Looking for the best book series for 2nd grade boys? Here are my suggestions to inspire him on his reading journey…
When I had children, I had this vision of us all curled up on the sofa, reading together. The children would be respectfully quiet, but eager to hear every word I read.
In reality, this happens about once or twice a year. Most days, I am reading to my children over the sound of them crunching on cereal or while they intermittently fight over who sits where and who made what sound or smell.
Not quite how I thought it would go.
But they are still young and so I have hopes for a future read-along where the kids are calmer and I’m not reading at the top of my lungs.
My children read on their own with varying degrees of excitement. But my oldest son, in particular, has been tough to encourage in the reading department.
How to make reading interesting for your children
He showed interest in reading as a preschooler, but once he discovered the iPad and TV, it lost a lot of its appeal (mea culpa). So, now I am in the uphill battle of bringing a love of reading to a sometimes unwilling, sometimes indifferent pupil. But I know this is important, so I keep trying.
The reason I mention this is that one of the most important things to fostering a love of reading in children is making sure that they are interested in what they are reading. My picks are not going to persuade him the way his own will.
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So, we make frequent trips to the library and I am always on the look-out for a good book or series. Which brings me to my point.
I’ve compiled a list of 10 book series that my 2nd grader loves. If you’ve been struggling to find something for your son (or daughter) to read, these are great books for this age and they caught and held his attention. He was able to read most of them himself and they were fun to read when I joined in.
I got these books for my son, but my daughter read some of them in 2nd grade, too, and also enjoyed them, so they are good for both genders. But maybe I’ll put together a list of books that she liked as well, at a later date…
The Best Book Series for 2nd Grade Boys
(the link takes you to the first book in the series)
Dogman by Dav Pilkey
These are awesome hardcover, graphic novels that are filled with the crime-fighting adventures of a half-dog, half-human. There are even drawing pages in the back to inspire children to try drawing characters themselves. This is also the author of the Captain Underpants series (my son hasn’t read those yet, so I can’t say how he’ll like them – but I have high hopes).
Chet Gecko Mysteries by Bruce Hale.
These hilarious books are full of wit and fun and follow the exploits of a mystery-solving gecko in elementary school. We discovered this series after laughing our way through The Big Bad Wolf Detective Agency by the same author. Oh, and the titles of each book in this series? Just awesome!
The Magic Tree House books by Mary Pope Osborne
This series has a ton of books, so if your kids love it, there’s plenty to work with. They are a fun look at history and geography, and there’s even a corresponding Fact Tracker series that matches up to each book. Even with the educational elements, the books are still entertaining and my older kids love them.
The Hardy Boys by Franklin W. Dixon
Whether you prefer the original or this more updated version, these are great books for boys who like some mystery and adventure. I read Nancy Drew as a girl and these are basically the equivalent. They’re not too complicated, but depending on your child’s comprehension level, you may want to read along at first.
Guinea Dog by Patrick Jennings
We stumbled upon this author with his book Odd, Weird, and Little. The kids all loved it so much, we had to try Guinea Dog. These books are about a boy who gets a guinea pig when he really wants a dog – and lands up with a guinea pig who thinks she is a dog! The antics are funny and thoughtful and we’re big fans of this author’s writing.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
My nephew swears by these books, so I had to check them out. Basically, they are about a boy who is entering middle school and the growing pains that accompany it. Hilarious events, friendship challenges, and life with bullies abound. There are even movie adaptations if that might whet your child’s appetite for the series.
The Ricky Ricotta’s Mighty Robot series by Dav Pilkey
These books are a blast and my 2nd and 3rd grader have read most of them. These graphic novels follow a nerdy mouse and his robot friend as they battle otherworldly baddies and save the day. This is aimed at a younger audience than Captain Underpants, but my kids didn’t think they were “babyish” or under them.
The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner
These are classic and I love reading them even today. My son was fascinated by how the children moved into a boxcar and made it their home. I think he was impressed by their resourcefulness. The books go on to solve mysteries and they are a lot of fun to read.
My Father’s Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett
These books are a fun adventure through a magical land by a boy who is trying to free an exploited dragon, with the help of some interesting friends. This trilogy is rather old, but my kids still enjoyed it. I think the fantasy world that is created is rich enough to nullify any feelings of it being dated…
Wayside School stories by Louis Sachar
These stories are great if your child likes quirky and funny tales about school. The books follow the students and teachers of Wayside School, which was accidentally built 30 stories high, with one classroom on each floor. My husband read these as a boy and they’re still fun reading for kids today.
Well, that’s my list of book series for 2nd grade boys. But honestly, my kindergartner and 3rd grader (both girls) have enjoyed most, if not all, of these books as well.
So, if you’ve been struggling to find a series that your child will enjoy, then give these a try. Reading can make such a difference in children’s lives. We just need to find the match that sets their passion for books on fire.
Happy reading!
Do you have any book series that should be on this list? Let me know in the comments!
Interested in more on reading with kids? Check out these popular posts:
How to Inspire Curiosity, Creativity, and a Love of Reading in Your Children
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