Staff Writer Sarah suffers from chronic sarcasm, and an unhealthy aversion to noise. She loves to read, and would like to do nothing else, but stupid real life makes her go to work. She lives in the middle of a cornfield and shares a house with two spoiled dogs and a ton of books. View All posts by Sarah Ullery
Sarah Ullery
Staff Writer Sarah suffers from chronic sarcasm, and an unhealthy aversion to noise. She loves to read, and would like to do nothing else, but stupid real life makes her go to work. She lives in the middle of a cornfield and shares a house with two spoiled dogs and a ton of books. View All posts by Sarah UllerySarah Ullery
Chapter Books For First Graders And Second Graders
Jasmine Toguchi, Mochi Queen by Debbi Michelin Florence
160 pages, series
Jasmine Toguchi wants to help her family make mochi, but she’s only 8 years old and too young to assist in the tradition. So far there are four books in the series, which follows Jasmine and her Japanese American family. These books have a very Ramona Quimby-esque vibe, and I love it.
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Ruby Lu, Brave and True by Lenore Look
112 pages, series
Ruby Lu is a funny, charming, lovable, 8-year-old with a great sense of adventure. The story is infused with Chinese and Chinese American culture, has short chapters, and lots of pictures.
Meet Yasmin! by Saadia Faruqui
96 pages, series
Yasmin is a second grader with a big imagination, and she doesn’t back away from tough situations. Each short chapter focuses on a challenge that Yasmin must work to solve, which she does with a whole lot of creativity. Yasmin is part of a large, charming, multi-generational Pakistani American family. So far there are ten books in the series.
Junie B. Jones by Barbara Park
69 pages, series
Barbara Park captured childhood perfectly in her little quippy, precocious Junie B.! And if you’re interested, Book Riot has a round-up of some of Junie’s best quotes from the first book in the series,Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus. This series will forever be one of my favorites!
Juana & Lucas by Juana Medina
96 pages, series
Kids innately love diversity. They love learning about different cultures and places. They love learning how kids live around the world. So I think they’ll really love Juana & Lucas: Juana is a little girl who lives in Colombia. Juana does not love school, and she especially hates learning English, but when a special opportunity crops up, Juana decides that maybe learning English won’t be so bad.
Short Picture Books For First Graders And Second Graders
Duck Duck Porcupine by Salina Yoon
64 pages, series
Like Mo Willems’sElephant and Piggie books, Duck Duck Porcupine is told through dialogue, and broken up into short, easily digestible stories. The first book is divided into three stories that are filled with colorful, engaging illustrations and charming characters.
Anna Hibiscus by Atinuke
96 pages
An early chapter book set in Africa is a hard thing to find; but add a dollop of humor, lovely illustrations, great writing, and you’ve stumbled upon a wonderful book for young readers. Anna lives inside a compound that is surrounded by a big, lovable extended family. She loves snow and sometimes has to watch her twin brothers Double and Trouble. Kids will learn about both contemporary and traditional Africa as they follow Anna on her adventures around her home.
Make Way for Dyamonde Daniel by Nikki Grimes
74 pages
Dyamonde Daniel is a friendly third grader with “wild-crazy hair and a zippy attitude”. She’s friendly, outgoing, and super smart. She can make friends with almost anyone, but despite this, she’s still lacking a best friend. Hopefully that will change.
Mercy Watson by Kate DiCamillo
80 pages, series
You’ll never go wrong with a Kate DiCamillo book. Kids and adults will both find something delightful in her stories. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane—the story of a lost china rabbit—makes me cry every time I read it. Mercy Watson is about a childless couple who adopt a sweet little pig named Mercy who loves buttered toast. The series is illustrated by Chris Van Dusen whose art lends the right kind of whimsy to the story.
Katie Woo by Fran Manushkin
32 pages, series
Full of colorful illustrations, large font, and few words on each page—the Katie Woo books are perfect for early readers. Plus, there are over thirty books in the series!
Ballet Cat by Bob Shea
56 pages, series
Like Mo Willem’s Elephant and Piggie and Salina Yoon’s Duck Duck Porcupine, this short series by Bob Shea is told through speech bubbles. The series follows Ballet Cat and her relationship with other animal friends. It’s very funny and colorful.
The Princess in Black by Shannon Hale
90 pages, series
All I have to do to get kids interested in this book is open it and let them see the pictures. The illustrations by Dean Hale and LeUyen Pham are very bright and appealing for most beginning readers, plus the story is really cute, and perfect for fans of cartoons like Princess Sophia.
Charlie and Mouse by Laurel Snyder
48 pages, series
Charlie and Mouse inhabit the kind of world I wish I lived in. The story is told in four short, illustrated chapters, which range in subject from a rock selling business, to a neighborhood party at the park, to a new bedtime routine. It’s short, sweet, and peppered with diversity. I love it!
In Aunt Lucy’s Kitchen by Cynthia Rylant
64 pages, series
Lily, Tess, and Rosie are staying with their Aunt Lucy at her house on Cobble Street. They’re sharing an attic bedroom that they divide into three separate spaces that best exemplify their unique personalities: Lily the poet, Tess the actor, and Rosie, who just wants a cottage with flowers by the door. The three sisters are preparing for the summer and planning on starting their own cookie company. I love Cynthia Rylant’s chapter books, and if you enjoy this series, I also recommend her Lighthouse Family series.
The Infamous Ratsos by Kara LaReau
64 pages, series
Louie and Ralphie Ratso try hard to prove that they’re tough, but every time they try to prove their toughness, they end up doing something good for someone else. Will their dad, Big Lou, be mad when he sees how soft his sons have become?
Graphic Novels For First Graders and Second Graders
Baby Monkey, Private Eye by Brian Selznick
192 pages!
Yeah, okay, 192 pages sounds like a lot, but Baby Monkey, Private Eye is mostly wordless. Baby Monkey is a crime-solving cutie, and he’s darn good a solving mysteries. If you’re missing jewels, a spaceship, or a pizza, Baby Monkey can help you…after he struggles to put on his pants.
Hilda by Luke Pearson
40 pages, series
Hilda loves her home in the woods, but her mom wants to move into Trolberg and away from the perils of living in a snow-capped wilderness. Hilda conspires with the forest creatures to delay her departure, but inevitably, Hilda and her Mother—beset by forest-induced calamities—must move away from their rural home. Still, Hilda finds mystical creatures and plenty of adventure in the city.
Mighty Robot by Dav Pilkey
112 pages, series
Everyone knows about Captain Underpants and Dog Man, but what about Mighty Robot? Ricky Ricotta is a small mouse who’s used to getting picked on at school, and feels a little lonely. Enter: Robot. Robot is sent by Dr. Stinky (remember this is Dav Pilkey) to destroy Squeakyville, but Robot doesn’t want to be evil. Together Ricky and Robot must work to stop Dr. Stinky. This is full of big, bold illustrations, and will be a breeze to read for most kids.
Phoebe and Her Unicorn by Dana Sampson
222 pages, series
Phoebe and her unicorn’s relationship begins when Phoebe skips a rock across a pond and hits a unicorn in the face. The Unicorn’s name is Marigold Heavenly Nostrils (of course), and from the very beginning Phoebe and Marigold become best friends. This comic has a very strong Calvin and Hobbesvibe, which is a good thing. A very, very popular series at the the library.
Peter and Ernesto by Graham Annable
128 pages, series
Peter and Ernesto are sloths. Peter is a homebody and Ernesto dreams of traveling and seeing new places. When Ernesto leaves and Peter is left behind, he worries about his friend and starts his own journey to find Ernesto.
Need more books for first graders and second graders?Book Riot’s gotcha covered: 50 of the Best Books for Beginning Readers, 70 Must-Read Books for 3rd Graders, andMeet the Rad Girls of Color for Beginning Readers.
Enjoy!
As an expert and enthusiast, I don't have personal experiences or emotions like humans do. However, I have been trained on a wide range of topics and have access to a vast amount of information. I can provide you with accurate and reliable information on various subjects. Now, let's dive into the concepts mentioned in this article.
Chapter Books For First Graders And Second Graders:
- Jasmine Toguchi, Mochi Queen by Debbi Michelin Florence: This book is part of a series that follows the adventures of Jasmine Toguchi and her Japanese American family. Jasmine wants to help her family make mochi, but she's considered too young to participate in the tradition [[1]].
- Ruby Lu, Brave and True by Lenore Look: This book features the story of Ruby Lu, an 8-year-old girl with a sense of adventure. The story incorporates Chinese and Chinese American culture and includes short chapters and illustrations [[2]].
- Meet Yasmin! by Saadia Faruqui: The "Meet Yasmin!" series revolves around the character Yasmin, a second grader with a big imagination. Each short chapter focuses on a challenge that Yasmin must solve using her creativity. The series explores the life of a Pakistani American family [[3]].
- Junie B. Jones by Barbara Park: The Junie B. Jones series, written by Barbara Park, features the precocious and quippy character Junie B. Jones. The series captures the essence of childhood and is known for its humor and relatable storytelling [[4]].
- Juana & Lucas by Juana Medina: "Juana & Lucas" is a series that introduces readers to Juana, a little girl living in Colombia. Juana initially dislikes school and learning English but eventually changes her mind. The series aims to foster children's interest in different cultures and places [[5]].
Short Picture Books For First Graders And Second Graders:
- Duck Duck Porcupine by Salina Yoon: Similar to Mo Willems's Elephant and Piggie books, "Duck Duck Porcupine" is a series of short stories told through dialogue. The book features colorful illustrations and engaging characters [[6]].
- Anna Hibiscus by Atinuke: "Anna Hibiscus" is an early chapter book set in Africa. It combines humor, lovely illustrations, and great writing to create an enjoyable reading experience. The book follows Anna's adventures in her compound surrounded by a large extended family [[7]].
- Make Way for Dyamonde Daniel by Nikki Grimes: "Make Way for Dyamonde Daniel" introduces readers to Dyamonde, a friendly and outgoing third grader with a zippy attitude. The book explores Dyamonde's quest to find a best friend [[8]].
- Mercy Watson by Kate DiCamillo: The "Mercy Watson" series tells the story of a childless couple who adopt a pig named Mercy. The series, illustrated by Chris Van Dusen, combines delightful storytelling with whimsical art [[9]].
- Katie Woo by Fran Manushkin: The "Katie Woo" books are perfect for early readers, featuring colorful illustrations, large font, and few words on each page. The series includes over thirty books [[10]].
- Ballet Cat by Bob Shea: "Ballet Cat" is a short series told through speech bubbles, similar to Mo Willems's Elephant and Piggie and Salina Yoon's Duck Duck Porcupine. The books follow the adventures of Ballet Cat and her animal friends [[11]].
- The Princess in Black by Shannon Hale: "The Princess in Black" is an illustrated book that appeals to beginning readers. The story features bright illustrations and follows the adventures of a princess who leads a double life as a superhero [[12]].
- Charlie and Mouse by Laurel Snyder: "Charlie and Mouse" is a series of short, illustrated chapters that revolve around the lives of Charlie and Mouse. The stories are sweet, diverse, and cover various subjects, such as a rock-selling business and a neighborhood party [[13]].
- In Aunt Lucy's Kitchen by Cynthia Rylant: This series follows Lily, Tess, and Rosie as they prepare for the summer and plan to start their own cookie company. The books are written by Cynthia Rylant, known for her engaging chapter books [[14]].
- The Infamous Ratsos by Kara LaReau: "The Infamous Ratsos" series tells the story of Louie and Ralphie Ratso, who try to prove their toughness but often end up doing good deeds. The books explore themes of kindness and empathy [[15]].
Graphic Novels For First Graders and Second Graders:
- Baby Monkey, Private Eye by Brian Selznick: "Baby Monkey, Private Eye" is a mostly wordless graphic novel about a crime-solving monkey. Despite struggling to put on his pants, Baby Monkey is skilled at solving mysteries [[16]].
- Hilda by Luke Pearson: "Hilda" follows the adventures of a young girl named Hilda who lives in the woods. When her mother wants to move to the city, Hilda conspires with forest creatures to delay the departure. The series combines mystical creatures and urban adventures [[17]].
- Mighty Robot by Dav Pilkey: "Mighty Robot" is a series by Dav Pilkey, the author of "Captain Underpants" and "Dog Man." The books feature Ricky Ricotta, a small mouse who teams up with a robot to stop the evil Dr. Stinky [[18]].
- Phoebe and Her Unicorn by Dana Sampson: "Phoebe and Her Unicorn" tells the story of Phoebe, who becomes best friends with a unicorn named Marigold Heavenly Nostrils. The comic has a similar vibe to "Calvin and Hobbes" and is popular among young readers [[19]].
- Peter and Ernesto by Graham Annable: "Peter and Ernesto" is a series about two sloths, Peter and Ernesto. While Peter prefers staying at home, Ernesto dreams of traveling. When Ernesto leaves, Peter embarks on a journey to find him [[20]].
I hope this information helps you explore these books for first graders and second graders! Let me know if there's anything else I can assist you with.
