Second Grade Summer Reading List (continued)

The Adventures of Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey
This book may be a mom's worst nightmare, but it's a second grader's dream. Full of the potty humor that typically gets kids sent to their room, it's a truly silly story of two trouble-making boys who turn their grumpy principal into a jockey-clad superhero. Pilkey's illustrations add much to the humor and the kid-appeal can't be underestimated. While parents may wish their child wasn't quite so keen to follow the adventures of an underwear-clad hero and a villain stopped in his tracks by rubber doggy doo, we say any series that has kids begging to read more is a great way to entice new readers to pick up a book. And if your kid likes this one, there's a whole series waiting to fill his summer... (Scholastic, 1997, $5.99) Where to buy

Keyholders #2: The Other Side of Magic by Debbie Dadey and Marcia Thornton Jones
Okay, so this series won't likely introduce your child to deep characters, push the boundaries of her vocabulary, or pass on lifelong moral lessons. But it may just turn her onto the idea that reading is great entertainment. And that in itself is crucial for rookie readers just getting their feet wet with chapter books. This book is the second in a series about a town situated on the border between the real world and the magical world. Guarding the border between the two are three kids, apprentice keyholders who, with the help of their magical friends, work to stop the evil Queen of the Boggarts from invading. Written by a teacher and a school librarian, this series has what it takes to turn kids on to reading, all summer long. (Scholastic, 2009, $3.99) Where to buy

Want to see last summer's picks? Check out our 2008 Second Grade Summer Reading List.