13 Best Chapter Books to Read Aloud in First and Second Grade!

As a primary teacher, I am a huge fan of a good read aloud. While I have written a lot about my love for using interactive picture books, my passion for chapter books for read alouds grew later in my career. This list is of my favorite chapter book recommendations is the result of years of experience teaching 1st and 2nd grade.

I have read and re-read each of these classic and modern chapter books many times, and have used them in my own classroom for both whole-group and small-group instruction. I love these kid’s chapter books so much that I have created my own read aloud lessons and activities to go along with them. Below, you will find a brief summary of each chapter book and why I recommend it for your students.

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Classic Chapter Books

My Father’s Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett

In this fantasy classic, a young boy named Elmer journeys to a forbidden island to rescue an abused dragon. As we follow along on Elmer’s adventure, we discuss character traits and analyze the problems he encounters and the clever solutions he devises to outsmart the dangerous animals he meets.

Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White

No list of the best chapter books is complete without this timeless story. It’s a classic for a reason! This touching story about the friendship between a pig named Wilbur and a spider named Charlotte will have your students asking meaningful questions about friendship and the meaning of life. This book is also full of great vocabulary words.

Stuart Little by E.B. White

Another E.B. White classic, this book follows the adventurous Stuart, a shy mouse living in New York City. Students love to read about Stuart’s journey to find his friend Margalo. When I read this story aloud, I encourage students to visualize the setting and compare Stuart to other characters from other books, such as Ralph from The Mouse and the Motorcycle.

The Magic Treehouse: Dinosaurs Before Dark by Mary Pope Osborne

A popular choice for second and third graders, the books in this fantasy series are both adventurous and educational. In the first book, Dinosaurs Before Dark, siblings Jack and Annie discover a magical treehouse and travel back to the time of the dinosaurs. While reading this book, we discuss the differences between Jack and Annie as characters and talk about who we relate to more.

The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary

This fun-filled story is about an unlikely friendship between a spunky mouse named Ralph who lives in a hotel and a boy named Keith. Ralph is a natural adventurer, and students love following his journey. We focus on comparing the two main characters and identifying the problems and solutions that arise in the story.

Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown

When a bulletin board falls on Stanley Lambchop, he becomes flattened, but he isn’t hurt! Students love listening to all the exciting new things Flat Stanley can do with his body, and they love watching him become a hero. As we read this story, we focus on character development and problem-solving.

Jenny and the Cat Club by Esther Averill

This collection of short stories was a new discovery for me. The stories follow a little black cat named Jenny who is trying to make friends. Each story has a clear problem and solution, making it easy to discuss with students. Students relate to Jenny’s adventures, and we talk about the lessons learned in each story.

Nate the Great by Marjorie Sharmat

This classic mystery follows a young detective named Nate the Great as he helps his friend Annie find her missing picture. This book is perfect for students who love mysteries, and it provides a great opportunity for students to make predictions.

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Modern Chapter Books

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

This poignant novel is perfect for older students and tells a story about animal abuse through the eyes of Ivan, a gorilla who lives in a shopping mall. He thinks he has a wonderful life until he meets a new friend, Ruby, and begins to question his living situation. This beautiful story has a powerful message, and although the vocabulary can be difficult at times, it does not take away from the meaning of the book.

Mercy Watson to the Rescue by Kate DiCamillo

Geared toward younger students, this is a very funny book. In her first adventure, Mercy Watson, a pig who loves toast, accidentally saves the day while searching for more of her favorite snack. While reading this colorful book, we talk about cause and effect and compare the characters we meet.

The Chocolate Touch by Patrick Catling

This story follows a boy named John Midas who loves chocolate so much that one day everything he touches turns into chocolate. Sound familiar? My younger students love the fantasy of everything turning into chocolate, while my older students enjoy learning about “The Midas Touch” and comparing the two stories. We focus on identifying the story’s theme and how the main character changes.

Toys Go Out by Emily Jenkins

This fun story is told from the perspective of three toys—Lumphy, StingRay, and Plastic. Each chapter is from a different toy’s perspective, and my students love to imagine what their toys might do while they are away. As I read this story aloud, we spend a lot of time comparing the characters and discussing point of view.

Jaden Toussaint, The Greatest by Marti Dumas

The first book in this series is about a bright kindergartner named Jaden who becomes addicted to technology after using his dad’s phone. This recent series was published in 2015, and so many of my students can relate to Jaden’s quest for screen time. We focus on retelling the story, comparing ourselves to the main character, and discussing his character traits. This book is also full of great vocabulary words. Grab the FREE read aloud lesson for this book below!

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What are some of your favorite chapter books to read aloud to your students? Share them with me in the comments!

If you’d like to use any of the books on this list in your own classroom, I have created a read-aloud lesson with chapter questions, a comprehension booklet, writing responses, and vocabulary activities for each one! Want a free sample? Just enter your information below to receive the read aloud lesson for Jaden Toussaint, the Greatest & the Quest for Screen Time!

Or grab it on TPT!

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