30 Kid-Favorite Chapter Books for 2nd Graders

Shila said:  The Critter Club series is about a group of young friends who absolutely love animals- so much that they form a local animal rescue shelter. Their adventures center around true-to-life situations at school and around the community. With easy-to-read sentences and cute illustrations to adore, these are great chapter books for 2nd graders.

Kelly R said:  Four chicks team up to solve barnyard mysteries in the funny Chicken Squad series from Doreen Cronin, author of favorite silly animal stories like Click, Clack, Moo!

Kristy Pepping said:  This is a great series of chapter books for 2nd graders. They are still easy to read with vocabulary a younger child can understand. Each book features another colorful fairy who faces a problem, which she and her friends solve as your reader goes through the book.

Vanessa M. said:  My 2nd grader loves Bad Kitty chapter books by Nick Bruel, and to be honest, I do too! They are laugh out loud funny, and can actually be educational as well. My 7-year-old learned all about the democratic election process, for example, reading Bad Kitty for President, as well as some real-life cat facts from Uncle Murray. I highly recommend this series for hesitant readers! Lots of illustrations and silly kitty antics will keep kids entertained.

Katie G. said:  The Flat Stanley Worldwide Adventures Series is a set of nine books following the adventures of Stanley Lambchop, a boy who is flattened to 1/2" thick from a billboard. Each book follows Stanley on a different adventure around the world from Mexico to China and Egypt to Australia. Readers not only get to enjoy the adventures of Stanley, but also learn a little bit about the country he is visiting. The easy to read chapter books include occasional illustrations of Stanley and his adventures.

Kelly R said:  My son and daughter both loved The Bad Guys series as young readers, with an illustration-heavy graphic novel/chapter book style that serves as a great step between picture books and chapter books for 2nd graders. The funny stories about a group of "Bad Guys" who want to be good are great at helping kids love to read for fun!

When a robot finds herself stranded on a remote island, she must adapt and learn to live with the native animals in order to survive.

Kelly R said:  My son and daughter both loved this book in 4th grade, a unique technology-meets-nature story with fantastic illustrations.

Tracy Snyder Molina said:  The Ready Freddy series was recommended by my younger son's teacher when he was in second grade. They were easy enough for him to gain confidence in his reading skills while reading out loud to me. Even better the story lines kept him interested and wanting to read more.

Erika Roh... said:  This is a great series of chapter books for 2nd grade. Heidi is a young girl who is secretly a witch. The books follow Heidi on her adventures starting school, navigating friendships, teachers and family...all while trying not to use her magic to stay out of trouble. Even though Heidi always finds herself in a predicament, each book teaches a lesson about staying true to yourself and treating others with kindness and respect.

Kelly R said:  In The Haunted Library series, a girl and her ghost friend work together to solve a variety of mysteries. This is a fun one for young chapter book readers who enjoy spooky stories!

Sarah C. said:  This fun book about two friends, Bean and Ivy. They play jokes, have fun and show how neighbors who didn't think they would be friends can get along! Great for a book for your 2nd grader read alone or to read with a parent. It also is a Netflix series, so fun to read the book then watch the show that corresponds.

Alexandra F. said:  This kids fantasy book by Julie Andrews (yes, THE Julie Andrews of Mary Poppins fame!) is one of the first my daughter will recommend to elementary school kids who ask her for reading recommendations. She read it in second grade and was totally captivated by the fantastical story of three children and their search for the legendary Whangdoodle, a kind and wise creature who lives in a secret land.

Kelly R said:  In this sweet and funny story, Korean American Clara Lee dreams of being chosen as Little Miss Apple Pie at her town's upcoming festival. This was a great pick for my second grader as she gets more comfortable with reading longer chapter books.

Shila said:  Purrmaids are part cat, part mermaid - and there's an adorable friendship squad living under the sea taking on aquatic quests and enjoying fun adventures! In book #4, they even go on a pursuit to find a real mermicorn. :) These fantastical characters capture the playful spirit of 2nd graders well. The storylines are short and lighthearted, too.

Shila said:  Katie Kazoo, an ordinary 3rd grade kid, can switcheroo into other people and animals! Follow Katie's playful and problem-solving adventures in these clever chapter books for early readers. The books are short in length, and they contain easy-to-blend words for 2nd graders to sound-out independently or alongside a parent.