There are plenty of fantastic titles out there for second graders, but some of the very best ones will push their reading skills, keep them engaged, and have them coming back for more. Here are a few of Literati’s top picks for second graders:

Flower Talk

by Sara Levine

Fun fact: flowers do more than sit still and look pretty. In the floral world, color is actually a powerful language. While it may be a few years until your little one learns all about the plant life cycle, this book is rich with STEM concepts that can encourage an interest in the natural world. Flip through these amazingly-artistic pages with your little reader and learn how to speak “flower” for yourself! Then it’s time for a nature walk.

Memoirs of a Hamster

By Devin Scillian

The leave-you-in-stitches follow-up to Memoirs of a Goldfish, this is the story of Seymour the hamster and his insane adventures with humans and house cats alike. As your second grader gets more comfortable remembering story sequence and reading aloud, this whimsical and giggle-inducing story is the perfect challenge to help usher them into solo reading.

We’re All Works of Art

By Mark Sperring

This book takes an artful approach to teaching lessons of self-acceptance. As your second grader’s awareness of themselves and others grows, they’ll surely benefit from a reminder that it’s wonderful to be different. This story is full of abstract illustrations that embrace everyone’s own originality. A brief introduction to different styles of art in this book can also encourage your little ones’ creative side!

Lovely Beasts

By Kate Gardner

Within these boldly-illustrated pages lies an invaluable lesson: never judge a creature by its fur, teeth or creepy-crawly scales. Bite-sized facts about even the “scariest” animals will restore your little reader’s compassion for the world around them, as this lovely read teaches important lessons about how we judge others at a glance. Second graders will love this fact-filled journey into the natural world, with text that’s simple to read, and super fun to share!

Laugh-Out-Loud Ultimate Jokes for Kids

By Rob Elliott

What second grader doesn’t love to laugh? This book is jam-packed with jokes, puzzles, and goofy games to help your reader get acquainted with humor. This 2-in-1 collectible copy combines Laugh-Out-Loud Awesome Jokes for Kids and Laugh-Out-Loud Road Trip Jokes for Kids into one side-splitting book. Rob Elliott includes tried-and-true jokes (think chickens crossing roads) with brand-new iterations, making this book a hilarious must-have for every household.

National Parks of the USA

By Kate Siber

National Parks of the U.S.A. stuns with glossy, realistic illustrations that will introduce your child to diverse landscapes and animal species they might not realize are in our very own backyard! And they aren’t just pretty to look at—your child will learn facts they can remember and recite back. This book includes a crossword of predators, a bird word search, spot-the-difference games with insects, a pull-out poster map, and dozens of stickers. Safe to say there’s hours upon hours of fun to be found in this book—no travel necessary!

With enriching new books in the home, you’ll be surprised to see how many new words your second grader can learn and sound out on their own! Keeping their reading development on track means introducing new challenges that are just-right for their level (and hold their attention with engaging stories). 

With a Literati kids book club membership, you’ll never have to worry about introducing the right skills at the right time. Literati curators personalize every box of books to fit your child’s precise reading level and interests, so that they can progress at their own pace with confidence. 

Take the personalization quiz, and start your child’s book club with us. Our literacy experts tailor each book box to your reader’s pace and interests. Discover hidden gems off the bestseller lists, help improve vocabulary, and foster your child’s reading confidence.

The post The Best Books for Second Graders appeared first on Literati.

By the time your little one is entering second, third, or fourth grade, the best books are ones that encourage independent exploration and creation. Reading is a tool to help your child discover how things work, and when it comes to new discoveries, it helps to be a little hands-on. 

Enter the world of interactive books: the perfect hybrid between reading and doing, where your child can draw, play, and sticker their way into the reading world. Interactive books and activity books are an exciting way to introduce new concepts and help readers develop a habit of focusing for longer periods of time. With interactive books, you get a kind of active play that your little one won’t find in games or screens, and Literati subscription boxes have the perfect one for every kind of reader. 

We’ve ranked our favorite interactive reads for every energetic second-grade, third-grade, or fourth-grade reader. Read on to discover the top five interactive books to distract, delight, and engage your 7-9 year old.

Maze Quest History: Travel Through Time!

By Anna Brett

Part maze activity, part storybook, Maze Quest tells the story of George and his puppy companion, Milly. During a visit to the Natural History Museum, they’re sent back in time with no way home! As your child completes and connects each maze, they get to experience history and send our protagonists back to the present.

Thanks to its exciting time travel theme, this maze book is rich with educational value far beyond the cognition skills needed to solve the mazes themselves. Maze Quest History is an ideal challenge for the budding problem solver.

Laugh-Out-Loud Ultimate Jokes for Kids

By Rob Elliott

This book, which holds the #2 spot on our list of best activity books, is jam-packed with jokes, puzzles, and goofy games. Getting acquainted with humor and joke structure is a great way for kids to learn literary devices—as wordplay and analogy pop up all over the place.

This book is a 2-in-1 collectible copy, combining Laugh-Out-Loud Awesome Jokes for Kids and Laugh-Out-Loud Road Trip Jokes for Kids into one side-splitting book. Rob Elliott includes tried-and-true jokes (think chickens crossing roads) with brand-new iterations, making this book a hilarious must-have for every household.

National Parks of the USA

By Kate Siber

National Parks of the U.S.A. stuns with glossy, realistic illustrations that will introduce your child to diverse landscapes and animal species they might not realize are in our very own backyard! And they aren’t just pretty to look at—your child will learn bite-sized facts they can remember and recite back.

This book includes a crossword of predators, a bird word search, spot-the-difference games with insects, a pull-out poster map, and dozens of stickers. Safe to say there’s hours upon hours of fun to be found in this book—no travel necessary!

Doodle Adventures: The Rise of the Rusty Robo-Cat!

By Mike Lowery

Has your child ever wanted to star in a book they were reading? Well, here’s their chance! This book goes beyond second-person storytelling to activate their imagination and encourage their creative side.

Doodle Adventures: The Rise of the Rusty Robo-Cat makes reading fun and interactive, working like a wacky game of Mad Libs, where your child can draw themselves into the story and all of its absurd adventures. They’ll complete prompts, doodles, and puzzles as they wind their way through their story.

STEM Starters for Kids: Science Activity Book

by Catherine Bruzzone and Vicky Barker

Is your child often asking questions about how the world works? You may have a mini scientist in your midst.

STEM Starters for Kids: Science Activity Book won’t just keep their hands busy—it’ll keep their brain activated for hours on end.They’ll race through a maze to make steam, draw sound waves, learn about light with shadow puppets, and more. At Literati, this sensational multi-sensory book gets top marks as one of the best books for 9-year-olds! Get ready for your child to have a reading experience that’s equal parts silly and scholarly.

Interactive Books for Ever-Learning Minds

With interactive books, readers are empowered to lead their own story. These healthy outlets for curiosity and creativity are also instrumental in building a lasting love of reading. 

With our Literati Kids book box subscription, you’ll help to fuel a passion for reading at any age. Every Literati box is personalized to fit your child’s interests, and adapts to challenge them as they grow.

A subscription book club for kids gets them excited about the amazing world of literature with books that are just-right for their pace of development. Keep your child reading, active, and ever-learning with Literati Kids.

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