What This Years Group of 2nd Graders Are Reading In My Class

As most people know, I teach 2nd grade. Every year I like to blog about what my current group of 2nd graders are reading. Their reading levels range from Kindergarten-5th grade. Not only is this interesting to my author/writer friends, but also to parents and grandparents wanting to buy presents for kids around the age of 7-9 years old. Keep in mind, many of these books are not new books just published, but many have been out for awhile. So here you go...

 

The Adventures of Captain Underpants

by Dav Pilkey


Now granted it's mainly the 7-8 years old boys in my class that check these out of the library every week. It's fits well with their 2nd grade humor.

Magic Tree House Boxed Set, Books 1-28 Paperback – Box set

by Mary Pope Osborne (Author) , Sal Murdocca (Illustrator)

The Magic Tree House books are very popular with this age group. They are set right in the reading level that many 2nd graders are currently on. It also is a great way to get this age group into reading about history in a fun way. I would say I've seen 3/4 of my class reading these books and trying to get through as many volumes as possible. 

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Harry Potter #1)

by J.K. Rowling, Mary GrandPré (Illustrator)

Yes, Harry Potter. This first book in the series has been showing it's face around my classroom. It may be that I have told them how much me and my own children love this series. They were also impressed when I showed them Deathly Hallows in the library a few weeks back. I told them I read the almost 800 page book in 11 hours and 15 minutes. This seemed to spur many of them on to reading this wonderful series. 

Case File 13: Zombie Kid (Case File 13 #1)

by J. Scott Savage

This new series is fresh on my students mind because the author came to our school last year. He made a fun impression on them and the fever is spreading about this series. There is a lot to be said for those authors who make school visits and also do them for free. I can tell you that the author and his/her books become a big thing in their minds. They talk about you and your books for a long time. Kids all over school are still talking about J.Scott Savage and his Zombie Rap that he did during the assembly. They can't wait to read the 2nd book in the series.

The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #1)

by Rick Riordan

This familiar series keeps moving along through the classroom. One thing I noticed lately is that more of the girls were reading this than the boys. Not sure why, but just an interesting thing. I love reading fantasy books and have shared that with my students. Maybe the movies has also increased the children's interest, but I'm happy to see them reading the Percy Jackson books.

The Lorax

by Dr. Seuss

For those students not yet ready for the bigger chapter books are still loving anything Dr. Seuss. They are drifting towards the longer Dr. Seuss books like The Lorax, Horton Hears a Who etc. Again, maybe the interest here is from the movies made based on these books. They are moving away from Cat in The Hat and towards the books with longer and more meaningful stories.  

Though this was only a sampling of what I see my students reading, it can show you what kind of books this age group is liking. They also seem to like to read non-fiction books about animals: girls like books about kittens and dogs, and the boys like reading about Great White Sharks, Dinosaurs and Snakes. Nothing new in this observation right? 

The main thing I hope by posting this, is to give you some great ideas to keep your kids reading. They don't have to read these books (Even though they are great!), but make sure they are reading. Turn off the TV, give everyone a book/Kindle/Nook and a quiet spot to read. Let the fun begin! Our children will be smarter, and more imaginative if we make reading a priority in our lives.