Great Reading: Grade Two

Agapanthus Hum and the Eyeglasses by Joy Cowley

Agapanthus is an energetic little girl who tries to balance her love of acrobatics with keeping her eyeglasses safe from harm.

Allie's Basketball Dream by Barbara Barber

Allie is thrilled when her dad brings home a new basketball. It takes courage and grit to play on the courts with the boys, but Allie decides she is willing to do what it takes to become a professional player some day.

Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock retold by Eric Kimmel

Anansi loves to eat but he hates to do the work of gathering food. When he finds a rock with magical powers, he thinks that his days of work are over. Will his plan work?

Black, White, Just Right! by Marguerite Davol

A young girl talks about her African-American mother, her white father, and how she, with traits from both of them, fits perfectly right in the middle.

Cherries and Cherry Pits by Vera B. Williams

Bidemmi loves to draw and tell stories about all kinds of people. Readers will enjoy the story she draws for herself and may be inspired to embellish their own drawings.

Frog and Toad Together by Arnold Lobel

Join Frog and Toad as they work to make Toad's garden grow, try to scare themselves, and learn the limitations of list making.

Mama Rex and T: Homework Trouble by Rachel Vail

Mama plans to spend a fun afternoon with T until she finds out that he has a project due for school the next day. Uh-oh!

Max and Jax in Second Grade by Jerdine Nolen

Max and his twin sister Jax can't wait for summer vacation to start so they can go fishing. Jax always catches the biggest fish, but Max has a plan to catch a big fish himself. Will it work?

The Missing Piece by Shel Silverstein

A circle goes looking for its missing piece and along the way learns a lot about fitting together with others.

More Stories Julian Tells by Ann Cameron

Join Julian, Huey, and Gloria on the day it was so hot that even the frogs wore shoes. On another day, Gloria insists she can move the sun. Julian says “no way.” But wait, can she? There are five stories in all.

The One in the Middle is the Green Kangaroo by Judy Blume

Freddy is feeling neglected, stuck between his older brother and his younger sister. Finally he creates an opportunity for himself doing something neither of his siblings have ever done. Will the grown-ups let him do it?

The Random House Book of Poetry for Children selected & introduced by Jack Prelutsky

This fabulous collection is a treasure-trove of poems by a wide variety of authors. Children will enjoy this for years to come.

The Shrunken Head (Grandpa Spanielson's Chicken Pox Stories #3) by Denys Cazet

Grandpa comes through with an anti-itch story to help ease Barney's chicken pox. It works, but Barney may never look at Doctor Storkmeyer the same way again!

Storm in the Night by Mary Stolz

Thomas and Grandfather are home together during a thunderstorm. When all the lights out, there is “no help for it”—Grandfather will have to tell Thomas a story about when he was a boy. (Grandfather was once a boy?!)

Tar Beach by Faith Ringgold

Cassie imagines herself flying over the city, freeing herself and her family from the constraints of their lives. The happiness and pride she feels in being a member of her family shines through.

Trouble with Trolls by Jan Brett

Treva runs into trouble on Mount Baldy when trolls try to steal her dog, Tuffi. She keeps the dog by bartering her things until she reaches the top of the mountain. Will she be able to outwit the trolls and hold on to Tuffi until she reaches her cousins?

Series Books

Amelia Bedelia Helps Out by Peggy Parish

Amelia Bedelia always does her work in earnest, but her interpretations of what she is supposed to do will leave readers laughing! Also try: Amelia Bedelia Goes Camping and Amelia Bedelia's Family Album .

The Beast in Ms. Rooney's Room by Patricia Reilly Giff

The Kids' of Polk Street School series begins right here when Richard “the Beast” Best stays back in second grade. Other books follow, one for each month of school. This series offers a realistic portrayal of the trials and tribulations of second grade.

Cam Jansen and the Mystery at the Monkey House by David Adler

Cam Jansen has a photographic memory. Since mysteries seem to find Cam, her memory comes in very handy! In the Mystery at the Monkey House, the monkeys disappear from the zoo. Is Cam's memory good enough to figure out what happened to them? Join Cam and her best friend Eric on all of their mystery adventures!

Commander Toad and the Big Black Hole by Jane Yolen

While sailing through space in the Star Warts, Commander Toad and the members of his crew get stuck on something long and sticky. It seems to be a tongue, but what does it belong to and how will they escape? Other titles in the series include: Commander Toad and the Planet of the Grapes and Commander Toad and the Voyage Home .

Gus and Grandpa by Claudia Mills

Gus and Grandpa share many adventures and even a birthday party together. In this volume, Gus and Grandpa are worried when the car gets lost. (Grandpa and Gus don't get lost, but the car does!) Gus and Grandpa are together again in Gus and Grandpa at the Hospital and Gus and Grandpa Go Fishing .

Henry and Mudge and the Careful Cousin by Cynthia Rylant

Henry is an only child, but things look up once Mudge, his dog, enters his life. All of the books about Henry and Mudge follow them through their days with their family. In Henry and Mudge and the Careful Cousin, Henry discovers that he and his cousin Annie do have things in common, even though at first he is skeptical when she shows up in a frilly dress. Other adventures include: Henry and Mudge get the Cold Shivers and Henry and Mudge in Puddle Trouble .

Minnie and Moo and the Potato from Planet X by Denys Cazet

Minnie and Moo have to figure out how to help Spud, a potato from another planet, get back into outer space in time to make an important delivery. Is it possible that two cows can find just the right space fuel in fifteen minutes? Other adventures include: Minnie and Moo Go To the Moon and Minnie and Moo: The Attack of the Easter Bunnies .

Junie B., First Grader: Cheater Pants by Barbara Park

Everyone loves Junie B. Jones, who perfectly captures life through the eyes of a five- or six-year-old. In Cheater Pants, Junie B., discovers that cheating is more complicated than she ever thought! Also try : Junie B. Jones and a Little Monkey Business and Junie B., First Grader: One-Man Band .

Practice Makes Perfect for Rotten Ralph by Jack Gantos and Nicole Rubel

Rotten Ralph loves the carnival, but he can't seem to win any prizes for his friend Sarah. When Percy wins lots of prizes and Sarah is thrilled, Ralph feels as though he has no choice but to cheat to win her approval. Will that work? Other Rotten Ralph Readers include: Rotten Ralph Helps Out and Best in Show for Rotten Ralph .

Compiled by Youth Services Department, Springfield City Library, 2007