Choosing second grade books is so much fun because you’ve got such a wide range of options. Laugh-out-loud picture books? Yes! Compelling narratives and fascinating nonfiction? Also yes! Early chapter books and graphic novels? Yep, those too. If you’re looking to freshen up your collection of second grade books, check out 60 of our favorite recent titles.
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1. My Papi Has a Motorcycle by Isabel Quintero
A young girl tells the tale of a motorcycle ride around her neighborhood with her Papi. Lean on this title for studying character traits and emotions and as a fresh, diverse mentor text for personal narrative writing.
2. If You Come to Earth by Sophie Blackall
The illustrations in this new title from two-time Caldecott medalist are gorgeous, as are the book’s themes of connectedness and inclusivity. Share this book to open community-building conversations or to support your social studies curriculum. Having students write their own “If you come to…” letters would be an awesome writing prompt, too!
3. Your Name is a Song by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow
When Kora-Jalimuso’s teacher and classmates can’t pronounce her name, her mother gives her the most empowering, uplifting advice of all: Tell them her name is a song. Share this affirming story at the start of the school year or to lead off conversations about celebrating identity. Every classroom needs this book!
4. Norman: One Amazing Goldfish! by Kelly Bennett
Not Norman: A Goldfish Story is a longtime read aloud favorite. Now there’s a sequel that makes us love that glug-glugging goldfish and his endearing owner even more! The pair is excited to perform a routine of tricks at Pet-O-Rama—until an unexpected case of goldfish stage fright. The details are perfect for supporting kids’ narrative writing, too.
5. Khalil and Mr. Hagerty and the Backyard Treasures by Tricia Springstubb
This sweet intergenerational story celebrates how simple shared experiences can bring people together. As Khalil digs for buried treasure and Mr. Hagerty digs for vegetables, the pair finds a new friendship. We also love how this title helps kids learn to define and give examples to explain vocabulary words.
6. Ten Ways to Hear Snow by Cathy Camper
Lina wakes up on the morning she’s meant to visit her grandmother to help cook grape leaves, only to discover a fresh blanket of snow. Her walk to her grandmother’s house inspires a poetic list of ways to “hear” snow-capped observations for her grandmother, who is blind. Use this text to support both narrative and poetry writing, or simply enjoy it on the first snowy morning of the school year.
7. Cat Problems by Jory John
The Animal Problems books are awesome second grade books for their perfect balance of humor, vocabulary, and curriculum connections. In this one, a cat complains about its life indoors. Meanwhile, a squirrel outside the window reminds the cat how cushy of a life it has. Great for lessons about reading with expression or to discuss point of view.
8. Skywatcher by Jamie Hogan
Tamen wishes he could see the stars, but that’s basically impossible in his bright urban neighborhood. His mom surprises him with a camping trip to make his dream come true. If you need more second grade books that portray single parents, this is a good one. The back matter teaches readers about astronomy and light pollution.
9. Fruit Bowl by Mark Hoffman
We love a good double-duty read-aloud for our second-grade books. This one shares plenty of facts about fruits vs. vegetables but also has broader themes of inclusion and open-mindedness. Tomato lobbies for a spot in the fruit bowl even though the other fruits say he doesn’t belong.
10. Interrupting Chicken and the Elephant of Surprise by David Ezra Stein
A misheard lesson has Little Chicken looking for elephants in stories instead of the “element of surprise” her teacher described. Just like the original fan favorite, this sequel fits well into a study of story architecture—or read it just for fun.
11. What Are Your Words?: A Book About Pronouns by Katherine Locke
This is an invaluable resource for talking to kids about pronouns and how pronoun choice is just one piece of someone’s identity. Uncle Lior, who prefers they/them pronouns, comes to visit and helps Ari explore the words that feel right to use.
12. I’m New Here and 13. Someone New by Anne Sibley O’Brien
This pair of titles tells the story of three newly-arrived immigrant children and the peers who must welcome newcomers to their school community. Presenting the two books together offers a unique chance to examine an experience from multiple perspectives.
14. Hey, Wall by Susan Verde
Ángel notices an ugly, neglected wall that spans an entire city block near his home and organizes a neighborhood effort to create a mural that celebrates their community. Inspire students with this kid-powered story of art and activism.
15. How To Solve a Problem: The Rise (and Falls) of a Rock-Climbing Champion by Ashima Shiraishi
This autobiography shares how Ashima Shiraishi became one of the world’s top rock climbers—as a teenager! It’s an inspirational story that will wow kids (and teachers) and is a unique addition to a biography genre study.
16. How to Write a Story by Kate Messner
Follow a young writer’s illustrated thought bubbles and tips as she works through the narrative writing process from the seed of an idea to drafting, revising, and editing, and then to showcasing her work. Share this to inspire a budding author, or use it during a fiction writing unit.
17. Facts vs. Opinions vs. Robots by Michael Rex
Make an important concept memorable with this fun, interactive title. The savvy robot characters also teach kids about respecting others’ opinions too.
18. The First Blade of Sweetgrass by Suzanne Greenlaw and Gabriel Frey
A gorgeous Own Voices story about a present-day Wabanaki girl who joins her grandmother in harvesting sweetgrass to make baskets. Add this to your growing collection of second grade books celebrating indigenous characters.
19. Abdul’s Story by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow
A new favorite! If you’re looking for second grade books to inspire students as writers, you absolutely need this one. Abdul has many stories to tell, but handwriting and spelling are so hard for him. A visiting author, Mr. Muhammad, gives him the reassuring nudge he needs to shine.
20. A Different Pond by Bao Phi
A beautiful story about a father and son navigating life in a new culture.
21. Room For Everyone by Naaz Kahn
Who says second grade is too old for counting books? Not us, especially when it’s this vibrant and fun. A boy and his sister ride a daladala (minibus) to the beach in Zanzibar. Along the way, it stops for myriad other riders, from chickens to sugarcane vendors to divers. It’s a fantastic concrete story for talking about being inclusive. Plus, we can’t wait to make up math story problems based on the zany events.
22. Dream Street by Tricia Elam Walker
On this street, “The houses and dreams inside are as different as thumbprints.” This celebration of a diverse neighborhood is based on the author’s and illustrator’s own childhood in Roxbury, MA. It would make a strong mentor text for descriptive writing. Or, a class display about students’ hopes and goals would be a perfect follow up project.
23. Alma and How She Got Her Name by Juana Martinez-Neal
Alma Sofia Esperanza José Pura Candela knows her name is long, but she doesn’t know why, until her dad tells her about all the family members it honors. Get students talking about the stories behind their own names.
24. The Cool Bean by Jory John and Pete Oswald
If you loved The Bad Seed and The Good Egg, you need to meet The Cool Bean! Who knew legumes could be such good models for how it’s “cool to be kind?”
25. The Night Gardener by Terry and Eric Fan
Every Fan Brothers book is gorgeous, but this is one of our favorite second grade books to mull over with students. One morning, William notices a mysterious topiary out his window. Soon, there are changes all over town.
26. Quiet Please, Owen McPhee! by Trudy Ludwig
From the team who created The Invisible Boy (a classroom must-have for all ages) comes this title perfect for discussions about listening. Owen McPhee talks ALL the time, but when he gets laryngitis, he learns that being quiet can be powerful, too.
27. My Dog Mouse by Eva Lindstrom
This unsung hero title is a hushed, beautiful story about a girl who walks her neighbor’s dog. It’s filled with examples to use in narrative writing mini-lessons.
28. Five Minutes (That’s a Lot of Time) (No, It’s Not) (Yes, It Is) by Audrey Vernick
We reference it all the time, but how long IS five minutes, really? Well, that depends on whether you’re waiting in line or playing your favorite game! Add some fun to your math lessons about telling time by sharing this little gem.
29. A Hundred Billion Trillion Stars by Seth Fishman
This story tackles the mind-boggling concept of huge numbers. A wonderful book for science, math, or read-aloud.
30. Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré by Anika Aldamuy Denise
Storyteller and author Pura Belpré was the first Puerto Rican librarian in New York City. Treat yourself and your class to this gorgeous and inspirational biography that offers just the right amount of detail for a classroom read-aloud and discussion. (Plus, motivate your students to explore other Pura Belpré Award titles!)
31. Now You Know How It Works by Valorie Fisher
How often do we stop and think about how things we use every day, like soap or screws, work? This title explains it all, with labeled diagrams perfect to teach students about using nonfiction text features for reading and their own writing.
32. Otis and Will Discover the Deep: The Record-Setting Dive of the Bathysphere by Barb Rosenstock
In 1930, Otis Barton and Will Beebe made the first-ever deep-sea dive in a contraption they invented themselves. How cool is that?
33. Fungus is Among Us! by Joy Keller
How much do you actually know about fungi and their role in our environment? Learn alongside your students with this engaging nonfiction romp. The “Meet a Mycologist” section at the back may incite new career aspirations for science-buff students, too.
34. Seeds Move! by Robin Page
Did you ever think of seed dispersal as involving “hitchhiking,” “catapulting,” or “parachuting?” Robin Page’s fresh, informative text and collage illustrations will get students thinking about grade-level science concepts.
35. We Move Together by Kelly Fritsch and Anne McGuire
Everyone deserves to be able to move through their world with ease. This is one of our favorite all-ages books to open discussions about social justice and disability. It’s especially suited to second graders who are eager to connect to others and make the world a more fair place.
36. Money Math by David Adler
Content-area book guru David Adler addresses money identification and beginning addition and subtraction. Break out the piles of change!
37. The Disgusting Critters Series by Elise Gravel
This series combines science, silly humor, and just enough gross facts to delight any young reader.
38. Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly
This book tells the story of four mathematicians who played a critical role in NASA’s early space launches.
39. Keith Haring: The Boy Who Just Kept Drawing by Kay Haring
Told by the artist’s sister, this story follows Keith Haring’s rise to fame as a pop artist.
40. Ruth Bader Ginsberg: The Case of R.B.G. vs. Inequality by Jonah Winter
Ruth Bader Ginsberg overcame discrimination against Jews, women, and working mothers to become one of our country’s most inspiring symbols of justice.
41. The Boy Who Grew a Forest: The True Story of Jadav Payeng by Sophia Gholz
Share this biography of an Indian environmental activist with students when you talk about the role of plants in an ecosystem. After reading, go outside and plant some native plants in your own habitat!
42. Big and Small and In Between by Carter Higgins
Three whimsical chapters make poetic observations about the world based on size. This book invites readers to notice things like how big the quiet feels when it’s your turn to perform, the “in between” of a wiggling tooth, and how small you feel when you stare at the ocean. Add this title to your second grade books for Poetry Month or launching a poetry unit of study.
43. On Duck Pond by Jane Yolen
We still read Owl Moon every single year, but we also love Jane Yolen’s more recent nature offerings as one of our favorite second-grade books. Here, her signature poetic and precise language chronicles the brief moment when a child walks a dog past a pond.
44. Once Upon a Star: A Poetic Journey Through Space by James Carter
An explanation of the Big Bang is tricky when explaining to children. But, packing it into artfully-illustrated and eloquent verse? That’s impressive.
45. A Place to Start a Family: Poems About Creatures That Build by David L. Harrison
As anyone who has studied a bird’s nest up close knows, animal structures are amazing. Each poem describes how an animal creates a home for its young.
46. Gone Camping: A Novel in Verse by Tamera Will Wissinger
47. Yasmin series by Saadia Faruqi
Yasmin has plenty of spirit and a talent for looking on the bright side. This early chapter book series starter adds to the small-but-growing list of kid lit-titles starring contemporary Muslim Americans.
48. Diary of an Ice Princess series by Christina Soontornvat
Second graders love this fantasy series about a princess who lives in the clouds and wields a ton of cool weather-related powers. And teachers shouldn’t be discouraged by all the pink! The series has diverse characters and relatable themes to discuss with kids.
49. Desmond Cole Ghost Patrol series by Andres Miedoso
Desmond stays busy investigating paranormal activity in his town. His friend Andres admires his bravery but prefers less excitement. This engaging and funny illustrated series is great for hooking new chapter book readers.
50. Jasmine Toguchi series by Debbi Michiko Florence
Told in the context of her Japanese-American culture, Jasmine’s challenges reflect those of many eight-year-olds, like proving she’s as capable as an older sibling, trying to find her unique talents, or convincing her parents to fulfill her biggest wish.
