness.

The Fabled Stables Willa the Wisp   by Jonathan Auxier, illustrated by Olga Demidova FANTASY / MAGICAL CREATURES Auggie, the only human, lives on an island of mythical creatures but he’s lonely. When a new stall magically appears, Auggie enters and meets a Wisp hunted by ruthless magical poachers. It’s a darling start to a new series perfect for fantasy-loving readers.

The Magic Tree House  by Mary Pope Osborne HISTORICAL MYSTERY A MUST-READ series for all kids!  The Magic Tree House books combine mystery, history, magic, and adventure as siblings Jack and Annie adventure through time.  If you love The Magic Tree House series, you’ll also like these books.

Magic Tree House The Graphic Novel Dinosaurs Before Dark  by Mary Pope Osborne, adapted by Jenny Laird, illustrated by Kelly & Nichole Matthews HISTORICAL FICTION Even kids who have read the novels before will love rereading the books in graphic versions.  In this first book, Jack begins a book on dinosaurs and wishes that he could travel to see them and zoom, they do! Annie befriends a flying dinosaur and they help save baby dinosaurs. Try this book series with reluctant readers!

Donut Feed the Squirrels by Mika Song HUMOR Norma and Belly are squirrel friends who really, really want a donut. Can they work together, sneak in a food truck, and have the biggest ever donut party ever? Minimal text, plenty of silliness, and a lovely surprise ending!

Notebook of Doom  by Troy Cummings SCARY A kid-favorite book series that you’ll also love! Alexander discovers his new town is FILLED WITH MONSTERS! And he’s right in the middle of everything, especially after he finds an old notebook of drawings and facts about monsters. Fun with an edge of scary.

Kwame’s Magic Quest: Rise of the Green Flame written by Bernard Mensah, illustrated by Natasha Nayo FANTASY Now that Kwame is 8 years old, he gets to go to Nkonyaa School to learn his magic calabashes and he’s SO EXCITED! His roommate, Fifi, doesn’t seem as excited because he misses his dad. Even worse, Kwame’s magic isn’t showing up. The story started out slow for me — and required a lot of inference with many new words — but then, it got very exciting when a BIG plot twist linked to Kwame’s new magic which is the ONLY magic that could fight this new, dark force.

Mia Mayhem Is a Superhero!  by Kara West, illustrated by Leeza Hernandez FANTASY When Mia gets accepted into the Superhero training program,   she learns she is SUPER. She even learns that her parents are, too. After school at her new superhero training, she has a disastrous first day and learns that it takes work to become a superhero. Black and white illustrations, bigger print, and an exciting story make these good books for second graders.

The Unlucky Kid created by Bob Holt FUNNY In this comic book of three stories great for 2nd grade, you’ll read the funny misadventures of Quinn, whose mind always imagines the worst case scenarios.

A to Z Mysteries  by Rob Roy MYSTERY This  compelling mystery series for 2nd graders will keep your kids reading for days and months. My kids read each book more than once — we highly recommend this series because it’s a good mix of mystery and adventure and appeals to boy and girl readers.

Eerie Elementary: The School is Alive!   by Jack Chabert, illustrated by Sam Ricks CREEPY Sam isn’t thrilled about becoming a hall monitor.  Especially when he discovers that the school is ALIVE and trying to harm him and the other students. Sam has quite a wild adventure trying to save the students from the school. I think kids who like sort of scary things (it’s not too bad) will enjoy this book.  Box set of 6 books here.

Ava Lin Best Friend by Vicky Fang REAL LIFE A strong voice and a fun main character who has a zest for life and discovery. Ava is in first grade and wants to make a best friend. To do so, she must navigate communication issues with new people, which isn’t as easy as she thought it would be. Also, Ava loves collecting treasures, but she needs pockets. Without a pocket, she stores her special pebble in her ear–which doesn’t go well! Ava is a cute, relatable girl who kids will love.

Bunny and Clyde written by Megan McDonald, illustrated by Scott Nash HUMOR In this funny and charming story, Bunny and Clyde (a chipmunk) decide they’re sick of being good…In fact, they want to be rotten. First, they read books to learn how to be bad. They read books like Bad Kitty and Interrupting Chicken. (You’ll laugh at their bad examples. Interrupting is so naughty!) Then, they go on a bad, bad, bad spree. Unfortunately, badness doesn’t work out because, somehow, their attempts always help others. Which makes them so mad! Being bad never was so good. Don’t miss this funny chapter book for ages 6 to 9.

Schnozzer & Tatertoes Take a Hike!  by Rick Stromosky Hoping to find Tatertoes mom, Schnozzer and Tatetoes journey through the  fairy tale  story-filled woods  where they meet the Three Bears, Hansel and Gretel, and Little Red Riding Hood. The only directions they get is to “follow their nose” which seems very unhelpful. Their adventure is funny with a heartwarming ending.

Dory and the Real True Friend  by Abby Hanlon REALISTIC Dory is one of my favorite book characters because her imagination is THE BEST! She has three imaginary friends: one monster friend, one fairy godmother that’s actually not a lady, and one bad lady nemesis. I love this story because she meets a real-life friend who understands all about imaginary friends; they’re the perfect match.

Welcome to the Woofmore written by Donna Gephart and Lori Haskins Houran, illustrated by Josh Cleland Rufus works at the Woofmore hotel and he loves when his boss, Ms. Coco, calls him a good dog and gives him treats. When a very famous pooch named Greta arrives, it’s up to Rufus to make sure she’s incognito and enjoys her stay. He thinks of a clever purple idea! But then, the hotel guests get fleas. Maybe Greta can help Rufus solve the problem! Sweet, wholesome , and playful.

Good Dog  by Cam Higgins, illustrated by Ariel Landy HEARTWARMING DOG STORY What a  sweet beginning illustrated chapter  book from Bo the dog’s point of view!  Enthusiastic and full of personality, Bo adores his loving family and his life on the farm. But he worries when his dog tag goes missing. He searches the farm with the help of all the farm animals and his spider friends help him find it.

P.I. Butterfly Gone Guppy Case #1  by Karen Kilpatrick, illustrated by German Blanco MYSTERY GRAPHIC NOVEL P.I. Butterfly is a girl who loves butterflies and mysteries. When she discovers the family guppy is missing from the fish bowl, she’s determined to discover what happened. But who did it?  She puts together the evidence, follows the trail of clues, and tries to get a confession–and, with hard work and persistence, solves the case!  Not only is this a delightful story but it’s filled with problem-solving, critical thinking, and deductive reasoning.

Ninja Kid: From Nerd to Ninja  by Anh Do ADVENTURE Nelson is a nerdy and likable main character who wakes up on his 10th birthday with perfect vision and… ninja moves! His mum and grandma explain that like his missing fisherman dad before him,  Nelson is the last ninja in the world — and he’s destined to save the world.  He immediately gets to use his powers for good on a field trip when ginormous evil spiders attack the group of kids.

Meet Yasmin!   by Saadia Faruqui, illustrated by Hatem Aly REALISTIC Yasmin is an exuberant girl who is interested in everything from exploring to building to fashion.  This book tells four short stories from Yasmin’s life, all in chapters with lively, full-color illustrations. Her Pakistani American culture is embedded throughout the story such as the foods Yasmin’s family eats like naan or how she calls her father Baba. This is a great choice for children who want easier books.

Real Pigeons Fight Crime  by Ben Wood HUMOR / MYSTERY In the first of three silly stories,  Rock Pigeon is a crime-fighting pigeon  who helps Grandpouter and the other park pigeons solve the problem of the vanishing bread crumbs. Hilarious disguises, charming illustrations, quirky characters, and funny mysteries, this is an entertaining romp that will entice even the most reluctant readers.

Zoey and Sassafras Dragons and Marshmallows  #1  by Asia Citro, illustrated by Marion Lindsay SCIENCE / FANTASY This is an entertaining and  well-written story with the coolest mix of science  and  magic, a diverse main character, and fantastic illustrations  that will get kids reading and learning. Zoey, like her mom, can see magical creatures and is tasked to care for any injured creatures that might need help. In this story, she uses her science skills (including research and the scientific method) to figure out how to care for a sick baby dragon.

Dog Man  by Dav Pinkey GRAPHIC NOVEL / HUMOR Weird. Quirky. Funny.  I think all three describe this new graphic novel from the creator of Captain Underpants. In the first story, a police officer and a dog are joined together — the top from the dog, the bottom from the officer to make: Dog Man. Dog Man solves crimes and has adventures, the likes of which will entertain readers for hours. Find more  books like Dog Man

Baloney and Friends Going Up!  by Greg Pizzoli FRIENDSHIP / FUNNY / GRAPHIC NOVEL Another hilarious graphic novel for growing readers about a group of friends with distinct personalities.  From writing a theme song to sleepovers to thinking deep thoughts, this book of stories showcases characters you can’t help but love –Baloney the pig, Bizz the bumblebee, Peanut the horse, and Krabbit the rabbit! Plus, read the directions for drawing the characters with emotions in the back.

The Bad Guys  #1  by Aaron Blabey HUMOR Bad Guys #1  is a hysterical and popular best selling book series for early readers!  Mr. Wolf invites other bad guys to a meeting with hopes they will join him in being good.  Lots of drawings and minimal text make this a sure-bet for first and second-grade readers who like irony and humor. ( Note: If you don’t like potty humor, this is not the series for you. I will admit that after a few books, I was DONE. )

Squirlish: The Girl in the Tree  by Ellen Potter, illustrations by Sara Cristofori FAMILY / FRIENDSHIP When a squirrel named Shakespeare finds baby Cordelia, he raises her in his Central Park tree.  Now at age 8, Cordelia leaves the safety of their park home to chase a nut-thieving squirrel…and gets lost! Sweet Cordelia’s attempts to make friends go drastically wrong when she behaves like a squirrel–chasing and chittering. Soon, Cordelia knows it’s time to go home. But can the city squirrels show her how to get there? And could she ever make a friend with another human?  I love this story!

Banana Fox and the Secret Sour Society  by James Kochalka HUMOR If you’re about 7 years old and like very weird and wild stories that ONLY make sense to kids, let me introduce you to Banana Fox.  The totally ridiculous humor (not potty humor) hits the right spots for so many kids.  Banana Fox is a character whose goofy antics to stop the Secret Sour Society will keep you laughing the entire way through this book for 2nd graders.

Emmet and Jez Adventures in Fosterland  by Hannah Shaw, illustrated by Bev Johnson REALISTIC /  ANIMAL RESCUE Jez, a kitten with three legs, assumes that Emmett is a kitten. She teaches him about their food fairy and tuna and climbing and telling cat jokes.  The two friends sleep in the same bed, even when Emmett grows MUCH bigger than Jez. But Emmett notices that he’s not a very good kitten — because he’s a pig. Eventually, they both will go to their Foreverlands.  Sweet, meaningful, and sometimes funny, this is a new favorite chapter book.

Stick Dog  by Tom Watson HUMOR Stick Dog is hilarious. Why is he called Stick Dog? Because our author/narrator can’t draw. And also, because he likes sticks. The  funny cartoonish illustrations make this story of stray dogs  easy to read and a very entertaining series for kids. Young readers who want early chapter books with funny pictures and humor will love this book series.

Dragons of Ember City: Happy Spark Day  by Shane Richardson and Sarah Marino FANTASY This is a sweet story of dragon friends with appealing, full-color illustrations that pop off the page!  Three young dragon friends feel excited to get their magical spark at Spark Day. Afterward, there’s a big celebration, but two of the dragons get carried away with their fun and break the special disco ball. Three of them work together to fix it using all their Sparks, and their mayor predicts they’ll do great things with their magical powers.

King of the Birds  by Elise Gravel FRIENDSHIP (GRAPHIC NOVEL) Arlo is a crow who is a self-proclaimed king of the birds.  He meets a cute yellow bird named Pip and they become friends. Arlo explains his many talents to his new friend, Pip and together, the friends go on many adventures like visiting the big city and hunting for shiny things. Interspersed in the story are impressive crow facts (big brains, counting up to 6 objects, etc.)

Stink and the Shark Sleepover  by Megan McDonald, illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds REALISTIC I love this adventure because it’s exciting as well as includes a lot of factual information about marine life.  Stink gets to sleepover at the aquarium.  While there, he learns more about sharks, solves a mystery, learns a ghost story, and has tons of fun. I like that kids can easily relate to the characters in the story, the school year field trip, and the museum setting. Stink books are some of the best books for 2nd graders, especially boy readers.

Hilo The Boy Who Crashed to Earth  by Judd Winick SCI-FI /  GRAPHIC NOVEL Hilo can’t remember what happened to him before D.J. finds him crashed landed on Earth.  Hilo does remember an evil monster robot that has followed him to Earth. This ends on a cliffhanger but is worth it — it’s a great page-turning book with an easier reading level for 2nd graders!

Love Puppies: Best Friends Furever  by JaNay Brown Wood ANIMAL FRIENDS + MAGIC The magical Crystal Bone calls the pups to help a lonely girl named Meiko. The Love Puppies plan turns to disaster. How will the puppies accomplish their mission? Warmhearted and sweet, you’ll love these caring puppies and the kids they help. I know this  book series  will be a hit with 2nd graders!

Jessica Finch in Pig Trouble   by Megan McDonald, illustrated by Erwin Madrid REALISTIC Jessica Finch is a delightful early chapter book with exceptionally pleasing and colorful illustrations.  Jessica wants nothing more than a pig for a pet. When a misunderstanding happens with her best friend, Judy Moody, she learns a valuable lesson about not making assumptions and not calling people names. (And is perfect for teaching readers the same lessons!) This is one of my top early chapter books, I loved it!  BOXED SET

Dig to Disaster: A Miss Mallard Mystery  by Robert Quackenbush MYSTERY Miss Mallard is on an archaeological expedition in the jungles of South America but someone is trying to scare the group off. Not to worry. Miss Mallard is the duck for the job. She follows the clues in order to capture the sneaky treasure hunter.

Catnapped! Puppy Pirates  by Erin Soderbergh ADVENTURE Calling all dog lovers!  Read about the most awesome pirate puppies  who due to an unfortunate prank one pulled, are now prisoners on the pirate kitten’s ship –with no escape. This is a charming and funny rollicking adventure and #3 in the new Puppy Pirate series. See also:  Puppy Pirates #1 Stowaway  and  Puppy Pirates #2 x Marks the Spot.

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Egg or Eyeball? Chick and Brain  by Cece Bell FUNNY If your early reader likes weird, quirky, and silly stories, they will love this book!  Brain finds an eyeball. But Chick and Spot try to explain that it’s actually an egg. Back and forth they go with misunderstandings, lessons in manners, and goofiness. Four chapters written in comic panel format that perfect for growing readers with repetition, who wouldn’t love this quirky cast of characters and the surprise ending?

Rainbow Magic Fairies   by Daisy Meadows FANTASY These are totally predictable, but kids ADORE these books for 2nd graders, they are some of the most checked-out books at our library. My own kids loved them so much, we had about 100 titles from every single series! Even some UK versions. The books are about  two human girls who are trusted to help the magical fairies  search for something that Jack Frost’s mischievous goblins stole.

The Magic Mirror (Once Upon a Fairy Tale)  by Anna Staniszewski, illustrated by Macky Pamintuan FANTASY When Kara learns the ice princess is in trouble, she and her best friend Zed travel to the ice palace to help fix a magic mirror.  They also want to help the argumentative sisters get along and share their beloved pet monkey between them. Will the friends be able to solve both problems?

Pug Pals Two’s a Crowd  by Flora Ahn HUMOR Sunny’s life is turned upside down when her owner brings home a new sister, Rosy.  It’s hard to share her owner’s time, and especially hard to share her toys. Adorable illustrations show these personality-filled pugs who eventually develop a solid sister bond while looking for Sunny’s lost Mr. Bunny toy.

Sofia Martinez My Vida Loca  by Jacquline Jules (series) REALISTIC Perfecto! My Vida Loca is a warm-hearted beginning chapter book for second graders about the adventures of a spunky girl named Sopha — from her singing (that annoys everyone except abuela) to a cooking mishap of arroz con leche that her familia helps her fix. I love the bright pink text that indicates the Spanish words (maybe 1 or 2 a page). Illustrations are fun, capturing the emotions and action perfectamente.

Mighty Meg and the Magical Ring  by Sammy Griffin, illustrated by Michah Player SUPERHERO Meg gets a ring for her 8th birthday–that gives her superpowers–speed, strength, super senses, and invisibility! At first, she doesn’t want to use her powers, but she sees a dog drowning in a river and feels she must help, so he doesn’t die. Doing so changes her mind about her using powers — and sets us up for more books in the series.

White Fur Flying  by Patricia MacLachlan REALISTIC Zoe’s family rescues dogs in need.  A new family has moved in across the street and Phillip, the boy, has stopped speaking. He doesn’t even want to try. But Zoe’s new rescue dog might just help the boy heal and speak. (Also on:  Best Chapter Books About Dogs ) One of my favorite books for 2nd graders’ book clubs.

Waffles and Pancake Planetary-Yum  by Drew Brockington (graphic novel) REALISTIC On their day together, Dad-Cat takes brother and sister, Waffles and Pancake, to the science museum. It’s a fun adventure even though the kittens get lost. But they know how to ask for help, find their dad, and enjoy their day. When they drive to Mom-Cat’s house (the parents don’t live together), the kittens tell dad their favorite part of the day– LUNCH! Don’t miss the next book in the series:  Flight or Fright .

The Critter Club  series by Callie Barkley, illustrated by Martha Riti REALISTIC / ANIMALS The girls in the Critter Club love animals and want to help them any way they can.  Sweet fiction books for 2nd graders will interest kids who love animals and mysteries!

Bird and Squirrel on Ice   by James Burks HUMOR / GRAPHIC NOVEL In these hilarious books for 2nd graders, Bird’s over-confident, laissez-faire character pairs perfectly with Squirrel’s logical, fearful one.  The duo crash land in the Penguin world where Bird is thought to be the “Chosen One” meant to save the penguins from the Great Whale.

Rica Baptista Llamas, Iguanas, and My Very Best Friend  by Janet Costa Bates, illustrated by Gladys Jose REALISTIC Rica wants writes sweet letters to God about wanting a pet. She tries to be more responsible and earn money — and is helped by her best friend who she thinks will be moving away. A quiet younger girl inspires Rica to be brave and enter a poetry contest to earn the contest money. Warm-hearted, this is a sweet story about family, friends, growing up, and community.

Sadiq and the Desert Star by Siman Nuurali, illustrated by Anjan Sarkar STEM Not only is this a great STEM story about a young boy who finds the stars to be fascinating, but it’s also a story with diversity because Sadiq’s Muslim family is originally from Somalia.  The story is also about how after a field trip to the planetarium, Sadiq and his friends start a space club and work together to raise money for a DIY telescope.

More Beginning Chapter Books for 2nd Graders (7 year olds)

Ivy and Bean   by Annie Barrows, illustrated by Sophie Blackall ADVENTURE / HUMOR Get ready to laugh along with these  charming young friends who are always involved in funny situations and problems.  Get kids to read with this fantastic early chapter book series about two friends with unique personalities. A great 2nd grade book choice.

Fox and Rabbit  by Beth Ferry, illustrated by Gergely Dudas REALISTIC Reminiscent of Frog and Toad, these are  darling stories in graphic novel format  about two best friends who have wonderful adventures.

Too Small Tola  by Atinuke, illustrated by Onyinye Iwu REALISTIC Tola lives in Nigeria in an apartment with her sister, brother, and Grandmommy.  Readers feel the love in Tola’s close-knit family and experience her life in her Nigerian community with kind-hearted neighbors and diversity of religion (Eid and Easter) and see that even when you’re small, you can make a difference.

Super Detectives Simon and Chester  by Cale Atkinson MYSTERY (GRAPHIC NOVEL) A new, funny beginning graphic novel for 2nd graders! Nic and his ghost friend Simon are bored so they dress up and pretend to be detectives. The friends advertise but no one shows up — except a mysterious pug who doesn’t belong to them. Who is the pug? The detectives ask around and follow clues — and it’s hilarious!

Ivy Lost and Found  by Cynthia Lord, illustrated by Stephanie Graegin REALISTIC A heartwarming story about the life of an old doll who gets a new life as a book buddy!  Ivy’ gets donated to the Book Buddy’s shelf at the library. A lonely girl named Fern borrows Ivy because Fern feels so many different feelings about her dad’s new family. Then, when Ivy gets left outside in the rain, she has a surprise adventure of her own and makes friends with two other Book Buddies. Eventually, Fern feels better about her new blended family and returns her to the library.

Lulu and the Rabbit Next Door  by Hilary McKay REALISTIC This is one of my favorite early chapter books for 2nd graders! I loved this story of how Lulu and her cousin help their neighbor Arthur learn to love and care for his rabbit. She does this by writing George the rabbit notes and giving him gifts — not from her but from her pet rabbit named Thumper. (I also appreciate that the main characters are diverse – Lulu and her family have brown skin!!)

Hound Heroes: Beware the Claw  by Todd H. Doodler, illustrated by Todd Goldman SUPERHERO Get ready for a new SILLY graphic novel for your beginning readers…When a spaceship crash lands, it gives a group of dog friends superpowers…and superhero outfits.  Each dog in the group has a unique personality but none of the dogs take their powers seriously at first because they’re too busy wreaking havoc and goofing around. Until…the evil kitties TAKE OVER THE CITY!! Can the Hound Heroes save the day?

Rabbit & Bear: Rabbit’s Bad Habits  by Julian Gough & Jim Field HUMOR/FRIENDSHIP The Rabbit & Bear books for 2nd graders are delightfully weird, hilarious, and tender-hearted.  I also love the thoughtfully developed character arc of Rabbit, who begins by stealing Bear’s food and is a rude, know-it-all but becomes self-reflective, repentant, and kind. 

Tally Tuttle Turns into a Turtle (Class Critters #1)  by Kathryn Holmes REALISTIC Tally’s nervous about her new school and wants to hide in a shell when the other students make fun of her name.  That’s when  she turns into a turtle!  As a turtle, Tally meets helpful and kind animals who help her see that if she can make friends with them, she can make friends with people, too. When she decides she’s ready to be a girl again, she transforms into a kid.

Marya Khan and the Incredible Henna Party  by Saadia Faruqi, illustrated by Ani Bushry REALISTIC Marya feels jealous of her neighbor’s big, fancy birthdays, so she lies to her friends and says she’ll be throwing a big party even though her parents are against it. She tries to be helpful and good, but that doesn’t always work out.  Will she get her big party, and will she learn a few things about herself and others in the process?

Sejal Sinha Battles Superstorms by Maya Prasad, illustrated by Abira Das It’s Diwali. Sejal’s cousin comes over with her family. But her cousin, Mira, doesn’t like to pretend play anymore. When a storm knocks out the power, Sejal convinces Mira to fly in her cardboard box plane to investigate and stop the hurricane. They have a BIG adventure filled with learning more about hurricanes from observations and a plane of scientific researchers.

A to Z Animal Mysteries The Absent Alpacas by Kayla Whaley, illustrated by Chloe Burgett This new 2nd grade mystery series with an animal focus is written by a different author than the original A to Z mysteries. It offers readers more representation with a girl in a chair and main characters of color. Also different is that the illustrations are in full color. I liked it, but didn’t love it. I wonder what your readers will think. Let me know! In this story, the friends investigate a group of missing alpacas belonging to their friend who is falsely accused of stealing them.

Creature Campers The Secret of Shadow Lake  by Joe McGee, Bea Tormo FANTASY A tall Bigfoot named Norm doesn’t want to go to summer camp and hates being different. At camp, he meets a human kid named Oliver who thinks Norm will eat him. But little do the campers know that there’s a nefarious creature collector named Barnaby Soup lurking nearby preparing to capture a Bigfoot.  Relatable themes of feeling like an outsider and making new friends plus some dry humor make this a fun, readable story.

Undersea Mystery Club Problem at the Playground  by Courtney Carbone, illustrated by Melanie Demmer MYSTERY Not only is this beginning chapter book a creative, entertaining mystery story with adorable full-color illustrations but it shows the power of problem-solving, listening, and working together . Violet and her best friend, the always-hungry narwhal named Wally, need to find out who is sabotaging the playground.  Helpful back matter provides information and photos about decorator crabs, narwhals, and civil engineers.

Captain Awesome to the Rescue  by Stan Kirby FUNNY Can Eugene aka. Captain Awesome, a comic book and superhero fan, save the town from villains without revealing his secret identity? Totally funny — and a great action-packed adventure.

Some Pigtails   by Jonathan Eig, illustrated by Alicia Teba Godoy REALISTIC Lola uses a literary character role model to advocate and persist when she feels something is unfair.  She decides to keep trying unusual hairstyles with grampa. But, that all stops when her school principal bans any unusual hairstyles. Lola thinks of how in Charlotte’s Web, Charlotte the spider uses words to try to change the situation. When talking doesn’t work, she organizes the students to start distraction days. Finally, she tries a petition which leads to a compromise.

Secret Spy Society The Case of the Missing Cheetah  by Veronica Mang MYSTERY Three friends out that their teacher is a spy…and when she catches them watching her, they meet her spy friends. The female spies, all historically famous from different time periods, ask the friends to help them spy on a neighbor because they think that he kidnapped Josephine Baker’s pet cheetah. Not only do the girls spy on him, but they sneak into his house, find the cheetah, and get caught. Luckily, the Lady Spies come to the rescue! Afterward,  the girls decide to emulate their new spy friends and make a spy club of their own.

The Story of Gumluck the Wizard by Adam Rex A grumpy raven named Helvetica narrates the story of meeting the little wizard named Gumluck. Gumluck is a bit bumbling and hapless, but as our narrator watches him, she learns he has a big heart. Unfortunately, his generous heart means he’s constantly taken advantage of by the ungrateful villagers. Gumluck continues helping others and hopes to be crowned Harvest Hero. Then, when the king’s castle topples over from all the gold Gumluck made for the king, Gumluck, Helvetica, and a child save the villagers from death by castle. Playful writing with charming characters, this is a delightful story.

The Storm (The Lighthouse Family)   by Cynthia Rylant REALISTIC Pandora is a kindhearted cat who lives in a lighthouse all alone.  Seabold lives on a boat all alone. Until one day a storm shipwrecks him at the lighthouse. Soon, a friendship develops and the lighthouse isn’t lonely anymore, especially after the friends rescue family of orphaned mice. Kind characters and a cozy family theme with a gentle adventure make this a wholesome reading choice. (Also on:  Wholesome Easy Chapter Books for Boys  and  Wholesome Easy Chapter Books for Girls )

Jasmine Toguchi Mochi Queen  by Debbi Michiko Florence, illustrated by Eliazbet Vukovic REALISTIC Jasmine is jealous that the older kids in her family have important jobs on the mochi-making day  — she wants to do what the older boys and men are doing, pound the mochi rice. Her understanding father figures out a way for Jasmine to join in. And even though it didn’t work out how she wanted, her family is proud of her and decides it’s okay to break some rules like who gets to pound the rice.

The Year of the Book  series by Andrea Chang REALISTIC Growing up is challenging and in the first novel,  The Year of the Book , Anna turns to books for company while she learns how to make friendships in real life. The subsequent books for 2nd graders in the series are just as realistic and well-written. I highly recommend this series!

The Infamous Ratsos  by Kara Lareau, illustrated by Matt Myers HUMOR Louie and Ralphie Ratso keep trying to do mean, tough-guy things but every time it ends up helping someone.  Ultimately, both boys and their dad decide to be kind but before they do, their experiences are very funny.

Our Principal is a Frog  by Stephanie Calmenson, illustration Aaron Blecha HUMOR I love this SHORT, engaging story about a  great school principal who is accidentally turned into a frog  by a bumbling magician. But, this is one dedicated leader. He finds a way to keep running the school — even as an  amphibian .

Princess Evie  by Sarah Kilbridge FANTASY Before Princess Evie starts a new class at school, she and her magical pony, Willow, and cat, Sparkles, help the fairies on their first day of school. She partners with a new friend to rescue a baby hedgehog.  Kids will love the combination of horses, magic, and friendship in a wonderful adventure story.

Piper Green: Too Much Good Luck by Ellen Potter, illustrated by Qin Leng REALISTIC Piper is a lovable girl makes mistakes and hopes for her luck to change. She learns a valuable lesson about jealousy and friendship in this short, sweet story. Also, read the other book in the series, Piper Green and the Fairy Tree .

Zita the Spacegirl   by Ben Hatke SCIENCE FICTION One of our favorite graphic novels, Zita the Spacegirl, is a hero who saves not only her best friend but the entire galaxy!  BOX SET

Blue, Barry, & Pancakes  by Dan & Jason FUNNY / GRAPHIC NOVEL This graphic novel adventure begins with a beach ball. Blue the worm doesn’t want to share the beach ball with Barry and Pancakes because of what inevitably happens– they lose it. (Well, it’s swallowed by a whale.)  The misadventures continue a silly cause & effect story, where one disaster leads to another even into outer space and a volcano but ends with a sweet celebration of friendship.

Bee & Flea and the Compost Caper  by Anna Humphrey, illustrated by Mike Deas HUMOR / SCIENCE If you like funny and gross stories with wordplay and science, don’t miss this hilarious choice!  A bored bee offers to help a flea with her rule enforcement for the agents of F.L.E.A. Bee and Flea land on a compost pile where Bee and Flea encounter danger, a daring rescue, and a heartwarming, developing friendship moment — plus, we learn all about the purpose of compost and the jobs of its many residents!

Star Friends Mirror Magic  by Linda Chapman, illustrated by Lucy Fleming FANTASY This is the first book in a  new and popular chapter book series about magic and friendship.  In this first story, the magical animal friends are matched to their star friends in the human world. Mia suspects her sister’s under a dark magic spell from a mirror and accidentally releases a Shade into the world. This sets us up for more books for 2nd graders about the friends fighting the dark magic…

Shivers! The Pirate Who’s Afraid of EVERYTHING   by Annabeth Bondor-Stone & Connor White ADVENTURE Poor land-locked Shivers. He’s terrified of everything, especially snails.  But when his sea-faring family of pirates is captured, Shivers is their only hope for rescue. Luckily he meets the daring and adventurous Margo who gets them off of dry land, teaches Shivers about sword fighting and helps him find and rescue his parents. This book is very comical and will keep your kids thoroughly entertained.

Big Bad Detective Agency  by Bruce Hale FAIRY TALE The Big Bad Wolf named Wolfgang is the only suspect in the destruction of the Little Pigs house. And he doesn’t have an alibi. But he didn’t do it either so he partners with the cheerful 4th Little Pig, Ferkel, (who knew!?) to find the real culprit. I love this humorous fairy-tale mash-up and can’t wait for more adventures in this series.

Desmond Cole Ghost Patrol: The Haunted House Next Door  by Andres Miedoso, illustrated by Victor Rivas GHOST  MYSTERY ADVENTURE Large print and illustrations paired with  a ghost adventure  will entice readers into this beginning chapter book. Andres moves to a new house near a kid named Desmond, who specializes in catching ghosts — which Andres happens to have in his house!! Once they trap the ghost, Desmond and Andres discover that the ghost is lonely and just wants a place to live forever.

Expedition Backyard  by Rosemary Mosco, illustrated by Binglin Hu NATURE ADVENTURES / GRAPHIC NOVEL Two best friends, Mole and Vole, go on adventures together in nature.  When the two friends accidentally move to the city, they make the best of it with positive attitudes. In the city, they have exciting new city nature adventures and discover new animal friends, sights, and sounds interspersed with facts about everything. It’s a delightful friendship story with appealing, beautiful pictures!

Basil of Baker Street  by Eve Titus, illustrated by Paul Galdone MYSTERY Living with the famous Sherlock Holmes is how Basil learns to be a skilled detective. He must race against the clock to find the kidnapped mouse twins before it’s too late. Kids will love these suspenseful beginning reader mysteries narrated by Basil’s friend, Dr. Dawson.

Stinkbomb and Ketchup-Face and the Badness of Badgers  by John Dougherty HUMOR Hilarious — and  weird and kooky  and very creative! Stinkbomb and his sister, Ketchup-Face think that the badgers (“BAD” is in their name!) stole Stinkbomb’s $20. They embark on the craziest of adventures to get back the $20, including meeting King Toothbrush Weasel, who they’ll help to rid the island of the badgers. If you like silly stories, this book is for you!

Judy Moody Was in a Mood  by Megan McDonald, illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds REALISTIC Want to get your kids reading a great series? Try Judy Moody.  She’s a relatable third grader with a big personality, an annoying little brother, the coolest aunt ever, and lots of humorous antics.   Box Set Here .

They Didn’t Teach This in Worm School: One Worm’s Tale of Survival  by Simone Lia FUNNY I LOVED the  wry humor  in this beginning, hilarious chapter book. It pairs two of the most unlikely of traveling companions together– a worm and a bird. The bird, Laurence, thinks he’s a flamingo and wants to journey to Lake Nakuru National Park where the other flamingos live. The worm, Marcus, besides worrying he’s about to be breakfast, thinks that Laurence looks like a chicken. As they travel “the world”, the two develop an unexpected, lovely friendship.

Bug Blonsky and His Very Long List of Don’ts   by E.S. Redmond HUMOR Bug is a wiggly kid who has written a list of very important don’ts. His advice is clearly well earned since he knows just what will happen if he does those things. For example:  Don’t spray whipped cream into your mouth for breakfast.  And so on. Read exactly what happens when Bug does everything on his list of don’ts.

Big Words Small Stories: The Missing Donut  by Judith Henderson, illustrated by T L McBeth REALISTIC Get excited about words! These short, entertaining stories about a boy and his cat contain challenging vocabulary words in context. This isn’t just an easy chapter book of stories but it also provides rich vocabulary for young readers.

Cat Ninja  by Matthew Cody, illustrated by Yehudi Mercado GRAPHIC NOVEL  / SUPERHERO By day Claude is Leon’s pet, but by night, he’s Cat Ninja, Metro City’s protector! His nemesis is Leon’s sister’s evil hamster, Master Hamster.  Learn the Cat Ninja’s origin story then follow his perilous, exciting, and humorous adventures!

Zebra at the Zoo: Mysteries on Zoo Lane   by Patricia Reilly Giff, illustrated by Abby Carter MYSTERY Relatable and lovely, this beginning chapter book is about making mistakes, fixing them, saving animals, and kindness.  Alex is having a tough day. Before school, he snuck into the zoo and gets caught. At school, he doesn’t get his favorite animal, the red panda, for his animal report —  instead, he gets the wolf. Even worse, his cat Oreo is missing! When he stops to help his friend Callie who is crying, his kindness solves their problems.

Parker Bell and the Science of Friendship  by Cynthia Platt, illustrated by Rea Zhai STEM Parker loves science and hopes she and her team will win a medal in the science competition.  The lovely friendship and STEM book engages readers in a relatable story about Parker’s new friendships as well as using the scientific method for invention, robots, & egg drops.

Good Dog, McTavish  by Meg Rosoff, illustrated by Grace Easton REALISTIC The writing is brilliant with subtle, wry humor.  When a mom quits “momming”, the youngest daughter, Betty, suggests that the family get a dog. Betty chooses McTavish the dog at a shelter, or does McTavish choose them? Right away, he gets to work organizing the family which… takes plans and more plans. 

The Misadventures of Salem Hyde: Big Birthday Bash  by Frank Cammuso GRAPHIC NOVEL In this Salem adventure, Salem predictably makes disasters happen everywhere she goes. She has some trouble with making things (herself) gigantic and other things (the birthday party kids) small.  Hilarious, wacky, and totally enjoyable. 

Crime Biters: My Dog Is Better Than Your Dog  by Tommy Greenwald MYSTERY This is a funny beginning chapter book about a boy who is convinced (rightly so?!) that  his rescue dog is a crime-solving, vampire, genius!

Puppy Problem  by Laura James, illustrated by Charlie Adler FRIENDSHIP Read this sweet story about teamwork, friendship, and the power of writing!  Gizmo’s journalist human moves them from the city to the country. He meets a new friend next door, a wolfhound named Jilly who shows him what to expect in the country and introduces him to more friends. Gizmo helps Jilly in return when Jilly’s worried about her humans selling her puppies to people far away. Gizmo takes a page from his human and writes a special newspaper article all Jilly’s situation.

Stella and the Night Sprites Tooth Bandits  by Sam Hay, illustrated by Lisa Manuzak FANTASY This is part of the Branches series of early chapter books and a sweet story about a little girl named Stella who sees a mischievous sprite steal her Tooth Fairy money. She learns more about why Stella wants the money and helps her find different ways to solve her problems and make friends.

Monkey Me and the New Neighbor  by Timothy Roland HUMOR Get ready for super imaginative books for second graders! Clyde turns into a mischievous monkey when he gets excited – which ends up being a big disaster when he’s in school. To make matters worse, his principal moves NEXT DOOR. Then, he sees his new neighbor’s house being burglarized and finds the robbers, saving the day.

The Last Firehawk: The Ember Stone  by Katrina Charman, illustrated by Jeremy Norton FANTASY Tag is in training to become an Owl of Valor. One day while playing tag with his squirrel friend, Skyla, he finds a golden egg who hatches into a Firehawk, the last one alive. Tag and friends must keep the Firehawk, Blaze, safe. Then they’ll quest to find the magical stone that may save their land from the Vulture and his army of tiger bats. This easy chapter book introduces kids to epic fantasy stories about good vs. evil.

The Dragonsitter  by Josh Lacey illustrated by Garry Parsons HUMOR Written in increasingly funny (and alarming) letters we learn that Uncle Morton left his pet dragon for Edward and his mom and sister to watch — with no directions!!  The dragon poops in their shoes, eats their pet bunny, and causes all kinds of destruction which become the topics of Edward’s letters to his nowhere-to-be-found uncle. Finally, Edward hears from his uncle who suggests feeding the dragon chocolate. Will Edward’s mom lose her mind? Will the chocolate work? One of the best books for 2nd graders.

Bark Park  by Brandi Dougherty, illustrated by Paige Pooler REALISTIC Scout’s life is filled with  mystery  and adventure as she helps her dog friends. Charming characters and a  gentle story  lines are good for 2nd grade kids.

Miranda and Maude: The Princess and the Absolutely NOT a Princess  by Emma Wunsch, illustrated by Jessika Von Innerbner REALISTIC About two girls who are quite different — one is a sensitive, pinked-up princess and the other is a chicken-raising, social justice-loving regular girl.  The two are in the same class at school, where right away, a misunderstanding grows and grows until it results in a disastrous birthday party with no one attending. Don’t worry — it will end up well. It’s a terrific story with great life lessons about communication and kindness.

Doodle Adventures: The Search for Slimy Space Slugs!  by Mike Lowery INTERACTIVE ADVENTURE This book not only hooks the reader with its space-adventure plot but the  hilarious narrator Carl invites YOU to find the missing priceless artifact requiring bravery, heroism, and drawing.  Along the journey to retrieve the artifact from Captain Sleezoog (a slug,) you must do your part. So you’ll make sure (by drawing) that you’ve got a spacesuit, you’ve packed everything you need to bring, the rocket design is perfect plus has some silly (bandages!?) extras, and lots more as the adventure ensues. It may sound contrived but it’s a fun, engaging adventure that any kid, artist or not, will love. 

Wondrous Rex  by Patricia MacLachlan WHOLESOME / WRITING Maxwell the Magicial brings Grace and her writer aunt Lily his dog Rex to be aunt’s assistant when Aunt Lily and Grace both have writer’s block.  Rex is a kind and magical dog who reads, writes, and gives wonderful wisdom about life and writing . His guidance helps both Lily and Grace grow in confidence, inspiration, and love. Absolutely charming!

The Case of the Weird Blue Chicken   by Doreen Cronin, illustrated by Kevin Cornell HUMOR Kids know it’s not the blue chicken (who is a bird, not a chicken) who is weird, it’s the chicken squad — they are downright wacky! In this adventure, the chickens are asked to investigate who has stolen the blue bird’s house. And despite the chickens’ inability to actually investigate anything, they do discover the culprit and a solution.

All About Plants: Ada Twist, Scientist The Why Files  by Andrea Beaty and Dr. Theanne Griffith PLANTS /  NONFICTION FOR AGE 7 Packed full of information, this informational book hits the right spot for primary ages.  Full-color photographs, diagrams, labels, cartoons, and informational text answer big questions like “ How do they eat? ” and “ Do plants need air like me? “  I like this book — the writing and format are excellent. However, I’m disappointed the book doesn’t include a table of contents or a glossary.

Mindy Kim and the Yummy Seaweed Business  by Lyla Lee, illustrated by Dung Ho REALISTIC Mindy and her dad recently moved to Florida after her mom’s death. When the other kids at school make fun of her seaweed snacks at lunch,  Mindy and her new friend Sally start a snack business to save money for a puppy . This doesn’t go as planned yet it’s a big learning experience showing Mindy to be herself and be proud of her Korean-American culture.

The Whodunit Detective Agency The Diamond Mystery  by Martin Widmark, illustrated by Helena Willis MYSTERY Friends and kid detectives, Jerry and Maya, go undercover in a jewelry store to figure out which of the three employees is stealing diamonds from the owner.  It’s puzzling since all the employees are searched before they can leave the store. How are the diamonds going missing and who is taking them? This is a well-written adventure with good pacing and enjoyable characters. (Also on:  Wholesome Easy Chapter Books for Boys )

Dragon Slayer’s Academy: New Kid at School  by Kate McMullan FANTASY Wiglaf attends a terrible school for dragon slayers, has a pet pig who speaks pig Latin (HA), and is friends with Eric, who is Erica, a princess longing for adventure.  The hapless and greedy school director sends off his students to kill the dragons and steal their gold. In order to kill the dragons the students must find figure out the dragon’s weakness which turns out to be bad knock-knock jokes in this case.

Amelia Bedelia Means Business  by Herman Parish, illustrated by Lynne Avril ADVENTURE I’ve been enjoying these updated Amelia chapter books by the original author’s son.  In this silly story, Amelia looks for ways to earn money for a new bicycle.

Cat Kid Comic Club  by Dav Pilkey HUMOR My writing teacher’s heart adores this book about encouraging kids to write their own comics! Plus, it’s totally hilarious. Cat Kid teaches a class for the tadpoles about making your own comic books…which doesn’t go well until the tadpoles get excited about failure and get started writing and drawing.  If you like a lot of silliness (including potty humor) with great messages about writing, creativity, and persistence, read this book next.

Mrs. Frogbottom’s Field Trips I Want My Mummy   by Nancy Krulik HISTORY Welcome to 4th grade with a teacher who isn’t like any other teachers…mostly because of her magic map that transports the entire class all over the world.  In this story, Mrs. Frogbottom takes the class to Egypt — and our narrator, Tony, does not like it one bit, not the black cat following them, not that his friend Sofia disappears and not that Aiden wanders into a tomb where the friends get trapped!

Magic on the Map: Let’s Moooove! by Courtney Sheinmel and Bianca Turetsky, illustrated by Stevie Lewis MAGICAL REALISM The sibling’s parents buy a camper that turns out to be magical and transports them to locations around the United States  where the two experience the local culture with adventures and excitement. In this first book, Finn and Molly go to Colorado.  Book two  takes place in New York City. Yes, it sounds like the Magic Tree House but with a camper and in the present day. However, it makes up for that with its settings that will build a child’s knowledge of U.S. geography and culture.

Unicorn Academy: Sophia and Rainbow  by Julie Skyes, illustrated by Lucy Truman UNICORNS Well-written and charming, this unicorn book series is sure to entrance many young readers.  In this story, Sophia arrives at Unicorn Academy and is paired with the lovely Rainbow. But, she feels guilty for making a new friend and leaving her best pony, Clover, back at home. On top of that, the unicorns’ magic is wonky because the lake is being poisoned. When someone accuses Sophia, she and her new friends decide to investigate.

Mermaid Tales  by Debbie Dadey FANTASY If your second-grade 7-year-old child is a fantasy and mermaid fan, these adventure books about friendship are sure to keep them reading.

Planet Omar  by Zanib Mian REALISTIC One of the best things about Omar is his HUGE imagination!  In fact, he faces his new experiences in life with a rich, creative mind filled with dragons, Ferraris, and zombie aliens.  He uses his imagination to deal with moving, starting a new school, making friends, and dealing with racism. Highly recommended books for 2nd graders with playful writing, whimsical illustrations, and rich Pakistani-American culture.

Mal and Chad by Stephen McCranie HUMOR/GRAPHIC NOVEL These two friends and their hilarious adventures will remind you of Calvin and Hobbes. Second grade kids will love this graphic novel!

Giants Beware!   by Jorge Aguirre, illustrated by Rafael Rosado FANTASY/GRAPHIC NOVEL Claudette is a dragon-slaying, mischievous girl who tricks her little brother and her best friend (a princess) into questing to kill the dragon.  It’s a delightful graphic novel, I loved every second of it. And, don’t worry, there is no killing of any dragons. Your 7-year-old second-grade boys and girls will love this one — I just gave it to a 3rd grade reluctant reader and his mom said he’s already on his third time through.

Lunch Lady   by Jarrett J. Krosoczka HUMOR If you haven’t read these addictive and hilarious graphic novels, they are a must — anyone who has eaten lunch in school will appreciate the humor; even parents love these books.

Anna Finds a Friend  by Kate Egan, illustrated by Elizabetta Melarance REALISTIC A lovely story of Anna who makes up a friend to write letters…and surprisingly, she gets letters in return. Who could be writing back when she just made up a friend?  As Anna searches for answers, she also finds a way to reconnect with her sister who is just as lonely as Anna is.

The Amazing Life of Azaleah Lane   by Nikki Shannon Smith, illustrated by Mari Lobo MYSTERY 8-year-old Azaleah helps her little sister find her favorite stuffed animal even though she needs to work on her diorama for the upcoming zoo field trip. It’s a  sweet story about mysteries, family dynamics, and life.

Written And Drawn By Henrietta  a Toon Level 3 Book by Liniers REALISTIC This beginning chapter book is about  a young writer who gets new colored pencils that inspire her to write and illustrate a story.  As it continues, we see her discussing the plotting with her cat — it’s such a great example of the story writing process!! LOVE! Also see:  The Big Wet Balloon   by Liniers.

Easy Reader Books for 5- and 6- year olds  Books for 1st graders, 6 Year Olds Books for 3rd graders, 8year olds Books for 4th graders, 9 year olds Books for 5th graders, 10 year olds Books for 6th graders, 11-year olds Books for 7th graders, 12-year olds YA Books

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Melissa Taylor, MA, is the creator of Imagination Soup. She's a mother, former teacher & literacy trainer, and freelance education writer. She writes Imagination Soup and freelances for publications online and in print, including Penguin Random House's Brightly website, USA Today Health, Adobe Education, Colorado Parent, and Parenting. She is passionate about matching kids with books that they'll love.

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My daughter loves Donut Feed the Squirrels! Definitely a favorite!

As a homeschooling mom, when teaching my children to read, I skipped the beginning readers and headed straight for easy chapter books that were interesting and well written with a slightly challenging vocabulary. Kids dont want to read books with dumb-downed language. It bores them.

I agree! That’s why I have written this list of engaging books that kids want to read. 🙂

There are many books on this list I hadn’t heard of before, so I’m excited to introduce them to my kids! Logic Lotty and Franny K Stein are new favorites in our house that I didn’t see listed.

Oh, I LOVE Franny. I’ll have to check out Logic Lotty- thanks!

Yeah! Thanks for including the Mermaid Tales series, where you can have fun reading and learn about the ocean.

my daughter just loves them!