The BEST Chapter Books for Second Graders
Inside: Printable list of 30 early reader chapter books perfect for elementary kids.
With eyes wide, chattering a mile a minute, Olivia, my seven year old, animatedly recounts the latest book she read.
You see, she recently entered the world of early reader chapter books. A feat of which she is super proud.
She has now joined the ranks of older siblings who stay up too late reading under the covers. And she is proving to be as voracious a reader, leaving me scrambling to find enough books for her to read!
Thankfully, we have quite the selection here at the house.
What are Early Reader Chapter Books?
For a little clarification, early reader chapter books are the middle step between picture books and novels. Typically between 100-200 pages, these are the first chapter books most children read. This length is also perfect for seven-year-old attention spans.
Once my children are ready for chapter books, I start them out with early readers around 100 pages. Sometimes, these are still illustrated. Then they move up to 200-page chapter books.
Once those are easy, I find it’s a natural transition to novels.
What Age Should Children Begin Reading Chapter Books?
Honestly, it depends. I’ve had children reading early reader chapter books at age four and five and novels by seven.
Early readers are typically meant for ages 6-8, however, it greatly depends on your child’s skill and comfort in reading. A struggling reader, a child with a learning disability, or one who simply dislikes reading may take longer to reach the early reader stage or stay in it longer.
Even though seven is the average age kids start reading chapter books on their own, they can be enjoyed by a variety of ages.
My Child Only Wants to Read Picture Books. How Do I Transition Them?
My oldest daughter is a gifted child. She was one who began kindergarten reading fluently. At seven, she was perfectly capable of reading most juvenile novels. Instead, she chose to read picture books.
If your perfectly capable reader only wants to read picture books, don’t panic. In fact, many picture books have wonderfully rich vocabulary with great stories.
Sometimes, this desire to linger in picture books has to do with the maturity of the child. Picture books require less focus and attention than early reader chapter books. Children can get through more books in the same amount of time. And picture books, well, have pictures, which make them more enticing.
Keep encouraging with early readers. For Raena, it was just a matter of waiting. For some of my others, it took finding a book they clicked with to spark the reading bug.
And, you can always read the books aloud until they are ready to try themselves. In fact, you should keep reading books aloud even after they have graduated from early reader chapter books.
What About Early Reader Twaddle?
Ah, twaddle. For those familiar with Charlotte Mason, you know her great disdain for allowing children to read twaddle.
Twaddle is essentially those books that while visually appealing, offer little substance. These are not “the best books.”
Examples of twaddle in early readers would be Junie B. Jones, Dear Dumb Diaries, Goose Bumps, or Captain Underpants. All appeal to young readers but offer little in substance or value.
Now, my children have read all of these and enjoyed them. However, these are not the books I lead with. I typically try to steer my children toward early readers with good morals and values or at least with clever writing.
When it comes to teaching my children which books to choose to read, we teach them to look for those that align with our values and encourages them to do good.
Sometimes, they choose twaddle.
As long as the majority of what they are choosing is not twaddle, then we let it slide.
You will have to decide what is right for your family. Personally, I would rather have my children reading than not. And to be honest, sometimes I like a “twaddle” read myself.
How Do I Find A Chapter Book My Seven Year Old Will Enjoy?
There are some children who will happily read anything placed in front of them and others who require a little more effort to find something they enjoy.
When looking for chapter books my kids I consider the following:
- Is the main character or characters someone my child can identify with. For example, are they the same gender, close in age, have siblings, wear glasses, etc. Children like to picture themselves in books and having a protagonist who they can relate to helps them bond with the character.
- What personality traits does my child exhibit? Are they adventurous, curious, loyal? Do they daydream a lot? When they play make-believe are they magical creatures or realistic ones? Answers to these questions help me narrow down which books are more likely to be a hit.
Answers to these questions can help give you a starting point of when to begin looking. Sometimes, I am surprised by the books my children are drawn to. But usually, I have an idea of what might interest them.
If my children turn away a book I thought they would like, occasionally it’s because I introduced it too early. When I first gave Olivia the Goldtown Beginning Series, she made it through the first chapter and then declared them boring. Six months later and she was devouring the entire series.
30 Best Chapter Books for Elementary Kids
Here are some of the best chapter books my seven year old is loving:
Download a copy of The Ultimate Early Reader Chapter List here.
Whether you are looking for a good chapter book for a seven year old to read independently or one to read aloud to children younger or a little older, you are sure to find several on this list to fall in love with.
The Best Places to Get Discount Children’s Books
Because my kids are such voracious readers, most of the time, we acquire our reading selections from the local library. But there are times when I want to own the physical copies. For example, when giving books as gifts. Or for curriculum I know I will reuse with other children. And sometimes, I simply like to have good books on hand for my children to read and re-read at their leisure.
If I’m not giving the book as a gift, then I prefer to save money and buy my books used or discounted.
When buying used books, I prefer books with a rating of “good” or above. I avoid books with an “acceptable” rating since they are typically in rougher shape and I still need them to survive children. When possible I buy “very good” or “like new.”
My Favorite Places for Buying Used Children’s Books
I tend to buy my used children’s books online. When I am looking for a specific book, this saves me time from having to travel to and browse used bookstores.
The two sites I always compare for the best deal are:
Between these two sites, I can usually find what I am looking for. Most of the time, I can even get free shipping. If I need a book quickly, then I usually check Amazon first to see if they have any being sold with Prime, but I get the best deals when I plan ahead.
Where to Buy New Children’s Books at a Discount
When I’m looking to buy new children’s books, but don’t want to pay retail store prices, I check out the Library and Educational Services site. They are a wholesale distributor who also sells to homeschools. You can read my review of them here.
Stock Up on Batteries!
Once your child enters the world of chapter books be prepared to stock up on flashlight batteries! I hope this list serves as a jumping-off point for your young reader. May their days be filled with ignoring chores to read and their nights hiding under the covers, book and flashlight in hand.
