Dog man books are great. Captain Underpants are funny. They are graphic novels but great for little boys. Bad guys is a great series as well. Magic Treehouse series.
My son is going into 4th so we were there not long ago. He enjoyed these series the most: Magic treehouse, ranger in time, Geronimo Stilton, i survived, Ready Freddie, other Kate Messner books. We just read Wedgie & Gizmo which is fun for ALL ages…my 5yo daughter loved it, 9yo son loved it and I loved it.
As a former second-grade teacher, I can tell you that the boys and girls like the same books at this age, usually. Junie B Jones was a favorite series for my whole class as she has a little brother…
First question, forgive me if someone else has said it, but why are the books for boys different than those for girls? Girls will read anything, boy centered or girl centered. Okay, okay, I had boys. They were resistant to reading a girl-centered book. This frustrated me to no end. I used to read to my kids during meals. (I eat fast). I picked up this farm/race horse book. There was a girl protagonist. They objected. I put it away for a month or two. When I picked it back up, I changed the girl’s name to a boy’s. I changed the pronouns as I read. When I got to the last chapter, I went back to the way it was written. Were they mad they were duped – yeah. But I taught them a good lesson.
So the reason I was asking is because someone I went to school with is a second grade teacher. She has set up a book and prayer for them, meaning you buy the child assigned to you a book and write them a note of encouragement that will be left on their desk for the first day of school. You will also pray for this child through out the school year. My babies are 11 and 5. I know my child reads at a higher reading level so I was unsure of what to buy for a typical second grade boy, my babies are girls. I took someone suggestion and went with the Stink series.
Thank you to everyone for the suggestions. I do plan to send more books his way through out the year.
I have two boys, and my 7yr old loves the Bad Guys series, and he’s just started reading the Treehouse series by Andy Griffiths which is fantastic. They’re both Australian authors but I’m pretty sure their books are very popular in the USA too. He also loves Captain Underpants. I find that even when they’re good readers, boys like having pics or comic style parts to a book to keep their interest. I saw someone mention why boys would read different books to girls – there’s definitely some overlap but boy books are often more silly, fart jokes, often more visual with a lot of comic style illustrations… they’re definitely very different audiences!
My son got these from his aunt @Kendra for his birthday. I cant wait to start them! (we read together every night. We each take turns reading a chapter)
@Jessica that’s wonderful! My son and I read together every night too. So far we’ve read books 1 through 12, and he absolutely loves them. And believe it or not, we’ve started the Little House on the Prairie series, and he enjoys it too!
2nd grade children are struggling to read, so picture books are still a good choice. Granted, they should be picture books that have lots of words too or that they can relate to; which is why I like books by Robert Munsch, Steven Kellogg, Mem Fox, among others. I have been in child care or education for most of my life, and I might be called elderly in the newspaper.
Boys are so much harder than girls at this age. For girls there are many series like Junie B Jones to bridge them up to chapter books, but boys get stuck in the Captain Underpants/Wimpy Kid rut. At book conferences I am forever chasing down the kids authors and librarians to ask for advice. Max Brallier, who writes the Last Kids on Earth series, turned me on to the Branches series, which I think are put out by Scholastic, to “branch” kids from picture to chapter books. My son especially liked the Branches Dragonmaster series. Also try Notebook of Doom, Haunted Library and the 13 Story Treehouse series.
A 13 story treehouse sounds cool! The ever popular magic treehouse series never grabbed my kid. Will give these a whirl.
Mine still prefers picture books, but one chapter book series he devoured was the Greetings from Somewhere series. These follow children of a (highly fictionalized) small town paper’s travel writer around the globe. My eight year old was crestfallen when I told him no, the local paper does not send a writer all over the world, all expenses and benefits paid. ???
My other thought on this, especially for boys who are picture book fans: older books have more complex syntax and vocabulary (and much higher word count) than most of what gets published in that space today. Walter Stieg and Robert McCloskey come immediately to mind.
Check out the Geronimo Stilton series. My daughter (just starting third grade) loves them and read them all last year. However, they’re not geared toward girls or boys. It’s a (boy) mouse reporter who solves mysteries. They’re super funny and creative. Our librarian says they’re great books for helping kids learn vocabulary. Bigger or new words are in colorful/fancy fonts that makes them more fun to read.
I am an elementary librarian … so I can go on and on …. Hero’s In Training series, Dan Gutman’s My Weird School Series. If he is a strong reader I agree with the Treehouse series by Andy Griffith. And look at nonfiction ….. boys love nonfiction about how things work.
Magic Treehouse books!
When my son was in second grade I read to him, Indian in the Cupboard and The Magicians Nephew.
Horrible Harry in Room 2B series, Nate the Great (detective), Flat Stanley
Also the My Weird School series is great. “Miss Daisy is Crazy” etc.
Magic treehouse, A to Z mysteries, flat Stanley, Mouse and Motorcycle, non-fiction books about interests (dogs, dinosaurs, rocks,etc.).
Hilo series. Graphic novel in color. It’s perfect for his age. My grandson loved it and he’s not a reader.
Anything that is the scholastic “branches” series. My boys loved The Dragon Master series, and The Notebook of Doom series.
My soon to be 2nd grade boy loves these books.
Squish series by Jennifer and Matthew Holm.
The Stink Series…
Yes Stink! My son loved those!
Yes!
Plants Vs Zombies graphic novels…
“How to Train Your Dragon” series.
I loved the magic treehouse series as a kid, and the American girl series.
My son loves the Diary of a Wimpy kid series, Dogman books, Captain Underpants….
My granddaughter is 8 and she loves “Dork Diaries”
Dog man books are great. Captain Underpants are funny. They are graphic novels but great for little boys. Bad guys is a great series as well. Magic Treehouse series.
Captain Underpants!
Kids also love the Adventures of Tin Tin
My son is going into 4th so we were there not long ago. He enjoyed these series the most: Magic treehouse, ranger in time, Geronimo Stilton, i survived, Ready Freddie, other Kate Messner books. We just read Wedgie & Gizmo which is fun for ALL ages…my 5yo daughter loved it, 9yo son loved it and I loved it.
He also reads a TON of nonfiction
Boxcar Children. Classics.
Harry Potter series from the beginning ??♂️??♀️
Also Roald Dahl books – my son died laughing ?
The Captain Underpants series
My Weird School series. My second graders love it!!!
Diary Of A Wimpy Kid series!
Roscoe Riley – my 2nd grade boys love it!! And it’s a series ?
Flat Stanley or Dino Riders
Magic tree house, A to Z mysteries, Geronimo Stilton
As a former second-grade teacher, I can tell you that the boys and girls like the same books at this age, usually. Junie B Jones was a favorite series for my whole class as she has a little brother…
Yes! We went to see Junie B Jones on stage for one of my sons 1st grade field trips this past year!
Who was/what was series, Bailey School Kids, Box Car Children, anything Roald Dahl, Shel Silverstein,Judy Blume
Captain underpants!
Yep my 8 yr old loves those books
A series of unfortunate events
I have a 2nd, 3rd, and a 4th grader.. Our shelves are full of:
Junie B Jones
Magic Treehouse
Magic School Bus
Dog Man
Captain Underpants
My son loved Horrible Harry or Stink series
Beverly Cleary books-The Mouse and the Motorcycle, Henry Huggins, Ribsy, etc.
Hardy boys
Fly guy
Pete and cat
Captain Underpants and Dogman are a hit in our boy house!
Holes. Maybe too old, but awfully good.
Fly Guy!
First question, forgive me if someone else has said it, but why are the books for boys different than those for girls? Girls will read anything, boy centered or girl centered. Okay, okay, I had boys. They were resistant to reading a girl-centered book. This frustrated me to no end. I used to read to my kids during meals. (I eat fast). I picked up this farm/race horse book. There was a girl protagonist. They objected. I put it away for a month or two. When I picked it back up, I changed the girl’s name to a boy’s. I changed the pronouns as I read. When I got to the last chapter, I went back to the way it was written. Were they mad they were duped – yeah. But I taught them a good lesson.
Many of my suggestions are already listed (Captain underpants, fly guy, elephant and piggy, unfortunate events, roald dahl) but I’d add:
choose your own adventure
Let him pick a few out. Graphic novels are great. They are gratifying (quick finish builds confidence) and cover a range of educational topics.
So the reason I was asking is because someone I went to school with is a second grade teacher. She has set up a book and prayer for them, meaning you buy the child assigned to you a book and write them a note of encouragement that will be left on their desk for the first day of school. You will also pray for this child through out the school year. My babies are 11 and 5. I know my child reads at a higher reading level so I was unsure of what to buy for a typical second grade boy, my babies are girls. I took someone suggestion and went with the Stink series.
Thank you to everyone for the suggestions. I do plan to send more books his way through out the year.
I have two boys, and my 7yr old loves the Bad Guys series, and he’s just started reading the Treehouse series by Andy Griffiths which is fantastic. They’re both Australian authors but I’m pretty sure their books are very popular in the USA too. He also loves Captain Underpants. I find that even when they’re good readers, boys like having pics or comic style parts to a book to keep their interest. I saw someone mention why boys would read different books to girls – there’s definitely some overlap but boy books are often more silly, fart jokes, often more visual with a lot of comic style illustrations… they’re definitely very different audiences!
My oldest also loved the undead ed series. I even read it! It was cute
Captain underpants
The Boxcar Children
My son got these from his aunt @Kendra for his birthday. I cant wait to start them! (we read together every night. We each take turns reading a chapter)
@Jessica that’s wonderful! My son and I read together every night too. So far we’ve read books 1 through 12, and he absolutely loves them. And believe it or not, we’ve started the Little House on the Prairie series, and he enjoys it too!
Try something by Robert Munsch next time. Kids love his sense of humor and wild stories. Bless you for encouraging a child to read.
Dear My Henshaw. Also Gary Paulsen ..all are wonderful
Diary of a Wimpy Kid got my grandson hooked on reading.
Horrible Harry, Ready Freddy, Geronimo Stilton, Clementine, A-Z Mysteries, Junie B. Jones, Cam Jansen…
Any of the I Can Read books, Level 2 or 3. I particularly like the ones by Arnold Lobel.
Captain underpants, super diaper baby, dog man, ook and gluk, dragonbreath, Jedi academy. I have a boy?
One thing to remember is, many begining
2nd grade children are struggling to read, so picture books are still a good choice. Granted, they should be picture books that have lots of words too or that they can relate to; which is why I like books by Robert Munsch, Steven Kellogg, Mem Fox, among others. I have been in child care or education for most of my life, and I might be called elderly in the newspaper.
Have you tried the treehouse series?
Boys are so much harder than girls at this age. For girls there are many series like Junie B Jones to bridge them up to chapter books, but boys get stuck in the Captain Underpants/Wimpy Kid rut. At book conferences I am forever chasing down the kids authors and librarians to ask for advice. Max Brallier, who writes the Last Kids on Earth series, turned me on to the Branches series, which I think are put out by Scholastic, to “branch” kids from picture to chapter books. My son especially liked the Branches Dragonmaster series. Also try Notebook of Doom, Haunted Library and the 13 Story Treehouse series.
A 13 story treehouse sounds cool! The ever popular magic treehouse series never grabbed my kid. Will give these a whirl.
Mine still prefers picture books, but one chapter book series he devoured was the Greetings from Somewhere series. These follow children of a (highly fictionalized) small town paper’s travel writer around the globe. My eight year old was crestfallen when I told him no, the local paper does not send a writer all over the world, all expenses and benefits paid.
???
My other thought on this, especially for boys who are picture book fans: older books have more complex syntax and vocabulary (and much higher word count) than most of what gets published in that space today. Walter Stieg and Robert McCloskey come immediately to mind.
Good luck!!!
Fly Guy, ready Freddy,
Magic Tree House and A to Z mysteries
Check out the Geronimo Stilton series. My daughter (just starting third grade) loves them and read them all last year. However, they’re not geared toward girls or boys. It’s a (boy) mouse reporter who solves mysteries. They’re super funny and creative. Our librarian says they’re great books for helping kids learn vocabulary. Bigger or new words are in colorful/fancy fonts that makes them more fun to read.
I am an elementary librarian … so I can go on and on …. Hero’s In Training series, Dan Gutman’s My Weird School Series. If he is a strong reader I agree with the Treehouse series by Andy Griffith. And look at nonfiction ….. boys love nonfiction about how things work.