20 Chapter Books for 2nd Grade Students

Cornbread and Poppy by Matthew Cordell
A perfect read for readers who enjoyed The Princess in Black or Mercy Watson. Best friends, Cornbread and Poppy, have opposite personalities, and when winter comes, they must work together to make sure they both have the food they need to be well stocked for the winter.

Murray the Viking by Adam Stower
When a wizard accidentally enchants a cat’s cover, Murray the nap-loving cat and Bun the trouble-magnet rabbit fall into a world of Vikings, trolls and very silly adventures. With lots of illustrations, great humor, and great Bad people vibe, this is the kind of fast, funny read that will have kids hooked and immediately wanting the next book.

Aven Green Research Machine by Dusty Bowling
Aven Green is a confident, laugh-out-loud detective who has solved mysteries almost a whole month – and now he faces his most difficult case when a teacher’s lunch goes missing and his great-grandmother’s beloved dog disappears. This sounds like the perfect basic mystery to me!

What Happens to Naked Mole Rats? by Akeem S. Roberts
When Carter is blamed for the death of his class pet, he must clear his name, with the unexpected help of the ghost of Mr. Pebbles, the naked mole rat. This cute and slightly spooky graphic novel will be a great choice for kids who like mystery, humor, and a touch of supernatural fun.

Mice and Motorcycles by Beverly Cleary
I’m a huge fan of Beverly Clearly and I really like Ralph’s little mouse (despite the fact that in real life I hate mice more than anything). Adventure, a tiny motorbike and a bit of danger? What’s not to like?

EllRay Jakes Is A Rock Star by Sally Warner
For kids who like books that are cute AND realistic, EllRay Jakes is definitely a good fit. He may be the smallest kid in his class, but that doesn’t stop him from getting into big trouble!

Mindy Kim and her Delicious Seaweed Business by Lyla Lee
This adorable chapter book series is about Mindy Kim. In this episode, Mindy Kim just wants to fit in at her new school – oh, and get a puppy! But when his favorite lunch, dried seaweed, made unwanted faces in the dining room, he and his friends got creative.

Leroy Ninker Saddles Up by Kate DiCamillo
If you love Mercy Watson (and who doesn’t?), this series featuring some of the same Deckawoo Drive characters is a must-read!

The Princess in Black by Shannon Hale & Dean Hale, illustrated by LeUyen Pham
Most of the time, she is Princess Magnolia, prim and proper. But when her Monster Alarm goes off, she turns into the Princess in Black and no monster can defeat her! This series is a big hit with 2nd graders who love colorful pictures, short chapters, and great humor!

The Little Ones by John Peterson
I had vaguely heard of this series but didn’t know anything about it until Ella’s teacher read it aloud to them during the first weeks of school and then Ella started working her way through the rest of the series (there are 16 books!). The books are quite short (less than 100 pages) and have been around since the early 90s about a small family living in the walls of a house owned by the Biggs family. When the Bigg family goes on vacation, all sorts of problems arise and the Little family has to save the day.

Tales of Sasha by Alexa Pearl, illustrated by Paco Sordo
This is the 8th book in this hilarious series, about a horse named Sasha who doesn’t fit in with the herd. In this series he goes on a mission to plan a summer solstice party for all the other ponies.

Dragon Master by Tracey West
This fantasy adventure is perfect for any child who loves dragons, kings, wizards and magic! My girls have listened to this series a million times over the last few years – each book in the series is about 100 pages, short chapters, and contains illustrations sprinkled throughout.

Bisby Cross and Bad Apples by Liz Garton Scanlon, illustrated by Dung Ho
Bibsy Cross is an enthusiastic and big-hearted eight-year-old who loves school, until she meets a teacher who thinks she is too much. I can see how this could be a lot of fun, and still be full of heart and humor.

The Story Julian Told by Ann Cameron
Julian has a big imagination and a talent for spinning stories – especially ones that get his little brother, Huey, into trouble (which is hilarious). Although this book was first published in the late 1980s, it is still a fantastic read for second graders, with short chapters, lots of humor, and children’s logic that is timeless and has truly stood the test of time.

Box Cart Kids by Gertrude Chandler Warner
For all my children, The Boxcar Children books have reinforced their love of listening to audiobooks. These mysteries are incredibly popular and have been for decades, for good reason. I love that the mysteries aren’t too scary and I really love that they feature siblings who like each other, get along, and work together to solve problems.

Marvin Redpost: Kidnapped at Birth? by Louis Sachar
Marvin Redpost was just your average third grader, who experienced average third grade problems. He is also friendly, kind, and a loyal friend, even during all the funny and unexpected adventures he goes on.

Eva Evergreen, Semi-Magical Witch by Julie Abe
Eva Evergreen just now pinch magic (because he’s actually just a semi-magical wizard), but he still has to prove himself by helping a small seaside town if he wants to maintain his power. This one sounds like a sweet, cozy fantasy, perfect for second graders who like magic without anything too intense.

Bad Guys by Aaron Blabey
When my oldest was around 2nd grade, he LOVED a series about a bunch of traditionally “bad” animals (sharks, wolves, snakes, etc) who decided they were tired of being bad and wanted to be good instead. Cute and LOTS of black and white illustrations.

Wild Robot by Peter Brown
The girls and I listened to this fun audiobook a few years ago and I have heard from MANY families who loved this book too. And now that the movie is out, it will be fun to read the book and watch the movie afterward!

Ivan the One and Only by Katherine Applegate
This one is possible Look a little intimidating at 336 pages, but because it’s written in verse, it’s a really quick read – and gives 2nd graders a confidence-boosting sense of real reading momentum. And even though I’m not much of a fan of animal stories (I know!), I still think this is one of the best children’s books ever – Newbery winner or not. If a book is as sweet, funny, and beautifully written as it is, who cares if it’s told by a gorilla? Not me. (Full review here)