One of my favorite parts of homeschooling has always been choosing books. There is something magical about finding the right story at the right time. When I made a second grade book list for my oldest daughter, I poured so much time into finding the very best books I could. We read classics, Newbery favorites, historical fiction, funny chapter books, animal stories, and all those beloved books that seem to find their way onto every book list.
And then came my second daughter. The problem?
Her older sister had already read so many of them, and in the years following, so has she. She wanted to read the same stories her big sister loved. And while I love that my girls share a love of books, it made creating her own second grade reading list surprisingly difficult.
I couldn’t just pull out the same list I had made before, so I had to dig a little deeper and pull books that matched her age and growing independence as a reader. I looked for books that were sweet without being too simple, adventurous without being too intense, and meaningful without feeling like “school.”
This list is a mix of gentle classics, funny early chapter books, historical adventures, animal stories, poetry, and nonfiction.
Here are the books I chose for her second grade year weekly assigned reading:
32 Books for Second Grade
1. The Cherry Pie Princess — Vivian French
A charming fairy tale adventure filled with imagination, independence, and a princess who loves books and baking.
2. Ways to Make Sunshine — Renée Watson
A warm and funny story about Ryan Hart as she navigates friendships, family changes, and everyday adventures.
3. A Little Princess — Frances Hodgson Burnett
A timeless classic about imagination, kindness, and finding hope even during difficult circumstances.
4. The Chocolate Touch — Patrick Skene Catling
A fun retelling of the Midas story where a boy learns that getting everything you want isn’t always what it seems.
5. Anne of Green Gables: A Graphic Novel — Mariah Marsden (adapted), Brenna Thummler (illustrations)
A beautiful introduction to Anne Shirley’s imagination, humor, and unforgettable personality.
6. The Littles — John Peterson
A charming adventure about a tiny family secretly living inside a human house.
7. Jenny and the Cat Club — Esther Averill
A gentle collection of stories about friendship, independence, and a very special cat.
8. A Dolphin Named Bob — Marjorie Blain Parker
A sweet animal story about friendship and connection.
9. The Cobble Street Cousins — Cynthia Rylant
A cozy series following cousins as they create their own little adventures.
10. Paddle-to-the-Sea — Holling C. Holling
A beautifully illustrated journey following a carved canoe through the Great Lakes.
11. Pagoo — Holling C. Holling
A fascinating look at the life of a hermit crab and the underwater world around him.
12. Babe: The Gallant Pig — Dick King-Smith
A sweet story about kindness, courage, and an unforgettable little pig.
13. Word of Mouse — James Patterson and Chris Grabenstein
A heartwarming adventure about friendship, belonging, and finding your place.
14. Viking Adventure — Clyde Robert Bulla
A historical adventure introducing young readers to the Viking world.
15. A Long Way to a New Land — Joan Sandin
A moving story about immigration, courage, and starting over.
16. A Long Way Westward — Joan Sandin
The continuation of a family’s journey westward.
17. Human Body Theater — Maris Wicks
A fun nonfiction graphic novel that makes learning about the human body memorable.
18. Polly Diamond and the Magic Book — Alice Kuipers
A cheerful chapter book about imagination, friendship, and storytelling.
19. Hockey Night in Kenya — Lesley Choyce
A fun adventure combining sports, culture, and friendship.
20. The Bad Guys — Aaron Blabey
A silly, action-packed series perfect for kids who love humor and adventure.
21. 8 Class Pets + 1 Squirrel ÷ 1 Dog = Chaos — Vivian Vande Velde
A funny classroom adventure filled with animals and plenty of chaos.
22. The Trouble with Chickens — Doreen Cronin
A humorous mystery featuring a clever farm animal detective.
23. Frogged — Vivian French
A funny fairy tale retelling about a princess, a frog, and a surprising adventure.
24. Lola Levine Is Not Mean! — Monica Brown
A sweet story about friendships, big feelings, and learning from mistakes.
25. The Secret Explorers and the Lost Whales — SJ King
A fun combination of science, mystery, and adventure.
26. Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library — Chris Grabenstein
A fast-paced library adventure full of puzzles, teamwork, and imagination.
27. Owls in the Family — Farley Mowat
A classic animal story about friendship and unexpected pets.
28. Bunnicula — Deborah and James Howe
A funny Halloween read about a mysterious bunny and a family dog trying to solve the mystery.
29. My Head Has a Tummy Ache — Chris Harris
A playful poetry collection perfect for developing a love of language.
30. The Kid Who Invented the Popsicle — Don L. Wulffson
True stories about inventors, creativity, and problem solving.
31. Dateline: Troy — Paul Fleischman
A creative retelling that brings ancient history to life.
32. All-of-a-Kind Family — Sydney Taylor
A beautiful classic about a Jewish family growing up in New York City at the turn of the century.
I have a feeling this little stack is going to create some pretty wonderful memories this year.
Cozy and Maple 
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