January 12, 2016 | strande
Sometimes we just want to read about what's familiar or what's possible. Here are some suggestions for books that feature a high level of realism. You won't find many dragons or wizards or outer space adventures here, but you will find stories about things that really could happen. Books are suggested for Second Grade, but remember that each Reader is different, and might find something interesting at another level.
A young boy in Concord, Massachusetts, who loves superheroes and comes from a long line of brave Chinese farmer-warriors, wants to make friends, but first he must overcome his fear of everything. For more paranoid adventures of Alvin, look in JFICTION LOOK.
Eight-year-old EllRay's father has promised a family trip to Disneyland if EllRay can stay out of trouble for a week, but not defending himself against Jared, the class bully, proves to be a real challenge. For more Ellray Jakes, look in JFICTION WARNER.
Andrew wants freckles so badly that he buys Sharon's freckle recipe for fifty cents.
A most unusual new student who loves to be the center of attention entertains her teacher and fellow second graders by telling absolutely true stories about herself, including how she got her name. More Gooney Bird adventures can be found in JFICTION LOWRY.
Doug discovers that though being Harry's best friend in Miss Mackle's second grade class isn't always easy, as Harry likes to do horrible things, it is often a lot of fun. Find more adventures about Horrible Harry in JFICTION KLINE.
When seven-year-old Bean plays a mean trick on her sister, she finds unexpected support for her antics from Ivy, the new neighbor, who is less boring than Bean first suspected. Further adventures of Ivy and Bean can be discovered in JFICTION BARROWS.
Misnamed by her teacher, seven-year-old Just Grace prides herself on being empathetic, but when she tries to help a neighbor feel better, her good intentions backfire. More Just Grace books can be found in JFICTION HARPER.
Third-grader Wilson struggles with his times-tables in order to beat the class deadline.
When a classmate makes fun of her name, eight-year-old Stella picks a new one for herself, but discovers that the name she abandoned suits her just fine.
Seven-year-old Billy Miller starts second grade with a bump on his head and a lot of worries, but by the end of the year he has developed good relationships with his teacher, his little sister, and his parents, and he has learned many important lessons.