This year, a lot of parents will be teaching their kids at home. We at Biblio want to help. We are making lists of books that teachers and librarians think are good for each grade. These lists are for people who speak English or are from the United States. They can be a good starting point for anyone who wants to add books to their kids' reading lists.

That book might be hard for your child to understand. It's most likely not. Books usually have more words than people talk about or see in movies or TV shows. That's good. It helps their brains grow. Reading has been shown to improve memory and even fight off Alzheimer's disease in people who are old. Reading helps both children and adults learn to pay attention, which is important both in school and in their jobs later on.

Best Classic Books for Second Grade

James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl

It was written by British author Roald Dahl in 1961, and it is one of the most popular books for kids. James and the Giant Peach James finds a tunnel in a huge peach. He enters a magical world where he meets seven bugs and makes friends with them. He then goes on a wild adventure with his insect friends. He gets into trouble and saves them from dangerous situations.

Many times, James and the Giant Peach has been the target of censorship because of a few rude words and a possible scary plot line. It might be a good idea to read along with this book so that you can ask (and answer) questions and give context at some of the parts of the story that aren't clear.

Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey

It was written and illustrated by Robert McCloskey and came out in 1941. In the book, there are two mallard ducks who decide to raise their family on an island in the Boston Public Garden lagoon. They need the help of the community to get there. During 1942, McCloskey won the Caldecott Medal because of his illustrations in Make Way for Ducks.

Beezus and Ramona by Beverly Cleary

Beezus and Ramona is the first of Beverly Cleary's books about Ramona Quimby and her sister, Beatrice. It's about the two of them (Beezus).

She tried to understand her 4-year-old sister, Ramona, when she was 9 years old. Beezus and Ramona are told from the point of view of the 9-year-old Beezus. This book, which is very popular, was written in 1955. Even though the times have changed, the sibling rivalries that are shown in this book are very real and funny, all at the same time.

Stuart Little by E. B. White

If you think of E. B. White as the author of Charlotte's Web, you might not know that he also wrote Stuart Little. There is a story about a young man named Stuart Little who had the "shy and pleasant manner of a mouse." He was born in New York City in 1945. This story has been popular since it was written down. In 1999, a movie was made based on the story.

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is a book by Lewis Carroll that tells the story of a young girl in a fantasy world filled with strange, anthropomorphic animals. In 1865, this wildly popular book of literary nonsense was written. It takes the reader on a journey through logic and absurdity. The story and its sequel, Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There, have been retold many times in live-action performances, cartoons, and movies. They have also been made into books. People use phrases like "down the rabbit hole" and images like "mad tea-party" and the Queen's command, “Off with her head!" because of it.

The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner

It's a story about four orphaned kids who make their own home in an old boxcar in the forest because they're afraid their new guardian might be cruel. In their new home, Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny try to find food and supplies and make it a place they can call home. This book was first published in 1924 as The Box-Car Children. In 1942, it was reissued in a shorter, revised form.

There are more than 150 Boxcar Children books out there now, even though Warner wrote just 19 of them. Many of the modern books are set in the present day and are more about the kids solving mysteries or having fun.

Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren

Astrid Lindgren came up with the wild and raucous character of Pippi Longstocking, and her daughter came up with the name. She asked for a story to be told while she was sick at home. Young girls have been inspired by Pippi since then. She is strong and doesn't follow the rules.

When Pippi came out in the 1940s, it was first written and published in Sweden. In 1950, it was made into an American version. It has been changed in some translations of Pippi's story to make her more "respectable." In other countries, her anti-authoritarian views were more accepted. Modern editions have changed some of the cultural stereotypes that were used in the original text, which were not very nice.

The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis

It was written by C.S. Lewis and first published in 1950 by Geoffrey Bles. It is the first and most well-known of the Narnia books. Lewis came up with the story of the kids who moved in with him to stay away from the bombs during World War II. They found a wardrobe door that led to a magical land called Narnia. Today, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is one of the most popular children's books in print. It's also on many lists of the top 100 books.

Owl Moon by Jane Yolen

A picture book called Owl Moon was written by Jane Yolen and illustrated by John Schoenherr in 1987, and it is for kids. The book has won a lot of awards, including the Caldecott Medal for its illustrations. It has also been on the TV show Reading Rainbow. Yolen called the book "a happy family story." "It is about a girl and her dad."

Heidi by Johanna Spyri

Heidi is a well-known children's book that was written by Swiss author Johanna Spyri in 1881. It was first published in Germany. Her story is about an orphan who was brought to live with her grumpy grandfather in the Swiss Alps. She makes friends and earns the hearts of the people around her.

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