20 Perfect Books to Readaloud to Your 2nd Grade Classroom

The entire Judy Moody series and the spin-off series about Judy’s brother, Stink, are always winners with my students. My family has read every single one, some of them multiple times! I think the appeal is the humor mixed with the relatability of all the hijinks that they both find themselves mixed up in. What I love about doing the Judy Moody books with second graders is that many of the students will then start reading these independently because they are at a second-grade reading level, unlike many others on this list. This first book in the series is about Judy’s many moods, but at its heart, it’s about how to change your attitude to get the most out of life. Judy learns to look at the bright side when facing struggles and has lots of laughs along the way!

Cilla (short for Pricilla) has a lot going on! Her baby sister is about to be born, and Cilla is positive her family will forget all about her when the baby arrives. So what is Cilla to do? Become a best-selling author, of course! Cilla has a lot of spunk, like a modern-day Ramona Quimby, making her a fun main character. We have enjoyed reading this one very much!

Ella lives with her two moms in an apartment building at 1106 Wildflower Place in San Francisco, California. She is only 9 years old, but she considers herself the tour guide of the apartment and the keeper of its secrets. The only neighbors Ella doesn’t know are the elderly Robinsons who live on the top floor. And she is determined to change that! Ella reminds me a bit of Eloise of the beloved picture books written by Kay Thompson. This is such a charming read-aloud that my family cherished!

Bixby Alexander Tam, or Bat for short, is determined to convince his veterinarian mother that they should keep the skunk kit they are fostering. Bat, who wishes to be a veterinarian himself when he grows up, feels like nobody will be able to care for Thor (named by Bat’s sister) as well as he can. Bat struggles with anxiety in the book and the reader learns that Bat has autism. One year when I read this book to a class a student announced that he too had autism and it was such a heartwarming moment to see the connection! It’s so important for children to see themselves mirrored in books. I also like that this one has a male main character with a strong female role model in his mother. 

Beatrice is a plucky heroine who reminds me of Judy Moody or Clementine. She is dealing with a teacher at school who she isn’t sure she likes and a best friend who seems to have made a new best friend and is leaving Beatrice behind. Definitely relatable issues for second graders! I love that the book is filled with illustrations which help break up the chapters for a second grade audience. Beatrice is a free-spirit whose kindness shines through the story. If your second graders love puns, this one is full of them!

Stella is a shy girl who feels apprehensive about speaking in school because sometimes she slips and says the Spanish word instead of the English word. Stella came from Mexico and now lives in Chicago. She is adjusting to being bilingual and also not having her best friend in her class this year. Stella overcomes her fear of public speaking when tasked with conducting a marine life (her favorite subject!) presentation in class. I always find this story to be empowering and one my students can relate to well. I also love that it encourages empathy!

This book is just the sweetest! Mona Mouse is looking for shelter during a terrible storm in the woods when she stumbles upon the Heartwood Hotel. Mona gets hired to be a maid at the hotel where she discovers new friends and encounters some mysterious dangers as well. My children loved this book and the subsequent ones in the series. There are adorable illustrations sprinkled throughout as well!

This story takes place in NYC and is a fabulous example of an urban animal story. I loved that the book was told from both the cat’s and boy’s point of view. Miguel is a sweet boy who loves art and animals. When a stray cat named Lolo wanders into his parent’s bodega (a small grocery store in a Spanish speaking neighborhood) Miguel is determined to keep him. Peppered with Spanish words, this story unfolds with Miguel and Lolo forming a caring bond. Miguel even creates comic books about his new cat!

If a more old-fashioned story is what you crave, this one is perfect! A mouse couple, Tumtum and Nutmeg, essentially adopt two human children who are motherless and live with their eccentric father in a 36 room mansion. They help the children by darning socks and patching shoes all while having adventures like running into pirate rats! Adorable framed illustrations contribute to the old-timey feel of the book. This one is a sweet story with a quick pace and appeals to animal lovers. 

Every class I have read this to has loved it! It’s hard to resist a time-traveling golden retriever! Ranger travels with a family from Missouri to the Oregon Territory in the year 1850. This story is filled with historical details, while still maintaining a fast-paced plot. If your second graders are dog-lovers, adventure lovers or history buffs this is a fantastic choice to read to them. Some of your higher level second graders might even be able to tackle other books in the series independently. The author’s notes at the back share more facts about the difficulties pioneers faced and offer other books to read.

Violet and Jobie are sister and brother mice, living in the lap of luxury with plenty of peanut butter, cheese and even television. They are indoor mice and their only scare is playing the “cheese game” where they sneak cheese from mousetraps placed around the house. But one day they are trapped and released outside and must learn to live a very different type of life in the wild. Sprinkled with pencil drawings this is a gem of a book about leaving home, growing up and finding your way in the world.

Harriet is eight years old, lives in Australia and is autistic. She is also a superhero just like her nana! Harriet helps rescue both humans and animals in the three separate stories within the book. Harriet is such a positive example of autistic representation. She discusses her reasons for stimming in a nonchalant way and her heightened sensitivity to the characters in the story help her solve their issues. If you have animal loving second graders who like a bit of adventure this is a great book to share with them. 

Willodeen is an eleven year old girl who loves all the creatures that live in the village of Perchance. Her favorite of all is the hummingbears, though most in the village call them pests and even monsters. Willodeen is able to understand the interconnectedness of nature in a way that the villagers cannot. She is concerned when the hummingbear numbers begin to dwindle and makes it her mission to figure out why. Willodeen and her friend Connor are determined to save the hummingbears in this fantasy novel about ecology and conservation. Perfect for young environmentalists!

If your second grader likes to be spooked then this is the perfect book to share with them! Witches is an oldie, but a goodie. It resonates with my students as much now as it did when I first started teaching over 20 years ago. It’s about a boy who runs into The Grand High Witch while staying at a resort with his grandmother. He must be brave and cunning in order to save his own life. There is nothing a witch hates more than children!

When a witch named Jinx finds a cute litter of stray pups out in the cold she brings them to the Shelter for Slightly Magical Pets. While three pups get adopted quickly, Hocus and Pocus, spend months waiting for their forever home. Hocus and Pocus aren’t just looking to be adopted though, they only want to be adopted if they can stay together! They each use their unique magical powers to get into some mischief making sure they’ll only be adopted by a witch or wizard who wants them both. Their antics are funny, and I appreciated it when human characters introduced themselves using their pronouns. I read this book to a class with a nonbinary student and they beamed when they felt mirrored in the story.

My students love this quirky book! I can’t compare it to any other book I’ve read because it’s so unique. Mass and Stead are excellent authors and I love what they created together with Bob. It’s been five years since Livy has visited her Gran in Australia and she feels like there is something important she has forgotten when she arrives at Gran’s house. Turns out she is right! She has left behind a small green creature wearing a chicken costume in the closet. And Bob has been patiently waiting five years for Livy to return to him. This fantasy is filled with both magic and mystery and is a testament to true friendship!

Felix Powell is inexplicably drawn to an old patched blanket while thrift shopping with his grandmother. Next thing you know, while playing hide-and-seek with his dog Mary Puppins, Felix has turned into a dog!  Now, Felix has always had special powers, such as communicating with animals, but this is something truly amazing! While Felix is learning more than ever before about dogs by being one himself, he is missing being a human boy. My kids and I loved this book for its fast-paced plot, adorable illustrations, and short chapters.

This book definitely has one of the best main character names: Hiccup! Hiccup is a nerd, not heroic in the least, but he finds a small, whiny dragon named Toothless to train. He passes his initiation test, and so the adventures begin. This book is super silly, with plenty of action, short chapters, and illustrations throughout, making it a perfect read-aloud!

Oh how I love this book! My students and kids do too! And if you’re in the market for a terrific audiobook, this is one of the best out there. Red, an oak tree, narrates this story about a neighborhood witnessing some anti-muslim sentiments, and about how kindness triumphs over ignorance. I think this tale of resilience is one of the most conversation-inducing books I have ever read with my classes.

My own kids loved reading the Whatever After series books with me! Each one is a spin-off of a fairy tale, with lots of action and adventure. Abby is a ten-year-old girl with a magical mirror in her basement. She and her seven-year-old brother Jonah travel through the mirror at night, entering a different tale in each installment. Fairest of All is a version of Snow White, while other versions are about The Princess and the Pea, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, and more. Just the right amount of tension mixed with a happy ending is a perfect fit for second graders!