I'm going to be the "mystery reader" for my son's second grade class. It's a secret who the parent reader is until you show up. My son was thrilled when I showed up last year. I'm wondering if you have some fun ideas of what books to read them. I have about 20 minutes so I could get a couple in. I'd like something with fun illustrations. I'm going to the library this week. I do have a lot of books here but want some fresh ideas.
What books would second graders enjoy being read to them?
Wow, such great ideas! I went to the library and got ten books, many of the titles listed here. Some our library didn't have. I ended up readingThe Day the Crayons Quit, The Mitten, mr Tiger goes Wild with The giving Tree as backup if time allowed(which it didn't sadly).. The kids knew all of them and loved them. The teacher told me they were great choices.
I'm looking forward to sharing the others with my son. Chrysanthemum, the one about the horrible, terrible day( can't remember the title and others u suggested. Thanks so much for the help!
The Day the Crayons Quit
Guess What I Found In Dragon Wood
The book, whose title escapes me right now, where the Big Bad Wolf says he was framed.
Jan Brett's books have really nice illustrations. I read one last year to my son's first grade class and it was a big hit.
This is a great time of the year to read The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein!
I would ask his teacher! She knows all the hot, popular books that kids that age enjoy. She is by far your best resource.
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
The perfect book for this time of year would be A Turkey For Thanksgiving by Eve Bunting. Can't believe I forgot that one!
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The Astonishing Secret of Awesome Man by Michael Chabon
Moo! By David LaRochelle
Any books written by Mo Willems or Patricia Polacco or Chris Van Allsburg
The Dark by Lemony Snicket
I'm Bored by Michael Ian Black
Mr. Tiger Goes Wild by Peter Brown
Jangles by David Shannon
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
Best book ever. Not sure how the movie will be as they tend to ruin them but the book was awesome. my kids still talk about it now and they are in there 20's. I just bought it for a babyshower as we were asked if we would bring a book new or used that was one of the mom to be's favorites as a child. This book happened to be one we read over and over. So thats the one I got.
hm. i was a reader for my kid's 3rd grade class and we did harry potter. but it was ongoing, so i didn't have to curtail it to a 20-minute book.
my choices would be classics like james and the giant peach, or where the wild things are. i really despise the dumbed-down pap pushed by scholastic so i wouldn't look there. i think i'd ask the school librarian what's popular with your particular bunch of kids.
don't give 'em little kiddie books, though. find something that will challenge and excite them.
khairete
S.
"How Full Is Your Bucket? for kids"
"Good Night Opus"
"The Jolly Postman"
Suzanne Tate's nature series are a great series of kids books centre around aquatic life. My girls adore them.
If you can find it, "How Pizza Came to Queens" by Dayal Kaur Khalsa
Great illustrations.
Gerald McBoing Boing by Dr. Seuss.
The Voyage of Turtle Rex by Kurt Cyrus
Arnie the doughnut by Laurie Keller, it would take about all the twenty minutes but it is a fun book for kids that age.
You can also check out Scholastic.com and find loads of suggestions.
We do Mystery Reader in my classroom, and the best books are those you are familiar with or your child's favorites. They don't have to be challenging or deep-thinking; it's a fun 15-20 minutes so I would stick to picture books. Just some ideas: you'd be good with almost anything by Laurie Keller, Tomie DiPaola, Eric Carle, Jan Brett, Laura Numeroff, Audrey Penn, David Shannon. Seasonal books are great such as "Thank You, S.-The woman who saved Thanksgiving" as is a book a mom read to my class a few weeks ago which was fantastic because she had each of the kids be able to interact with it, "Press Here." Have fun!
Pete the Cat book are fun.
I did "Chrysanthemum" by Kevin Henkes last time I was a mystery reader. It's still a picture book but just long enough to not feel babyish to 2nd graders (some of whom are in chapter books).
And it's got a good message about accepting oneself :) And being resilient against teasing. Perfect for that age.
I also like Stellaluna which could be a good counterpart to that. (appreciating individual differences)
I read "Snow Wonder We're Friends" by Molly Wigand for my daughters 2nd grade class. It's one of those books Hallmark puts out this time of year, and I thought maybe it wouldn't have been as well read (although a few kids told me they had that book when I started). My daughters teacher complemented me on the choice.
I would just read the book before hand if it's not one you are familiar with. I found a book about 2nd grade and teachers that I thought sounded perfect, but it turned out it was actually about the kids not liking the teacher. I would have been horrified if I had brought that one in.
Just about any Dr Seuss book will do.
I just read Arnie the Doughnut to my son's first grade class as a "mystery reader" about two weeks ago. They LOVED it and were reacting to the story and the pictures the whole way through. The teacher even asked me the author's name so she could pick up that book herself. It was a big hit. Have fun!!
You have some excellent suggestions. May I add another? William Joyce has been doing these beautiful Guardians of Childhood books, 'The Man in the Moon' and 'The Sandman: The Story of Sanderson Mansnoozie'. Not the chapter books but the picture books. They are told as 'true stories'. They are visually beautiful and the stories are imaginative, descriptive and mesmerizing. It would take about 15 minutes to read it.
Here are some links: 'The Man in the Moon': http://www.amazon.com/Man-Moon-Guardians-Childhood/dp/144...
'The Sandman": http://www.amazon.com/Sandman-Sanderson-Mansnoozie-Guardi...
I've been waiting for more of the picture books ... they are award winning collector items as well.
Our second graders are introduced to Flat Stanley in the fall semester. They make a flat Stanley and send him out on adventures.
My suggestion is to ask the teacher what topic is best for when you are scheduled and ask if there are books she/he suggests.
I love it when parents are involved!!! Thank you.
I would ask the teacher or librarian for ideas.
