Best Read Aloud Chapter Books 2nd Grade

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One of the virtually common questions I see among teachers, peculiarly teachers moving to new course levels, is, "What are your favorite read-alouds?"  I'm very passionate about read-aloud time in my classroom.  It'due south non-negotiable.  If we don't have time for everything in the mean solar day and I need to cut something, it's NOT going to be my read-aloud.  Information technology'southward my favorite part of the solar day.

I love the fact that I get to expose students to books that they may not accept picked up from the shelf themselves.  I love that I get to read books in a higher place their ain independent reading levels that will stretch their minds.  I love that I get to model expression and fluency that captures their hearts!  I honey the fact that half of my class volition get their hands on a copy of the book somehow, someway (exist it at the library or bookstore) then they tin follow along or even read alee!  I dear read-aloud time and I have some favorite chapter books that are mainstays in my classroom.

My read-aloud time is typically 15-20 minutes.  At least, that's what it says on my schedule.  I may be known to stretch it out a bit. :)  I plan a "loose" read-aloud schedule at the beginning of the year and then that I'grand never at a loss to what I'll be reading.  All the same, I'1000 always upwardly to effort a new book with my kiddos and so this schedule is very flexible.

In order to expose my students to a wide variety of books, I don't exclusively read chapter books during this time.  I also use this time to dive into some in-depth author studies.  There are about iv weeks in a calendar month - that makes 20 school days.  A chapter volume may take me 10 days to go through.  Then, I'll spend about 10 days reading film books by a sure author and focusing on the author's craft.  It sets a practiced remainder.  You tin can see my outline on the elevation of my planning agenda Hither.

So, ane chapter volume a month....about x months in a school yr.  That ways, you'll need about 10 really great chapter books to read aloud.  Introducing my top 10 favorite read-alouds for my 2nd course classroom...

If y'all've talked read-alouds with me before, you know that my number one read-aloud is

The Doll People

.  I dearest this book you lot!  When I first heard of information technology years ago, I was reluctant.  I idea the name lonely would turn away my boys.  I was wrong.  This book has something for everyone - mystery, take chances, fantasy.  It's simply captivating.

Information technology's about an 8-year old girl doll and her family who live in a doll house in the Palmer's firm  The dolls take underground lives, but have to be conscientious not to allow the Palmers know that they're living dolls or else they will be thrust into doll state.  In this volume, Anabelle is determined to discover her Auntie Sarah who has been missing for 45 years and along the style, she finds a all-time friend who brings out the best in her!

The first time I read this book aloud to a class, they stood and applauded at the end.  Talk about eye-warming!  They ate it up!  The next morning, my class was gathered at the backpack of a fiddling daughter who had merely entered the room when I heard a gasp.  Interested in what they were doing, I approached them only to realize the girl had went to the library to bank check out the book and discovered (much to everyone's daze, including mine!) that there was a sequel to the book!  My students have even written to the author trying to persuade her to write more than books and to turn this i into a film!

In that location are actually now four books in this serial and they are ALL on our must-read list every yr.  The second i with the introduction of Mean Mimi is probably my favorite and the newest one is probably my least favorite.  It was very cool that the students noticed right off the bat that there was a new illustrator on the books with the newest addition.

Roald Dahl is non everyone'due south cup of tea, simply I promise you that your students volition LOVE his books!  I could easily insert some of his other masterpieces (

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

,

James and the Giant Peach

, or

George's Marvellous Medicine)

here, merely I chose

The BFG

considering my students always select it as one of their most favorites.  In fact, this past twelvemonth, it was chosen every bit the best read-aloud by my class (yes, it even beat out out

The Doll People

for the kickoff time)!

Dahl's books are a bit on the darker side with humor that kids, especially boys, just love!  This volume is virtually a Large Friendly Behemothic who befriends a piddling orphan named Sophie.  Together, they hatch a plan to take down the other ix Giants who consume "man beans."  Information technology is sure to evangelize some abdomen laughs (with the chapter well-nigh whizpoppers) and a few tense moments as well (equally they talk about the other giants gobbling up children).  One affair is for sure, Dahl always makes the world of fantasy come up to life!

These books may just be my favorite to read aloud with my class.  This is a bit surprising considering I hate to read books that make me cry.  I e'er cry in these, but it'south such a powerful experience to share with my children.  The showtime time they see me cry they are shocked and in awe.  These books are written by Ann Martin, the aforementioned author who wrote

The Doll People

above.  I guess yous could say, I'1000 a fan. ;)

These books are definitely at a higher level so they are books my students wouldn't otherwise read.  The first couple of chapters actually start slow, painting a picture of the setting and characters.  Just soon, your students will be captivated.  These books follow two stray puppies throughout their lives, which aren't easy for sure.  They are separated and we never know what happens to one of them....until the second book!  The second book may be my favorite for the fashion it is written.  The chapters spring dorsum and forth between three storylines that all intertwine by the terminate of the book - with a shocking "AHA" moment for students.  It'due south a blazon of volume that my students have never been exposed to and I love existence the first to explore this format with them.

These books also assistance build an empathy in my students for life in general.  They are so eager to assistance animals after reading these books and we often use them equally a spark to assistance out a non-turn a profit animal organization.  The fact that a single read-aloud could spark a class to desire to change the globe...I mean, isn't that our ultimate goal?

Gooney Bird Greene is the perfect character for beginning of the year 2d graders!  She'southward a second grader herself, but non just any 2d grader.  Gooney Bird is a new student who marches to her ain beat.  She wears outlandish clothes, speaks her mind, and loves to be smack dab in the heart of everything, specially every bit a storyteller!

Gooney Bird Greene

is a perfect inspiration for writing personal narratives.  She teaches students that stories demand good beginnings, middles, and endings and that when yous're stuck, a "of a sudden" is the perfect discussion to keep the story going!

There are really a lot of Gooney Bird Greene books!  Each book focuses on a unlike blazon of writing (or learning), so I like to integrate them into the units they lucifer.

I don't always accept time to read them all, but the three higher up are must-reads in my classroom.  We read

Gooney Bird Greene

at the beginning of the year when nosotros learn to write personal narratives.  Nosotros read

Gooney the Fabled

as we learn about fables and

Gooney Bird Is So Absurd

is perfect for integrating into a poetry unit.

Edward Tulane is a stuffed rabbit.  In this book, he is separated from the little daughter he lives with and finds himself in many different adventures.  Along the way, he has many unlike owners who give him various identities/names and along the manner Edward wonders if he knows about dear.  The ending is one students never meet coming...often they take a pause and so you tin can picket the lightbulbs start coming on!  It truly is a heartwarming tale and a beautifully written masterpiece.  If information technology's non a classic, yet - it will be!

Sometimes, you're looking for a quicker read-aloud that is a piddling more than light-hearted.

Snot Stew

is a playful tale of 2 kittens, Toby and Kiki, who detect themselves on their own after their mother leaves.  They are soon taken in by the Burkes and find themselves viewing the human world through kitten eyes, making this the perfect book for inferring equally the kittens describe each new thing they encounter.  Students find that it's fun to hear a story being told from another's perspective.  Don't allow the title of this volume turn y'all off....it'southward non actually virtually snot stew....or even snot at all.  How the title came about is one of the biggest surprises to be revealed in this book that teaches an important lesson of sharing and greed.

Speaking of greed,

The Chocolate Touch

, is a archetype story of how greed can affect your life.  This is another fun, quick chapter book that students volition consume up!  Who doesn't dearest chocolate?  Who wouldn't rather consume chocolate than dinner?  But, what if chocolate was the only affair you could eat (or drink) for the rest of your life?  Sounds practiced initially, but let this volume accept you on the adventure and you will presently change your heed as y'all learn a few important life lessons.

If abdomen laughs are what you're looking for, Lulu will exist loved in your classroom.  She is a bossy, rather rude little girl who wants what she wants when she wants it.  Lulu stories are short - I may accept been known to read one of these in but a day or 2 - and students LOVE the fact that in that location are some capacity that are just a few sentences, capacity similar Eight and a One-half, etc.  I'm sure that they tin all encounter a little of themselves in Lulu which makes them really connect with her as a character, simply they too see what'south wrong with Lulu and celebrate when she decides to modify her ways....simply a bit.

As of this post, there are three LuLu books out.  While I would suggest all of them, Lulu Walks the Dogs may be my favorite with the introduction of Fleischman, a know-it-all, goody-goody boy who lives nearby and tries to befriend Lulu.

I feel like

Toys Go Out

is actually unlike from whatsoever other book on this list.  It is a silly, goofy story nigh the lives of a little daughter'due south three favorite toys - a buffalo, a stingray, and a bouncy ball.  They explore a world of unkowns (like the washing automobile and the beach) and help each other sympathize what really makes each one special.  This is a short read-aloud for offset affiliate volume readers that too gives not bad opportunities for making inferences.  If you're looking for a quick book to fill a few days, this i might be perfect.

In that location are and then many more great books I could add to this listing.  I really struggled with this last one.

Charlotte's Spider web

,

Trumpet of the Swan

...at that place are so many classics that are deserving.  However, most of my students have already been exposed to

Charlotte's Web

by the fourth dimension they go to me (either the volume or the movie).  Don't worry, I don't let that stop me from sharing information technology with them again, merely I will let it stop me from adding it to this list.  Instead, I'll go with this classic -

Freckle Juice

.  I'm always shocked that almost none of my students accept ever heard of this volume, especially since information technology'southward such a curt one....possibly perfect for a offset grade read-aloud.  But, since not, I usually read it towards the start of the year.

My copy is onetime...like, mine from when I was a kid, and a bit tattered, so I didn't get a picture of it.  In fact, I'm going to club a new copy today!  But, the story of Andrew wanting something that he doesn't have (freckles) and know-it-all Sharon selling him the secret recipe for freckle juice makes for a classic tale of entertainment....as well as countless writing opportunities in the classroom.

I hope that these suggestions take given you some new ideas for read-alouds in your second class classroom.  If you have some great read-alouds you think I should check out, comment with them below!  I would beloved to explore some new stories with my class! :)

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