Best Chapter Books for 2nd Graders

In this chapter book by Kate DiCamillo, Orris is a mouse who lives alone in an abandoned barn with his three favorite collectibles: a pair of red velvet slippers, one sardine can, and a bright yellow marble ball. Enter Timble. One night, Orris hears an owl’s cry for help and rescues him. The two become hesitant friends in this first installment of the series (after all, owls eat mice). This book feels like a classic waiting to happen, and the illustrations are gorgeous, as is DiCamillo’s spare prose and rich characterization.

Brain and Chick are two friends who are as different as can be. Chick is always giving brain etiquette lessons and feels like she’s smarter than Brain, but an interaction with a dog named Spot proves otherwise. This hilarious short graphic novel is the epitome of a smart, hilarious chapter book, and kids will be tickled to no end.

Daisy Dreamer loves to dream. Her grandmother gifted her a journal where she can write all the stories she dreams up. Some pages even have story prompts for her. But one day, when she and her friends draw a story character, it comes to life — her own imaginary friend! This is a whimsical series for kids who can’t get enough of fairies, imaginary friends, and dreamland.

Fans of Judy Moody and Clarice Bean will love Juana, the spunky young Colombian girl who stars in this playful, abundantly illustrated series. Juana loves many things: drawing, living in Bogotá, Colombia, and especially her dog, Lucas, the best amigo ever. She does not love wearing her itchy school uniform, solving math problems, or learning the English. Why is it so important to learn a language that makes so little sense? Hilarious, energetic, and utterly relatable, Juana will win over los corazones (the hearts)of readers everywhere.

A lovable dog helps his human girl solve a mystery. Kayla made peanut butter treats for Jillian’s new puppy Thor. But now the treats are missing. What does Kayla know? ―There are three treats missing. King was in the kitchen. King’s breath doesn’t smell like peanut butter. What does King know? ―There’s an intruder in the house. How will they solve the mystery?

Bea Garcia loves doodling and her best friend, Yvonne, but when Yvonne moves to Australia and a “monster” moves in next door, she’s in for plenty of adjustments. This is a prose graphic hybrid great for younger fans of doodle books like Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Dork Diaries.

Besties Pizza and Taco love each other, but when the question “Who’s the Best?” invokes differing responses from the friends, it’s time for a contest! This is a silly early graphic novel with funny characters. The text is sparse and easy to read. Hand to pizza and taco lovers.

Akin to the Babysitters Little Sister books, this new series is perfect for younger readers who really want to read the Cupcake Diaries books but aren’t quite ready. In this series opener, we follow Katie’s little sister, Emily, as she starts at a new school and finds friends with the help of some baked goods, all while figuring out how to get out of her loving stepsister’s shadow. I loved the warm blended family dynamics and the support between the older members of the Cupcake Club and Emily’s crew. Such a fun series starter that kids as young as the second grade can enjoy.

Miles Lewis loves science and sports. But when his teacher announces a class field trip to an ice skating rink to learn about physics, he isn’t so excited. He’s never ice skated before, and his friend RJ won’t let him forget it. RJ even challenges him to a bet: If Miles skates without falling, RJ will put a “Miles is the man” sign on his backpack. But if Miles falls, he has to put one on his that says the same about RJ. Miles can barely focus on the bet, though, because he suspects his beloved Nana has plans to move out of his family’s house—and that’s just too much to bear. Can he keep his cool with all the pressure from RJ while finding a way to make his grandma stay?

Precocious Bibsy Cross is sure her teacher doesn’t like her. After all, she tells Bibsy all the time that she’s too much. And maybe Bibsy is. She does interject with statements (not questions), but should Mrs. Stumper really drop Bibsy’s cardboard apple to the floor with each mistake? I loved Bibsy’s earnestness, and this one will appeal to every kid who’s ever felt misunderstood by a teacher at school.

Dory is a lastborn with an overactive imagination who exhausts her parents and siblings with her high energy and propensity for chaos. Join her in the first book of the series as she finds imaginary monsters around the house and puts them in their place. This series only gets better with each book!