Graded Reading List: 2nd Grade
Author:
Title:
Paper Crane
Description:
David Adler
Title:
A mysterious man enters a restaurant and pays for his dinner with a paper crane that magically comes alive and dances.
Author:
How Tall, How Short, How Faraway
Description:
Judi Barrett
Title:
Introduces several measuring systems such as the Egyptian system, the inch-pound system, and the metric system.
Author:
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs
Description:
The town of Chewandswallow is an ordinary place, but its weather is very extraordinary!
Author:
David Adler
Title:
Young Cam Jansen and the Library Mystery
Description:
Melvin Berger
Title:
Spinning Spiders
Description:
Cam and her friend Eric take a trip to the library to get crime books, but they run into a real-life mystery instead.
Author:
Readers will learn about the silk spiders produce, the webs they spin, and the prey they capture.
Author:
Arnold Adoff
Title:
Marie Bradby
Title:
Touch the Poem
Description:
More Than Anything Else
Description:
Experience the joys of childhood through these poems of seeing, feeling, tasting, hearing, smelling, and being.
Author:
A story about the childhood of Booker T. Washington that celebrates the power of reading.
Author:
Marlene Targ Brill
Title:
Natalie Babbitt
Title:
Tooth Tales from Around the World
Description:
Ouch!: A Tale from Grimm
Description:
The story tells all about young Marco, who leads a charmed life if anyone ever did, starting off as nobody special and ending up king.
Author:
Explores how different cultures have viewed losing teeth and how the idea of the Tooth Fairy originated.
Author:
Laurie Krasny Brown
Title:
Molly Bang
Rex and Lilly Playtime
Description:
Dinosaur siblings Rex and Lilly play at various activities.
Author:
A young worm discovers, day by day, that there are some very good and some not so good things about being a worm in this great big world.
Author:
Ashley Bryan
Title:
Beautiful Blackbird
Description:
Gavin Curtis
Title:
In a story of the Ila people, the colorful birds of Africa ask Blackbird, whom they think is the most beautiful of birds, to decorate them with some of his "blackening brew".
Author:
The Bat Boy and His Violin
Description:
Denys Cazet
Title:
There's nothing Reginald loves more than the music from his violin. But his father, manager of one of the worst baseball teams in the Negro Leagues, needs a bat boy, not a "fiddler".
Author:
Minnie and Moo Go to the Moon
Description:
Two cow friends, Minnie and Moo, decide to drive the farmer's tractor all the way to the moon.
Author:
Tomie De Paola
Title:
Bill and Pete
Description:
Deborah Chandra
Title:
When William Everett Crocodile is chosen to be a suitcase, his talking toothbrush becomes his salvation.
Author:
George Washington's Teeth
Description:
A funny dental history of our first President.
Author:
Michael Dooling
Title:
The Great Horse-less Carriage Race
Description:
Eleanor Coerr
Title:
The Josefina Story Quilt
Description:
While traveling west with her family in 1850, a young girl makes a patchwork quilt chronicling the experiences of the journey and reserves a special patch for her pet hen Josefina.
Author:
On a wintry morning in 1895, six men were ready to prove to America that the country was ready for a new mode of transportation -- something faster and more efficient than a horse and carriage.
Author:
Kate Duke
Title:
Archaeologists Dig for Clues
Description:
Doreen Cronin
Title:
Diary of a Worm
Description:
In this first book about archaeology, learn about what archaeologists do, and why they love it.
Author:
P. D. Eastman
Title:
Sam and the Firefly
Description:
Rachel wrote books about what she loved-including Silent Spring, a book that changed the world.
Author:
Sam the owl and Gus the firefly have fun playing together at night until Gus begins to make mischief with his light.
Author:
Karen English
Title:
Speak to Me (And I Will Listen Between the Lines)
Description:
Deborah Eaton
Title:
Monster Songs
Description:
A little boy comes to his big brother for help in getting rid of the monster under his bed.
Author:
Describes events of one day at a San Francisco Bay Area school as perceived by different secondgraders, from the observations of first to arrive on the playground to the walk home.
Author:
Paul Fleischman
Title:
Pamela Duncan Edwards
Title:
Weslandia
Description:
The Wright Brothers
Description:
Cumulative text in the style of "The House that Jack Built" describes the series of events that led to the Wright Brothers' historic flight.
Author:
School is over and Wesley needs a summer project. Having learned that every civilization has a staple food crop, he decides to plant a garden and start his own civilization.
Author:
Richard Egielski
Title:
Jean Fritz
Title:
Buz
Description:
What's the Big Idea, Ben Franklin?
Description:
Which internal organ will Buz alight on next, and just how is he going to make his exit?
Author:
A brief biography of the eighteenthcentury printer, inventor, and statesman who played an influential role in the early history of the United States.
Author:
Amy Ehrlich
Title:
Rachel: The Story of Rachel Carson
Description:
Bernie Fuchs
Title:
Rachel Carson was always curious about the world around her. As a girl she loved being outside, always exploring and wanting to know more about the universe. As an adult
Ride Like the Wind: A Tale of the Pony Express
Description:
In Nevada in 1861, a young Pony Express rider races for his life, pursued by seven Paiute warriors
who are determined to drive white settlers out of their territory.
Author:
their young, and just what's happening inside that pretty blue egg.
Author:
Robie Harris
Title:
Steve Jenkins
Title:
Don't Forget to Come Back!
Description:
When her parents go out for the evening, a little girl threatens to run off to Alaska but has a good time with her babysitter instead.
Author:
What Do You Do With a Tail Like This?
Description:
Anna Grossnickle Hines
Title:
Readers can explore the many amazing things animals can do with their ears, eyes, mouths, noses, feet, and tails in this beautifully illustrated, interactive guessing book.
Author:
Winter Lights: A Season in Poems and Quilts
Description:
Ann Jonas
Title:
The author celebrates the lights that brighten the darkest season of our year.
Author:
Round Trip
Description:
Ruth Horowitz
Title:
Breakout at the Bug Lab
Description:
A bridge with water running under it and cars driving over it become, when upside down, a fence with electric poles and wires running alongside and stars in the sky above.
Author:
A giant cockroach named Max has escaped from Mom's bug laboratory! What are Leo and his brother going to do?
Author:
Laurie Keller
Title:
Scrambled States of America
Description:
Mary Botham Howitt
Title:
The Spider and the Fly
Description:
A new, unusual version of the familiar nursery rhyme.
Author:
Packed with madcap humor and whimsical illustrations, this quirky story is chock full of introductory facts and silly antics that make learning geography as fun as taking a vacation.
Author:
Mike Kennedy
Title:
Priscilla Belz Jenkins
Title:
Baseball
Description:
A Nest Full of Eggs
Description:
A clear explanation of how birds develop, how the parents care for
The history, rules, equipment, and positions of baseball, as well as a list of some of the best players of all time.
Author:
Title:
Helen Ketteman
Title:
I Pledge Allegiance
Description:
Armadilly Chili
Description:
In this Texas-style adaptation of a traditional folktale, a tarantula, mockingbird, and horned toad refuse to help an armadillo prepare a batch of chili but nevertheless expect to eat it when it's ready.
Author:
With simple, straightforward language and quirky illustrations, a team of children's book creators takes a look at each word of the Pledge of Allegiance and explains what it means.
Author:
Emily Arnold McCully
Title:
Bertram T. Knight
Title:
Grandmas at Bat
Description:
From Cow to Ice Cream: A Photo Essay
Description:
Pip's two grandmothers, who cannot agree on anything, take over her baseball team and create chaos.
Author:
Colorful photographs that show the complete process of turning raw materials into end products near and dear to kids' hearts.
Author:
Sara Swan Miller
Title:
Three Stories You Can Read to Your Cat
Description:
Kathleen Krull
Title:
Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez
Description:
A cat hears three stories about a dull rainy day, a yummy bug, and a good day of destruction in the house.
Author:
The true story of a shy boy who grew up to be one of America's greatest civil rights leaders is told in this picture book biography.
Author:
Claudia Mills
Title:
Gus and Grandpa Go Fishing
Description:
Arnold Lobel
Title:
Gus goes fishing for the first time and receives expert guidance from his grandfather.
Author:
Grasshopper On the Road
Description:
Determined to go on a journey, Grasshopper finds a road and follows it wherever it goes, passing by such creatures as a housefly, butterflies, and a mosquito.
Author:
F. N. Monjo
Title:
The Drinking Gourd
Description:
When he is sent home alone for misbehaving in church, Tommy discovers that his house is a station on the Underground Railroad.
Bill Martin, Jr.
Zen Shorts
Author: Description:
Pat Mora
Title:
Doña Flor: A Tall Tale About a Giant Woman With a Great Big Heart
Description:
Three children have a new and fascinating neighbor named Stillwater.
Author:
Doña Flor, a giant lady with a big heart, sets off to protect her neighbors from what they think is a dangerous animal, but soon discovers the tiny secret behind the huge noise.
Author:
Peggy Parish
Title:
Amelia Bedelia
Description:
A literal-minded housekeeper causes a ruckus in the household when she attempts to make sense of some instructions.
Author:
Yuyi Morales
Title:
Just a Minute: A Trickster Tale and Counting Book
Description:
Jean Pendziwol
Title:
Senor Calavera arrives to take Grandma Beetle to the next life, but Grandma isn't ready to go.
Author:
No Dragons For Tea: Fire Safety for Kids (and Dragons)
Description:
Ann Morris
Title:
While out for a walk with her mom, a little girl has the surprise of her life-she meets a real, live, fire-breathing dragon.
Author:
Grandma Francisca Remembers: A Hispanic-American Family Story
Description:
Marjorie Priceman
Title:
Angelica's grandmother, Francisca, lives in the apartment next door to hers. Francisca shares stories and memories with her granddaughter.
Author:
Hot Air: The (Mostly) True Story of the First Hot-air Balloon Ride
Description:
A colorful story about three barnyard animals who have an amazing adventure.
Author:
Stuart J. Murphy
Title:
Super Sand Castle Saturday
Description:
Gloria Rand
Title:
Introduces the concept of nonstandard measurement as three friends compete in a sand castle building contest.
Author:
Sailing Home: The Story of a Childhood at Sea
Description:
Jon J. Muth
Title:
Captain Madsen's four children fondly recall their exciting experiences sailing with their father and mother on the bark John Ena at the turn of the twentieth century.
Author:
Mary Lyn Ray
Title:
photograph the entire alphabet, using special microscopic equipment of his own design.
Call Number:
Mud
Description:
J595.78 S221b
Author:
Simple text and fun illustrations encourage children to "sink" their feet into yucky, mucky, magnificent mud.
Author:
Kim Siegelson
Title:
In the Time of the Drums
Description:
James Rumford
Title:
A wonderfully illustrated ghost story about a group of Africans brought over to the South to be slaves.
Call Number:
Nine Animals and the Well
Description:
JP Siegelson
Also in:
A fable exploring the origin of numbers and the gift of friendship.
Author:
(Great Multicultural Picture Books)(Coretta Scott King Awards)
Author:
Cynthia Rylant
Title:
Judy Sierra
Title:
Henry and Mudge and the Great Grandpas
Description:
Coco and Cavendish: Circus Dogs
Description:
Henry and his big dog, Mudge, are back for another adventure, this time with Great Grandpa Bill and his friends.
Author:
When the owner of the circus where they work replaces them with robot dogs, Coco and Cavendish set out to find a new job--but it is not as easy as they thought it would be.
Call Number:
Cynthia Rylant
Title:
JER Sierra
Author:
Mr. Putter and Tabby Take the Train
Description:
Marilyn Singer
Title:
Mr. Putter and his fine cat, Tabby, are going for a train ride with their neighbors, Mrs. Teaberry and her good dog, Zeke.
Author:
Creature Carnival
Description:
Kjell Bloch Sandved
Title:
A collection of 26 poems that features some of the creepiest, funniest, most bizarre, and fascinating creatures from myth, legend, and popular culture.
Call Number:
The Butterfly Alphabet
Description:
J811.54 S6175c 2004
Author:
When Sandved discovered shapes resembling letters on butterflies' wings, he decided to seek out and
Janice Lee Smith
Title:
Author:
Wizard and Wart at Sea
Description:
Jean Van Leeuwen
Title:
While trying to relax on the beach with his dog Wart, Wizard uses his magic to get rid of pesky seagulls but finds his solution to be just as bad as the original problem.
Author:
Amanda Pig and the Really Hot Day
Description:
Amanda Pig tries everything she can think of to keep cool.
Author:
Judith Viorst
Title:
Gary Soto
Title:
Snapshots From the Wedding
Description:
Alexander, Who's Not (Do You Hear Me? I Mean It!) Going to Move
Description:
A wedding is seen through the eyes of young flower girl Maya and her camera.
Author:
Shelley Moore Thomas
Title:
Alexander, Who Used to Be Rich Last Sunday, returns with what may be his most daunting dilemma to date, as he bemoans the reality of his family having to move "a thousand miles away" to his father's new job.
Author:
Good Night, Good Knight
Description:
A Good Knight helps three little dragons who are having trouble getting to sleep.
Author:
Rick Walton
Title:
Once There Was a Bull---Frog
Description:
Michael Tunnell
Title:
Mailing May
Description:
A bullfrog in the Old West loses his hop in this lively tale where each page must be turned to complete the previous image.
Author:
The true story of how May got to visit her grandma, thanks to her own spunk, her father's ingenuity, and the U.S. mail.
Author:
Rosemary Wells
Title:
The School Play
Description:
Myron Uhlberg
Title:
Dad, Jackie, and Me
Description:
When Mrs. Jenkins announces that her class of stars is going to put on a school play about dental hygiene, everyone is thrilled--except Yoko.
A young boy and his deaf father share the excitement of seeing Jackie Robinson play baseball for the Brooklyn Dodgers during the 1947 season.