Summer reading is part of the Grace Church School program. All Lower School students should spend time reading or listening to literature. This book list is filled with suggestions for the summer and year-round. Obviously, we could not include every book that second grade students might enjoy. If you discover some treasures that we have overlooked, please tell the librarians in the fall.

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With the help of his friends Bush-rat and Turtle, smart and nimble Rabbit makes a fool of the mighty but slow-witted king of the forest.

Who’s in Rabbit’s House: a Masai Tale

When Rabbit arrives home to find that a terrible monster has taken up residence inside his house, his friends come to his aid, but their attempts to help nearly destroy Rabbit’s house instead.

Bumps in the Night

When he discovers his house is haunted, Dudley Story enlists the help of his friends to find out what is causing the spooky noises.

The Stupid family celebrates the children’s awful report cards by inviting their relatives to a costume party.

Living at Hook & Ladder Co. 7 is hard work. But when Pickles is adopted by the people at the firehouse, this little cat makes big plans: to be the best fire cat ever.

Bemelmans, Ludwig

Madeline, smallest and naughtiest of the twelve little charges of Miss Clavel, wakes up one night with an attack of appendicitis.

Bonsall, Crosby Newell

The Case of the Double Cross

Marigold concocts a mystery that finally gets her and her friends into the boys' private eye club.

A Day's Work

When Francisco, a young Mexican-American boy tries to help his grandfather find work, he discovers that even though the old man cannot speak English he has something even more valuable to teach Francisco.

The Wall

A father and his young son come to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial to find the name of the grandfather the boy never knew.

Burton, Virginia Lee

A country house is unhappy when the city with all its buildings and traffic grows up around her.

Anthony comes face to face with a growling bear, pretends to be a dog, and hears a giant tapping on the window.

My Brother Ant

Meet Ant, the little brother who’s big on laughs. Ant and his big brother confront the monster under the bed, recreate the story of the three little pigs, and write a letter to Santa–in July!

Gloria’s Way

Gloria has a confrontation with a loquacious parrot, cures a dog of his obsession with squirrels, faces her fear of fractions and learns that you can’t put a measuring stick to friendship.

Julian, Dream Doctor

Julian and Huey, who want to make their father’s birthday extra special, succeed beyond their wildest expectations when they mistake their snoozing father’s mumblings for a birthday wish.

Carle, Eric

Follows the progress of a hungry little caterpillar as he eats his way through a varied and very large quantity of food until, full at last, he forms a cocoon around himself and goes to sleep. Die cut pages illustrate what the caterpillar ate on successive days.

Arm in Arm: A Collection of Connections, Endless Tales, Reiterations, and Other Echolalia

An illustrated collection of verses, tongue twisters, riddles, and seemingly endless tales all of which feature a play on words.

Fortunately

Good and bad luck accompany Ned from New York to Florida on the way to a surprise party.

Sam and the Lucky Money

Sam must decide how to spend the lucky money he's received for Chinese New Year.

Christopher, Matt

Bus Mercer, shortstop for the Peach Street Mudders wants desperately to be picked for the county all-star team, but he breaks his parents' rules for riding his bike and feelings of guilt affect his game.

Cleary, Beverly

Ramona, the Pest

Ramona meets lots of interesting people in kindergarten class, like Davy whom she keeps trying to kiss and Susan whose springy curls seem to ask to be pulled.

Coerr, Eleanor

It's the time of the gold rush, and Chang has come with his grandfather to California from China. Chang's dream is to own a horse of his own. With luck and a little gold dust that wish just might come true.

The Meanest Thing to Say

Little Bill must figure out how to avoid the challenge offered by the new kid in the class, "The Dozens," a duel of insults Bill doesn’t want to join.

Angelina Ballerina

A pretty little mouse wants to become a ballerina more than anything else in the world.

D'Aulaire, Ingri

Text and illustrations present the life of the boy born on the Kentucky frontier who became the sixteenth president of the United States.

Beetle Boy

One morning Gregory Sampson wakes up to find he has turned into a giant, purple brown beetle! But no one–except Gregory’s best friend Michael notices the difference–not even Gregory’s parents, his teacher, or his little sister can see it!

de Paola, Tomie

Charlie Needs a Cloak

A shepherd shears his sheep, cards and spins the wool, weaves and dyes the sloth, and sews a beautiful new red cloak.

Strega Nona’s Magic Lessons

Big Anthony tries to join Strega Nona’s magic class with hilarious results.

Cody Unplugged

Concerned that his television and video habits have gotten out of hand, Cody’s parents send him to

Guess What?

Through a series of questions to which the reader must answer yes or no, the personality and occupation of a lady named Daisy O'Grady is revealed.

Koala Lou

Koala Lou longed to hear her mother day she loved her so she thought of a brilliant plan to win her mother’s love at the Bush Olympics.

All About Stacy

Mrs. Zachary’s class is making "About-Me" boxes and putting special things they like inside. Stacy can’t thing of even one thing to put in her box. She doesn’t feel special at all until she discovers that its’ what’s inside her that counts.

Ms Rooney's class is heading for New York City. Ms Rooney's names Emily their "New York City expert," but Emily doesn't know a thing about the Big Apple.

Miss Happiness and Miss Flower

After she leaves India to live with her cousins in England, eight-year-old Nona is overcome with homesickness until her great-aunt sends two Japanese dolls which need love and care.

Grandpa's Face

Seeing her beloved grandfather making a mean face while he rehearses for one of his plays, Tamika becomes afraid that someday she will lose his love and he will make that mean face at her.

A Story, A Story

Recounts how many African folk tales came to be called "Spider Stories."

Aladdin and the Magic Lamp

Aladdin is a poor boy until the day he finds a dusty old lamp.

Beauty and the Beast

The ever-popular tale of a beautiful and loyal young woman's love for a cursed prince is retold for beginning readers.

Haywood, Carolyn

Betsy experiences an interesting first year in school and looks forward to summer vacation at her grandfather's farm.

Chester’s Way

Chester and Wilson share the same exact way of doing things until Lily moves into the neighborhood and shows them that new ways can be just as good.

Chrysanthemum

Chrysanthemum loves her name until she starts going to school and the other children make fun of it.

Come On, Rain!

As the downpour approaches, Tessie gathers her neighborhood friends for a romp in the raindrops.

Hill, Elizabeth Starr

Needing a place to call his own, Evan is thrilled when his mother points out that their crowded apartment has eight corners, one for each family member.

Hoban, Russell

Frances finds it difficult to go to sleep with the strange noises and menacing shapes that seem to fill her room after dark.

Peter wants only milk, Lucy must have lemonade, and each new addition to the Peters household brings new demands for special foods.

Bernard on His Own

After Bernard the bear cub tries unsuccessfully to catch a fish, explore a cave, and play with the ducks and deer, he receives reassurance from his father.

Don’t Be My Valentine

When Sam sends an especially mean valentine to that pest Amy Lou, someone pulls a switch! Amy Lou gets the nice one from Sam and its their teacher that receives the mean one!

Hogrogian, Nonny

After the old woman cuts off his tail when he steals her milk, the fox must go through a long series of transactions before she will sew it back on again.

Birdie’s Lighthouse

Young Birdie lives with her family on a tiny and isolated lighthouse island, and when her lighthouse keeper father becomes seriously ill in a violent storm, it is Bridie who must lead the ships safely to port.

Pinky and Rex

Rex thinks that his trip to the museum is about to be ruined when his grumpy sister, Amanda, decides to join in. Amanda saves the day, though, when the three decide they want the last pink stuffed dinosaur in the gift shop.

Pinky is tormented by a third-grade bully who calls him a girl and teases him about wearing pink. With the help of an elderly neighbor, he realizes that he does not have to let someone else control him.

Pinky and Rex Go to Camp

Going away to camp for the very first time, and with his best friend Rex, Pinky should be happy, but he is just plain scared.

Sally Goes to the Beach

Everyone loves a trip to the beach! Sally a spirited black Labrador sure does. When she arrives she encounters new friends, new smells, new games, and, best of all, new adventures.

Swamp Angel

This rip-roaring narrative tells of a pioneer woman’s transformation into Swamp Angel and her defeat of a marauding bear.

Sheep in Wolves’ Clothing

Suspecting a band of wily wolves when their fleecy coats are stolen while they swim, sheep companions Georgina, Hubert and Gogol enlist the help of sheep detective Elliott Baa who tackles the mystery with his rugby loving cats.

The Scrambled States of America

Tired of being stuck in the same old places, the states decide to swap spots with one another.

I Was Born About 10,000 Years Ago

The narrators of this exuberant rhyming story lay claim to the most outrageous boasts- of watching the Pharaoh's daughter fishing Moses from the water, of eating the core of Adam and Eve's apple, and even of playing hopscotch on the moon.

Recounts the life of the extraordinary lumberjack whose unusual size and strength brought him many fantastic adventures.

The Adventures of Hershel of Ostropol

Stories about a clever man who lived by his wits as his pockets were always empty.

A clever spider tricks Elephant and some other animals into thinking the melon in which he is hiding can talk.

Jenius: The Amazing Guinea Pig

Judy tries to convince her parents and classmates that her brilliant guinea pig can do all the tricks she says it can.

Kramer, Sydelle A.

Here is the true, history-making story of Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay- the first people to reach the highest spot on the planet.

My Teacher’s Secret Life

A young boy believes that all teachers eat, sleep, and live at school and never leave the building until one day he spots his teacher shopping at the local supermarket and has to find out how she was able to sneak away from the rest and why she did so.

The Magic Kerchief

When an old woman knocks on her door looking for a place to sleep, cantankerous Grizelda reluctantly allows her in. The woman gives Grizelda a magic kerchief that she promises brings riches.

Why the Sun and the Moon Live in the Sky

The story of how the sun and the moon came to live in the sky is told here as it might have been with African tribesmen dressed to represent the elements and the creatures of the sea.

Levy, Elizabeth

When the class goes online to invite their favorite author D.B. Spooks to visit their school, someone starts sending scary messages over the school computer, and their invisible companion must help to save the day.

Clipper Ship

Follow the clipper ship Rainbird on its long, dangerous and exciting journey from New York to California as the captain's wife sails through storms, sickness-even icebergs-along the way.

Lionni, Leo

Swimmy

A little black fish in a school of red fish figures out a way of protecting them from all their natural enemies.

Lobel, Arnold

Frog and Toad spend their days together, but find sometimes it's nice to be alone.

Owl at Home

Owl lives by himself in a warm, little house. One evening he invites Winter to sit by the fire. Another time, he finds strange bumps in his bedroom.

Marshall, James

Fox baby-sits for the miserable Ling children, makes a big scene when he slips on a skate and hurts himself, and gets to lead the band in the big parade.

Fox competes in a big race, gives away his comic books, and goes trick-or-treating on Halloween with his friends.

Marzollo, Jean

Happy Birthday, Martin Luther King

An introduction to the great civil rights leader.

Hockey Hero

When Hal moved to a new town, he’s upset to find he’s no longer the star player on the hockey team.

Slam-Dunk Saturday

Nine-year-old Billy wants to do well in his school's basketball fund-raiser, but he is intimidated by a loud-mouthed bully.

McCloskey, Robert

It's a big day for a little girl when she discovers her first loose tooth and makes a trip to the grocery store on the mainland.

Time of Wonder

Follows the activities of two children spending their summer vacation on an island off the coast of Maine.

McDermott, Gerald

The Fox and the Stork

The fox thinks he is so clever — until Stork out foxes him and teaches him about friendship.

A very poor Irishman is provided with magical things by the "wee folk", but he must then keep his good fortune out of the hands of the greedy McGoons.

Zelda and Ivy are eagerly awaiting Christmas: baking cookies with their friend and neighbor Mrs. Brownlie and hoping for special presents.

The Lady in the Box

It is wintertime in the city, and Christmas decorations are everywhere, but in Lizzie and Ben's neighborhood, a woman lives in a box, grateful for the warm air that escapes through a vent in the sidewalk.

I Stink

A big city garbage truck makes its rounds, consuming everything from apple cores and banana peels to left over ziti with zucchini.

Harlem: A Poem

Harlem sings and dances across the pages, conveying the myriad sounds on the streets, from the voices of Africa and the Caribbean to the trains mixing and mingling in their own special rhythms.

Milne, A.A.

A collection of poems.

The adventures of Christopher Robin and his friends, in which Pooh Bear uses a balloon to get honey, Piglet meets a Heffalump, and Eeyore has a birthday.

Minarik, Else Homelund

Little Bear's four adventures include taking a trip to the moon and having a birthday party.

Uncle Jed's Barbershop

Uncle Jed has always dreamed of owning his own barbershop. Finally, on his seventy-ninth birthday, his dream comes true.

The Tale of Custard the Dragon

Custard, the cowardly dragon saves the day when a pirate threatens Belinda and her pet animals.

Ness, Evaline

Relates the experiences of a little girl as she learns to tell the difference between make-believe and real life.

Tom Tit Tot

Like his distant cousin Rumplestiltskin, Tom Tit Tot is a small, magical creature that offers to help a young woman with her

impossible sewing requirements.

Meanwhile Back at the Ranch

Looking for some diversion, a bored rancher drives to the town of Sleepy Gulch, little knowing that some amazing things are happening to his wife and his ranch during his absence.

Junie B. and the Stupid, Smelly School Bus

Unable to compete with her friends’ fancy clothes and running ability, irrepressible six-year-old Junie B. finds her own way to make the new boy at school like her.

Author's Day

In this comedy of errors, a famous children's author visits an elementary school.

The Big Orange Splot

When a seagull drops a can of orange paint on his neat house, Mr. Plumbean gets an idea that affects his entire neighborhood.

Second Grade Ape

Thinking the gorilla hiding in the bushes is a cat, Flash Fleetwood takes it home. It soon becomes an accepted part of the household with comical results.

The Dragons are Singing Tonight

Spiny rhymes about dragons and enchanting illustrations that include dragons in the bath and under the weather.

Officer Buckle and Gloria

Officer Buckle knows more about safety than anyone else in Napsville, but his dull presentations put everyone to sleep. Enter Gloria, Napsville’s new police dog who knows how to liven up the safety speeches.

Ringgold, Faith

With Harriet Tubman as her guide, Cassie retraces the steps escaping slaves took on the Underground Railroad in order to reunite with her younger brother.

Tar Beach

A young girl dreams of flying above her Harlem home, claiming all she sees for herself and her family. Based on the author's quilt painting of the same name.

Aunt Nancy and Old Man Trouble

Aunt Nancy triumphs over Old Man Trouble by pretending that all the bad he sends her way are really blessings.