Second Grade Summer Reading List

It's tough to get kids practicing their academic skills over the summer months when all they want to do is have fun, but get them into a good book, and they won't even notice they're keeping their literacy skills sharp, they'll just be engrossed in a great adventure! 

"Summer reading is a time to enjoy the skills that children have worked so hard throughout the year to develop," says Alicia Bell, a children's librarian, member of the California Young Reader Medal Committee, and a literary advisor to GiftLit, an online retailer of hand-selected books.  "Free from the pressure of deadlines and classes, the richness of literature can become more comfortable, familiar and fluent. By the time they are back in school in September, new skills will have become a solid tool set."

In search of some engrossing summer reads for your second grader? Look no further. We've combed the shelves for this list of brand new titles that will exhilarate, fascinate and, yes... educate.

Ottoline and the Yellow Cat by Chris Riddell
All kids sometimes wish that their parents would leave them alone. In Ottoline's case, her parents have done just that. While they traverse the world, collecting interesting things, Ottoline and her best friend, Mr. Munroe (a small hairy creature from a bog in Norway), look after her parent's collection of emperor's hats, portable fishbowls, and leaking cups. When a series of lapdog burglaries sweeps across the city, Ottoline decides she's just the girl to crack the case... This book's breezy style, wonderful sense of humor, and quirky illustrations are spot on for this age group. Plus, with the next chapter book in this new series, Ottoline Goes to School, set to hit stores in late June, there's a second installment almost ready to devour! (HarperCollins, 2007, $6.99) Where to buy

The Adventures of Sir Lancelot the Great by Gerald Morris
For the kid in your life who can't get enough of swords and such, comes a humorous take on one of the most famous knights of all time...Sir Lancelot. This silly romp has its share of adventure and escapades, but also explores the downside of being King Arthur's most trusted knight, for example, having a trail of swooning marriage prospects and never being able to fit in a much-needed nap. Full of heart, humor, and plenty to keep the giggles going, this slim book is sure to please. (Sandpiper, 2008, $4.99) Where to buy

The Crane Wife by Odds Bodkin
If you've got a second grader who seems wiser than her years, this book might be just the ticket. A gracefully paced Japanese fable about a lonely sail maker and the mysterious woman who becomes his wife, the book does not move with the wham bam of today's typical stories for kids. Yet it is full of atmosphere, secrets, and intrigue. Spun as tight and light as the sail of wind woven by his magical wife, the plot billows to its inevitable conclusion. Your child will likely hold her breath as the moral comes into sight. (Voyager Books, 1998, $6.00) Where to buy

The Dragon in the Sock Drawer by Kate Klimo
Ten-year-old cousins Daisy and Jesse have checked their houses for Narnia-like wardrobes and collected every magical-looking object they could get their hands on, but so far, they've remained boringly adventure-less. That is, until the rock Jesse finds on High Peak hatches and a helpless green baby pops out of it. A little research reveals that they are newly minted Dragon Keepers, but it also reveals that it's up to them to keep their new friend safe from Saint George, an ancient dragon slayer who'd love to get his hands on this new specimen. (Yearling, 2008, $5.99) Where to buy