Book to Read to Second Grade Class

Updated on November 18, 2014
S.N. asks from Lake Villa, IL
23 answers

I'm going to be the "mystery reader" for my son's second grade class. It's a secret who the parent reader is until you show up. My son was thrilled when I showed up last year. I'm wondering if you have some fun ideas of what books to read them. I have about 20 minutes so I could get a couple in. I'd like something with fun illustrations. I'm going to the library this week. I do have a lot of books here but want some fresh ideas.

What books would second graders enjoy being read to them?

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So What Happened?

Wow, such great ideas! I went to the library and got ten books, many of the titles listed here. Some our library didn't have. I ended up readingThe Day the Crayons Quit, The Mitten, mr Tiger goes Wild with The giving Tree as backup if time allowed(which it didn't sadly).. The kids knew all of them and loved them. The teacher told me they were great choices.

I'm looking forward to sharing the others with my son. Chrysanthemum, the one about the horrible, terrible day( can't remember the title and others u suggested. Thanks so much for the help!

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A.V.

answers from Washington DC on

The Day the Crayons Quit

Guess What I Found In Dragon Wood

The book, whose title escapes me right now, where the Big Bad Wolf says he was framed.

1 mom found this helpful
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K.C.

answers from San Francisco on

Jan Brett's books have really nice illustrations. I read one last year to my son's first grade class and it was a big hit.

1 mom found this helpful

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S.A.

answers from Chicago on

This is a great time of the year to read The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein!

4 moms found this helpful

T.S.

answers from San Francisco on

I would ask his teacher! She knows all the hot, popular books that kids that age enjoy. She is by far your best resource.

2 moms found this helpful
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G.♣.

answers from Springfield on

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

2 moms found this helpful
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E.T.

answers from Rochester on

The perfect book for this time of year would be A Turkey For Thanksgiving by Eve Bunting. Can't believe I forgot that one!
**********************************

The Astonishing Secret of Awesome Man by Michael Chabon
Moo! By David LaRochelle
Any books written by Mo Willems or Patricia Polacco or Chris Van Allsburg
The Dark by Lemony Snicket
I'm Bored by Michael Ian Black
Mr. Tiger Goes Wild by Peter Brown
Jangles by David Shannon

2 moms found this helpful
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S.S.

answers from Chicago on

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Best book ever. Not sure how the movie will be as they tend to ruin them but the book was awesome. my kids still talk about it now and they are in there 20's. I just bought it for a babyshower as we were asked if we would bring a book new or used that was one of the mom to be's favorites as a child. This book happened to be one we read over and over. So thats the one I got.

2 moms found this helpful

S.T.

answers from Washington DC on

hm. i was a reader for my kid's 3rd grade class and we did harry potter. but it was ongoing, so i didn't have to curtail it to a 20-minute book.
my choices would be classics like james and the giant peach, or where the wild things are. i really despise the dumbed-down pap pushed by scholastic so i wouldn't look there. i think i'd ask the school librarian what's popular with your particular bunch of kids.
don't give 'em little kiddie books, though. find something that will challenge and excite them.
khairete
S.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.C.

answers from Roanoke on

"How Full Is Your Bucket? for kids"
"Good Night Opus"
"The Jolly Postman"

1 mom found this helpful
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T.F.

answers from Washington DC on

Suzanne Tate's nature series are a great series of kids books centre around aquatic life. My girls adore them.

1 mom found this helpful

L.A.

answers from Austin on

If you can find it, "How Pizza Came to Queens" by Dayal Kaur Khalsa

Great illustrations.

1 mom found this helpful
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J.C.

answers from Philadelphia on

Gerald McBoing Boing by Dr. Seuss.

1 mom found this helpful
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D.K.

answers from Pittsburgh on

The Voyage of Turtle Rex by Kurt Cyrus

1 mom found this helpful

J.P.

answers from Lakeland on

Arnie the doughnut by Laurie Keller, it would take about all the twenty minutes but it is a fun book for kids that age.

You can also check out Scholastic.com and find loads of suggestions.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.N.

answers from Chicago on

We do Mystery Reader in my classroom, and the best books are those you are familiar with or your child's favorites. They don't have to be challenging or deep-thinking; it's a fun 15-20 minutes so I would stick to picture books. Just some ideas: you'd be good with almost anything by Laurie Keller, Tomie DiPaola, Eric Carle, Jan Brett, Laura Numeroff, Audrey Penn, David Shannon. Seasonal books are great such as "Thank You, S.-The woman who saved Thanksgiving" as is a book a mom read to my class a few weeks ago which was fantastic because she had each of the kids be able to interact with it, "Press Here." Have fun!

1 mom found this helpful
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D.D.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Pete the Cat book are fun.

1 mom found this helpful
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S.R.

answers from Los Angeles on

I did "Chrysanthemum" by Kevin Henkes last time I was a mystery reader. It's still a picture book but just long enough to not feel babyish to 2nd graders (some of whom are in chapter books).
And it's got a good message about accepting oneself :) And being resilient against teasing. Perfect for that age.

I also like Stellaluna which could be a good counterpart to that. (appreciating individual differences)

1 mom found this helpful
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L.M.

answers from Chicago on

I read "Snow Wonder We're Friends" by Molly Wigand for my daughters 2nd grade class. It's one of those books Hallmark puts out this time of year, and I thought maybe it wouldn't have been as well read (although a few kids told me they had that book when I started). My daughters teacher complemented me on the choice.

I would just read the book before hand if it's not one you are familiar with. I found a book about 2nd grade and teachers that I thought sounded perfect, but it turned out it was actually about the kids not liking the teacher. I would have been horrified if I had brought that one in.

1 mom found this helpful

B.C.

answers from Norfolk on

Just about any Dr Seuss book will do.

1 mom found this helpful
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L.B.

answers from Chicago on

I just read Arnie the Doughnut to my son's first grade class as a "mystery reader" about two weeks ago. They LOVED it and were reacting to the story and the pictures the whole way through. The teacher even asked me the author's name so she could pick up that book herself. It was a big hit. Have fun!!

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J.G.

answers from Chicago on

You have some excellent suggestions. May I add another? William Joyce has been doing these beautiful Guardians of Childhood books, 'The Man in the Moon' and 'The Sandman: The Story of Sanderson Mansnoozie'. Not the chapter books but the picture books. They are told as 'true stories'. They are visually beautiful and the stories are imaginative, descriptive and mesmerizing. It would take about 15 minutes to read it.
Here are some links: 'The Man in the Moon': http://www.amazon.com/Man-Moon-Guardians-Childhood/dp/144...
'The Sandman": http://www.amazon.com/Sandman-Sanderson-Mansnoozie-Guardi...

I've been waiting for more of the picture books ... they are award winning collector items as well.

T.F.

answers from Dallas on

Our second graders are introduced to Flat Stanley in the fall semester. They make a flat Stanley and send him out on adventures.

My suggestion is to ask the teacher what topic is best for when you are scheduled and ask if there are books she/he suggests.

I love it when parents are involved!!! Thank you.

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E.B.

answers from Beaumont on

I would ask the teacher or librarian for ideas.

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