2013 summer reading list- Grade 2

A Theodor Seuss Geisel Award Honor Book Hold on to your hats! Two new pals have arrived on the scene: Cowgirl Kate and her stubborn, but devoted cowhorse, Cocoa. Together they count the herd, ride the range, and, of course, argue till the cows come home--as only best friends can do. With its spirited text and bright, humorous illustrations by Caldecott Honor recipient Betsy Lewin, this first book in the Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa series is bound to be a hit with young wranglers everywhere. This title has been selected as a Common Core Text Exemplar (Grades 2-3, Stories)

Nate the Great

by: Marjorie Weinman Sharmat

Join the world’s greatest detective, Nate the Great, as he solves the mystery of the lost picture! Perfect for beginning readers and the Common Core, this long-running chapter book series will encourage children to problem-solve with Nate, using logical thinking to solve mysteries! CAN NATE SOLVE THE CASE FOR HIS FRIEND ANNIE? Nate the Great has a new case! His friend Annie has lost a picture. She wants Nate to help her find it. Nate the Great must get all the facts, ask the right questions, and narrow the list of suspects so he can solve the mystery.

Henry and Mudge and the Great Grandpas

by: Cynthia Rylant

release date: Apr 25, 2006

When Henry and his dog Mudge go with Henry's parents to visit Great-Grandpa Bill in the home with lots of other grandpas, they lead them all on a wonderful adventure.

Frog and Toad Together

by: Arnold Lobel

Frog and Toad Together is an American fantasy adventure children's picture book, written and illustrated by Arnold Lobel and published by Harper & Row in 1972. It is the second book in the Frog and Toad series. Like each of the other four books in the series, it contains five easy-to-read short stories. It was a Newbery Honor Book, or runner-up for the American Library Association Newbery Medal, which recognizes the year's "most distinguished contribution to American literature for children".

Little Blue and Little Yellow

by: Leo Lionni

A little blue spot and a little yellow spot are best friends, and when they hug each other they become green.

Below

by: Nina Crews

release date: Apr 04, 2006

A boy and his action figure explore a secret world below the stairs

Jack and his action figure, Guy, have many adventures together, and the tall, narrow staircase in Jack's house provides the perfect setting. Jack and Guy climb mountains, visit cities, and explore forests. But one day Guy falls down a hole in the stairs and it's up to Jack to rescue him. What is going on below the stairs―only Guy knows.

Publishers Weekly has described Nina Crews as "highly skilled at seeing through her photographic lens with the eyes of a child." Here she captures the excitement of make-believe and celebrates a child's imagination and resourcefulness in her signature style.

The Other Side

by: Jacqueline Woodson

release date: Jan 15, 2001

Jacqueline Woodson is the 2018-2019 National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Clover's mom says it isn't safe to cross the fence that segregates their African-American side of town from the white side where Anna lives. But the two girls strike up a friendship, and get around the grown-ups' rules by sitting on top of the fence together. With the addition of a brand-new author's note, this special edition celebrates the tenth anniversary of this classic book. As always, Woodson moves readers with her lyrical narrative, and E. B. Lewis's amazing talent shines in his gorgeous watercolor illustrations.

And the Dish Ran Away with the Spoon

by: Janet Stevens

release date: Jan 01, 2001

When Dish and Spoon run away, their nursery rhyme friends Cat, Cow, and Dog set out to rescue them in time for the next evening's reading of their rhyme.

Brave Irene (Book & CD Set)

by: William Steig

release date: Nov 22, 2011

Plucky Irene, a dressmaker's daughter, braves a fierce snowstorm to deliver a new gown to the duchess in time for the ball.

Aunt Chip and the Great Triple Creek Dam Affair

by: Patricia Polacco

Aunt Chip saves the town of Triple Creek, where everyone has forgotten how to read because of the invasion of television.

The Ant and the Elephant

by: Bill Peet

The elephant is the kindest animal in the jungle, rescuing the giraffe, lion, and rhino, but who will return the favor when the elephant needs help?

Dory Story

by: Jerry Pallotta

release date: Jan 01, 2004

Be prepared for a few surprises when Danny ventures out into the bay in his dory. Although taking the dory out solo is strictly forbidden, Danny cannot resist the calm waters of the bay. And that's where the adventure begins. He thinks rowing into a school of bluefish is trouble enough, but wait until the whales enter the picture. Danny encounters one sea creature after another and learns about the ocean food chain in the process. Just when you think you know what's going to happen next, the story takes an unexpected twist. With brilliant and vibrant illustrations, readers will feel the excitement of being out on the water surrounded by ocean creatures. The life and the life cycle of the ocean will fascinate young readers.

I Wanna Iguana

by: Karen Kaufman Orloff

release date: Sep 09, 2004

Alex and his mother write notes back and forth in which Alex tries to persuade her to let him have a baby iguana for a pet.

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie (If You Give...)

by: Laura Joffe Numeroff

Beautifully illustrated children's picture books

Relating the cycle of requests a mouse is likely to make after you give him a cookie takes the reader through a young child's day.

Other Lists with This Book:

Grade 1 classic readings

100 Picture Books Everyone Should Know

Once Upon an Ordinary School Day

by: Colin McNaughton

release date: Feb 24, 2005

A celebration of extraordinary teachers!

The boy's breakfast is ordinary, his walk to school is ordinary, even his thoughts are ordinary. But when he goes to his classroom and sits down at his desk, his day begins to change - a new teacher, Mr. Gee, bursts into the classroom with an extraordinary idea that challenges all the children to use their imagination. Suddenly an ordinary day is turned topsy-turvy, and the boy is inspired in a way that will change him forever.

The rollicking words and pictures celebrate the unexpected in this tribute to great teachers and students everywhere.

Once Upon an Ordinary School Day is a 2006 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.

The Honest-to-Goodness Truth

by: Patricia C. McKissack

release date: Mar 01, 2003

After promising never to lie, Libby learns that it's not always necessary to blurt out the whole truth either.

Little Critter's Bedtime Storybook

by: Mercer Mayer

release date: Mar 06, 2012

Finding Little Sister acting selfish, fussy, and grumpy and refusing to go to sleep, Little Critter tells her four bedtime stories in which the characters reflect her bad behavior.

Amazing Grace

by: Mary Hoffman

Although a classmate says that she cannot play Peter Pan in the school play because she is black, Grace discovers that she can do anything she sets her mind to do.

You Read to Me, I'll Read to You: Very Short Fables to Read Together

by: Mary Ann Hoberman

release date: Sep 11, 2012

In an irresistible fourth You Read to Me collaboration, Mary Ann Hoberman and Michael Emberley have added spooky tales to their bestselling and award-winning series--and it's a scary lot of fun. You've never met witches, zombies, ghosts, or ghouls like these before!

Sylvia Jean, Scout Supreme

by: Lisa Campbell Ernst

release date: Feb 18, 2010

Sylvia Jean disguises herself in order to assist a neighbor who does not want her enthusiastic help, but she still might be the only one in her Pig Scout Troop who will not earn a Good Deed Badge.

Stellaluna

Stellaluna is a 1993 children's book by Janell Cannon about a young fruit bat, Stellaluna, who becomes separated from her mother and finds her way to a nest of birds. She is adopted by them and learns bird-like behavior. Eventually, Stellaluna finds other bats and reunites with her mother, and she learns how to behave like a bat. She introduces the birds to her bat family. Stellaluna and the birds decide that, despite their many differences, they are still friends. Stellaluna was a New York Times bestseller, appeared on the National Education Association's list of "Teachers' Top 100 Books for Children", and won several awards, including the 1996 Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album for Children.

Pinduli

release date: Jan 01, 2005

Pinduli, a young striped hyena, is hurt by the unkind words of Dog, Lion, and Zebra, but her clever trick in return promotes her clan's survival and spreads harmony throughout the savannah. Includes backmatter notes about hyenas and other animals of the African savannah.

Verdi

Deep in the jungle where all the pythons are green, Verdi is born a little bit different. This gorgeously illustrated picture book from the creator of Stellaluna sends a timely message to young readers about the importance of loving the skin you're in. Young Verdi doesn’t want to grow up big and green. He likes his bright yellow skin and sporty stripes. Besides, all the green snakes he meets are lazy, boring, and rude. When Verdi finds a pale green stripe stretching along his whole body, he tries every trick he can think of to get rid of it—and ends up in a heap of trouble. Despite his efforts, Verdi turns green, but to his delight, he discovers that being green doesn’t mean he has to stop being himself.

Crickwing

release date: May 01, 2005