Best of
2nd-Grade

2021

James' Reading Rescue


Dianna Wilson-Sirkovsky - 2021
    For animal lovers ages 6 years and up.James struggles with reading and misses recess to practice. To cheer himself up, he visits the cat rescue shelter and befriends Ghost, the cat in the box. But Ghost isn’t quite ready to make friends! As his reading improves, James learns that kindness and perseverance can have unexpected rewards and that having a furry friend is the best gift of all.

Unlikely Friends


Norm Feuti - 2021
    Beak & Ally is a new early reader graphic novel series perfect for fans of Narwhal and Jelly.Ally the alligator is perfectly happy being alone . . . until one day a noisy bird named Beak lands on her snout. Much to Ally’s annoyance, this chatty bird likes to sing all the time and has chosen a nearby tree to build his new nest. Even worse, he insists that he and Ally will be best friends. In fact, he has all kinds of friendship goals in mind, and it seems nothing Ally says will convince him that she’d rather just be alone.Nothing beats peace and quiet . . . except for maybe a new best friend?Beak & Ally is a brand-new graphic novel series by Norm Feuti, perfect for emerging readers and comic lovers alike.

Spiders: Worldwide Webs


Tait Howard - 2021
    Although they seem scary at first, once you learn why spiders have gotten such a bad reputation you’ll see that they are actually here to help!

Home Sweet Forever Home


Rachele Alpine - 2021
    While there, she learns that the older dogs are often not adopted, so she and her friends set out to find them homes. Together, Lauren, Ruby, Myka, and Emelyn create an event, where attendees can eat delicious cupcakes while meeting adoptable dogs. But on the big day, it seems like everything goes upside down. Can the girls save the event and make sure their four-legged friends get a chance at their fur-ever homes?

Lockdown Hair


Linda Steinbock - 2021
    She comes up with some creative and ingenious solutions, but will they work?This fully-illustrated children's book serves as a humorous and sensitive way to introduce children to a public health crisis, lockdowns and the pandemic’s effects on working families. Siona comes up with clever, compassionate ways to keep her mum safe, all while learning to turn fear and anxiety into positive, constructive action. A perfect book for any family to inspire a conversation about ""the new normal"" during the pandemic.

Amara's Farm


JaNay Brown-Wood - 2021
    From the new Where in the Garden series.Amara is hosting a potluck for friends on her farm, and her snacks won’t be complete without pumpkins. She’s searched and searched, but she's grown so many plants that she needs help finding them. What do we know about pumpkins? They’re large, round, and orange—and, wait a minute, is that a pumpkin? No, that’s an apple. Where, oh, where could those pumpkins be?Little gardeners will compare, contrast, and hunt for visual clues that eventually lead to the pumpkins and a fun potluck with Amara, her grandparents, and her diverse group of friends. Artist Samara Hardy brings this multi-layered story to life with vivid, cheerful illustrations created from layers of hand painted ink and watercolor texture. Backmatter includes yummy molasses pumpkin bread recipe for little chefs to try.Amara’s Farm is the first entry in the Where in the Garden series from author Janay Brown-Wood and illustrator Samara Hardy. Featuring a diverse cast of characters, the books explore gardening and farming during every season of the year. Perfect for early childhood and elementary education units on agriculture, farming, gardening, and healthy eating.

MOMENT: Inspiring Our Youth to be Active Global Citizens


Robert Abad - 2021
    By showing kids the world from a unique global perspective --through candid photos of children across the "emerging" world along with traditional proverbs and notable quotes from philosophers, authors and cultural icons --MOMENT can play a role in sparking lively and enriching conversations that can help dispel many common biases and misconceptions. This book aims to inspire and motivate the next generation of young trailblazers and problem solvers into action with the hope that they develop an appreciation for cultures, history and geography, and a desire to see the world through the eyes of others.

Audrey L and Audrey W: Best Friends-ish: Book 1


Carter Higgins - 2021
    The first in a series, Best Friends-Ish provides a fresh take on the joys and traumas of elementary school drama.More than anything, second-grader Audrey wants to be the best at something. It always feels like she's not-quite-enough—not smart enough, not fast enough, not funny enough.When her beloved Miss Fincastle announces that a new girl, another AUDREY, is joining the class, Audrey suddenly becomes Audrey L., which makes her feel worse than ever.But is the new Audrey all bad? Might the two Audreys have more in common than just their name? And if the girls become friends, how will Audrey ever figure out how to be her best self—if she can't even be the best Audrey?Visually dynamic and narratively unique, this chapter book series is perfect for fans of the Ivy + Bean, Deckawoo Drive, and The Penderwicks series.TONS OF ILLUSTRATIONS: The book has many black and white illustrations throughout, providing newer readers with the perfect on-ramp from early readers into novels. There's something visual on every page.EMPATHY READ FOR BEGINNING READERS: This book is about embracing people's differences, understanding their similarities, and making new friends.COMING-OF-AGE IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: This book encourages young readers to consider and celebrate the things that make them unique, while recognizing that sharing some of those traits with someone else isn't a bad thing.A DILEMMA EVERY KID FACES: Having to share a name with a classmate is one of the biggest nightmares for a kid. That extra last name initial becomes a part of who you are for years to come. It's an annoying, funny subject that kids everywhere will relate to.UNFORGETTABLE, FUNNY WRITING: Carter Higgins's writing is special. This storytelling is friendly, funny, and genuinely good, with an unforgettable voice that doesn't sound like any other chapter books.Perfect for: Beginning readers, Parents, Educators, Librarians, Grandparents, Anyone looking for a new series, Readers who love books set at school

How to Promenade with a Python (and Not Get Eaten)


Rachel Poliquin - 2021
    But Celeste loves very bad ideas, and she is willing to put your life on the line to prove herself right! Need to stop a python from swallowing you head-first? Wear a lamp shade as a hat! Want to speed up a three-hundred-pound snake? Try roller skates! What's the perfect light snack for a python? A chicken! Using her superior pythonine knowledge, Celeste comes up with various strategies and solutions -- many dangerous, most absurd, but all based on the biology of pythons. Meanwhile, Frank is hatching his own plans.

I Am Courage: A Book of Resilience


Susan Verde - 2021
    I act with bravery. I am courage.   When we picture someone brave, we might think they’re fearless; but real courage comes from feeling scared and facing what challenges us anyway. When our minds tell us “I can’t,” we can look inside ourselves and find the strength to say, “Yes, I CAN!” From the New York Times bestselling team behind the I Am series comes a triumphant celebration of everyday courage: believing in ourselves, speaking out, trying new things, asking for help, and getting back up no matter how many times we may fall. Grounded in mindfulness and awareness, I Am Courage is an empowering reminder that we can conquer anything. Inside, you'll also find exercises to inspire confidence.

Hidden Habitats: Water


Lily Murray - 2021
    Peer into a tide pool, explore the roots of a mangrove tree, take a swim through a water hole, climb to a leaf pool in the rain forest, dive down to the dark ocean floor, visit a peat bog, plunge deep into an underwater cave, and snorkel near a coral reef. What creatures will you discover? In this richly illustrated lift-the-flap book, young nature enthusiasts can get up close and personal to the wonders found in eight very different aquatic ecosystems.

Penguin Journey


Angela Burke Kunkel - 2021
    A picture book exploration of emperor penguins’ journey to parenthoodPacked Snow / Moon glowWind-blown / All alone   This picture book is about the lengths to which emperor penguins go for their young ones.

Our Principal Is a Spider!


Stephanie Calmenson - 2021
    Bundy runs PS 88 and gets turned into a spider in this silly, fun-to-read Aladdin QUIX chapter book that’s perfect for emerging readers!Acclaimed author Stephanie Calmenson turns fairy tales on their ears with silly adventures featuring Principal Bundy. In this Mr. Bundy (mis)adventure, PS 88’s beloved principal is turned into a spider thanks to a trickster named Mr. Anansi Araknid. How will Mr. Bundy get himself out of this tangled web of trouble?

Dear Me, Letters to Myself for All of My Emotions


Donna Tetreault - 2021
    Through a series of letters that begin with, Dear Me, a young child writes down his feelings. These letters allow him to recognize that he can change how he feels while practicing self-kindness and compassion.Dear Me serves as a guide to help kids learn about expressing feelings, understanding those feelings, and then deciding what to do about them in ways that are healthy, helpful, and kind. The book models several approaches for parents, but, more directly, models how children can develop the social-emotional skill of managing emotions by naming emotions, journaling, and mindful breathing.Beautiful illustrations support this empowering message designed to help children understand and appreciate all of their emotions. Dear Me, Letters to Myself For All of My Emotions teaches children:- Self-love- Self-regulation- Self-advocacy- Managing emotions- Empathy- Journaling- Mindful breathing

Mitzy's Homecoming


Allison Gutknecht - 2021
    Will the pet pals succeed in bringing Mitzy and her ball—and their friend group—together again?

Tally Tuttle Turns into a Turtle


Kathryn Holmes - 2021
    She just wishes she could retreat into a shell . . . Then all of a sudden, the desks and her classmates around her seem enormous, and Tally is shell-shocked to discover that she’s actually turned into a turtle! She’d heard that Mrs. Norrell’s class was special, but she hadn’t expected this. Tally likes having a shell to hide in, but there are other parts of turtle life—like the fear of being stepped on—that aren’t exactly ideal. And once she’s tired of hiding, how can she change back into a girl? Tally will have to forge her own transformation back to herself and come out of her shell—both literally and figuratively! In this new chapter book series, Mrs. Norrell’s second grade classroom has magic that allows kids to transform into animals to learn important life lessons. Each book will follow a different kid and their animal transformation, and will include fun natural science facts about the featured animal in the back matter.

Just You and Me: Remarkable Relationships in the Wild


Jennifer Ward - 2021
    Under the sea, the stinging anemone protects the boxer crab in exchange for food. In the desert, the woodpecker shelters inside a tall saguaro cactus and then distributes its seeds so more will grow. Near the water, the mighty hippopotamus stays pest-free because of the hungry egret that rides comfortably on its back. Even humans have to do our part—we depend on Earth for our survival, so we must do our best to protect our amazing planet.

Project Startup #1


Laura D'Asaro - 2021
    Sixth-grade students-turned-entrepreneurs are on a mission to save the world, one bug at a time, in this fun and empowering illustrated novel filled with facts!Hallie and Jaye are two very different sixth graders who both attend Brookdale Middle School. When they get paired as partners for their business class pitch competition, it's not exactly a perfect match. Jaye doesn't want to be seen with the kid who was called Bug Girl after eating a fried cricket during a trip to the zoo! But they're stuck with each other, and together try to come up with creative ways to sell bugs as food. As the competition heats up, can Hallie and Jaye make the judges say Bug app�tit! or will they only hear crickets?Based on the true story of a sustainable protein start-up company, this relatable illustrated novel is a heartwarming reimagining for any middle-grade reader interested in STEM, entrepreneurship, or fitting in and finding friends. Bonus material includes a Cricket Cookie Recipe in the back of the book as well as an interview with the creators. Chirps founders Rose Wang and Laura D'Asaro met as freshmen at Harvard University and cooked up the concept of selling chips made with cricket flour to help Americans feel more comfortable eating bugs. Together, Rose and Laura appeared on the TV show Shark Tank to pitch their idea and landed a deal with Mark Cuban. Chirps chips are now sold in stores across the nation.

Get Off My Lawn


Michael Garland - 2021
    Smith's pride and joy is his colorful flowers and perfectly manicured lawn.So when he peers out his window to admire his masterpiece and sees the neighborhood kids traipsing through his yard and trampling his flowers, he roars "GET OFF MY LAWN!"The thunderous scolding sends all the kids sprinting home and blaming mean Mr. Smith for ruining their fun. But one mom knows exactly where the blame really belongs and helps the children understand why they need to make amends for their damaging and disrespectful behavior.Tips for parents and educators are included to help kids better understand how their behaviors can affect those around them.New York Times best-selling author and illustrator Michael Garland uses evocative illustrations and crisp writing to introduce young and beginning readers to the social skills of "Asking Permission" and "Making an Apology".