Books To Get Your Second Grader Reading

Solve animal mysteries from A to Z! Young clue hunters Abbi, Daniel, and Lydia sniff out the mystery behind a group of missing alpacas. Inspired by Ron Roy’s beloved A to Z Mysteries series, this spin-off is perfect for budding young chapter book readers — and future detectives!

Mr. Pebbles is dead, and everyone thinks it’s Carter’s fault! When Carter’s third-grade class accuses him of killing the class pet, a naked mole rat named Mr. Pebbles who shivers a lot and smells a little funny, can Carter clear his name … with the help of Mr. Pebble’s ghost? The first book in a funny supernatural graphic novel series for early readers about an eight-year-old boy who solves mysteries with the ghost of his former class pet.

Eight-year-old EllRay is down to one-and-a-half best friends, and his little sister points out the obvious: He needs more! So EllRay decides to audition other boys for the part, the way his sister is auditioning for the lead role in her day care’s spring play. Now, EllRay has to come up with fun things to do at recess, because when he’s the Recess King, everyone will want to be his friend!

Perfect for fans of comical animal do-gooders like The Bad Guys, The InvestiGators, and The Chicken Squad, this hilarious chapter book series follows a group of bumbling dog detectives and their newest recruit — a cat! In this first case, the Underdogs are hot on the tail of a cat burglar.

Violet and Pablo are best friends who love science! So when they discover a riddle that opens a magic portal in the Science Space at school, they can’t wait to check it out! Along with their new classmate, Deepak, the friends discover a magical makerspace called the Maker Maze. With the help of a hilarious and odd scientist, the Magnificent Makers embark on out-of-this-world adventures that help them master the science concepts they are learning in school.

It’s Junie B.’s first day of kindergarten! But she’s afraid of the school bus. Can she overcome her fears, or will she be stuck at school forever? After more than thirty years as a beloved favorite, the world’s funniest kindergartner is coming to graphic novels with full-color adaptations that bring Junie B. to life for a new generation of readers and give kids even more ways to laugh — and read — with Junie B. Jones!

As the youngest in her family, Dory really wants attention, and more than anything she wants her brother and sister to play with her. But she’s too much of a baby for them, so she’s left to her own devices — including her wild imagination and untiring energy. Her siblings may roll their eyes at her childish games, but Dory has lots of things to do: Outsmarting the monsters all over the house, escaping from prison (aka time-out), and exacting revenge on her sister’s favorite doll.

Kids who fell in love with the Jada Jones series will enjoy this high-energy spin-off series about Miles Lewis. Like Jada, he loves science and sports and is always interested in learning something new. This slice-of-life series delivers STEM themes wrapped in an engaging story.

Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny are brothers and sisters. They’re orphans too, and the only way they can stay together is to make it on their own. When the children find an abandoned boxcar in the woods, they decide to call it home — and become the Boxcar Children! Join the Boxcar Children as they set out on their first adventure in this illustrated chapter book series beloved by generations of readers.

The Here’s Hank series stars the same Hank as in the bestselling Hank Zipzer series, only this time he’s in 2nd grade! In the first book in this new series, Hank’s class is putting on a play, and Hank wants the lead part: Aqua Fly. But he freezes in his audition and can only buzz like a fly. His teacher creates a special part for Hank, a silent bookmark. This may seem like an insignificant role, but when his enemy, Nick McKelty, freezes during the performance, it’s up to Hank to save the play!

Judy Moody is in a sleuthing, Nancy Drew kind of mood. She’s hunting for a mystery — and she doesn’t have to snoop for long! When Mr. Chips, a beloved crime-dog-in-training, goes missing, Judy and her chums find themselves smack-dab in the middle of a real-life, scare-your-pants-off whodunit. Was Mr. Chips stolen by dirty dognappers? And why are chocolate-chip cookies disappearing all over town?

Isadora Moon loves sunshine — and nighttime. She loves her magic wand — and her black tutu. She loves spooky bats — and Pink Rabbit. Isadora is half-fairy, half-vampire, and she’s special because she is different! Now Isadora’s parents want her to start school, but she’s not sure where she belongs — fairy school or vampire school?

This funny and sweet early illustrated chapter book series about a problem-solving girl who decides to start her own badge-earning troop is perfect for fans of Dory Fantasmagory.

Miss Luisa’s School of Dance is a magical place. There are dancers and music … and bunnies that talk and do ballet! No one knows the bunnies are there. Then, Millie arrives. She’s new to ballet class and doesn’t know all the moves. But when all the other dancers are gone, she discovers the Ballet Bunnies! They can help Millie find her dancing feet — so long as she can keep the Ballet Bunnies a secret!

Millie Magnus has huge love for many things — her mom, her friends, her baby chicken, Extra Spicy, and even her hot pink rain boots. Millie Magnus DOESN’T love it when Buckley, a boy from school, makes fun of her curly hair, or her name, or her friends. When Millie’s plan to talk to Buckley about his bullying is ruined, SHE ends up in the principal’s office. But Millie’s can-do spirit is hard to keep down and her big feelings come in handy when she learns something new about Buckley. She may even find a way to call him a friend.

Meet Bink and Gollie, two precocious little girls — one tiny, one tall, and both utterly irrepressible. Setting out from their super-deluxe tree house and powered by plenty of peanut butter (for Bink) and pancakes (for Gollie), they share three comical adventures involving painfully bright socks, an impromptu trek to the Andes, and a most unlikely marvelous companion. Full of quick-witted repartee, this brainchild of Newbery Medalist Kate DiCamillo and award-winning author Alison McGhee is a hilarious ode to exuberance and camaraderie, imagination and adventure.

When A.J. brings Humphrey to the town pet show, he’s sure Humphrey will win a prize. He tries to impress the judges with some tricks, but when a dog noses a little too close to him, Og the Frog saves the day with the most impressive trick of all. And Humphrey realizes that a great friend is the best prize ever.

While on a field trip to the zoo with her classmates, Callie is magically transported to the Serengeti where she finds a lost lion cub. Callie is determined to reunite it with its family. Although the plains of the Serengeti are beautiful, they can also be dangerous — for both the cub and Callie. Is she ready to face the wild and help the cub find its pride? In the Little Animal Rescue series, join Callie on her magical adventures to rescue wild animals in danger all around the world!