# 2nd grade Realistic Fiction books

**143** realistic fiction books commonly assigned to 2nd grade students in US schools. Every title's grade range covers 2nd grade, so each is grade-appropriate by curriculum placement. Sourced from Common Core exemplars, AP, IB, Cambridge, and 50 state ELA curricula.

**Grade:** 2nd grade  ·  **Genre:** Realistic Fiction
**Canonical URL:** https://readinglist.school/genre/realistic-fiction/grade/2
**License:** [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) — please credit ReadingList.school when citing.
**Primary source — Common Core ELA exemplars:** https://www.nysed.gov/sites/default/files/programs/standards-instruction/appendix-b-text-exemplars-and-sample-performance-tasks.pdf

## 2nd grade Realistic Fiction reading list

- [A Fine, Fine School](https://readinglist.school/book/a-fine-fine-school) by Sharon Creech _(Grades K–3 · pub 2001)_
- [Again](https://readinglist.school/book/again) by Emily Gravett _(Grades K–3 · pub 2022)_
- [Amos & Boris](https://readinglist.school/book/amos-boris) by William Steig _(Grades 2–3 · pub 1971)_
- [Are You a Cheeseburger?](https://readinglist.school/book/are-you-a-cheeseburger) by Monica Arnaldo _(Grades K–3 · pub 2021)_
- [Arrowhawk](https://readinglist.school/book/arrowhawk) by Lola M. Schaefer _(Grades K–3 · pub 2004)_
- [Bad Kitty](https://readinglist.school/book/bad-kitty) by Nick Bruel _(Grades K–3 · pub 2005)_
- [Bagdad Ate It](https://readinglist.school/book/bagdad-ate-it) by Phyllis Green _(Grades K–3 · pub 1980)_
- [Basket](https://readinglist.school/book/basket) by George Ella Lyon _(Grades K–3 · pub 1990)_
- [Bedhead](https://readinglist.school/book/bedhead) by Margie Palatini _(Grades K–3 · pub 2000)_
- [Beware of Boys](https://readinglist.school/book/beware-of-boys) by Tony Blundell _(Grades K–3 · pub 1992)_
- [Big Bad Bruce](https://readinglist.school/book/big-bad-bruce) by Bill Peet _(Grades K–3 · pub 1977)_
- [Can I Be Your Dog?](https://readinglist.school/book/can-i-be-your-dog) by Troy Cummings _(Grades K–3 · pub 2018)_
- [Cat Secrets](https://readinglist.school/book/cat-secrets) by Jef Czekaj _(Grades K–3 · pub 2011)_
- [Chalk](https://readinglist.school/book/chalk) by Bill Thomson _(Grades K–2 · pub 2010)_
- [Chester](https://readinglist.school/book/chester) by Mélanie Watt _(Grades K–3 · pub 2010)_
- [Chez Bob](https://readinglist.school/book/chez-bob) by Bob Shea _(Grades K–2 · pub 2021)_
- [Copycat](https://readinglist.school/book/copycat) by Ruth Brown _(Grades K–3 · pub 1994)_
- [Counting by 7s](https://readinglist.school/book/counting-by-7s) by Holly Goldberg Sloan _(Grades 2–8 · pub 2014)_
- [Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa](https://readinglist.school/book/cowgirl-kate-and-cocoa) by Erica Silverman _(Grades 2–3 · pub 2005)_
- [Dandy](https://readinglist.school/book/dandy) by Ame Dyckman _(Grades K–3 · pub 2019)_
- [Diary of a Wombat](https://readinglist.school/book/diary-of-a-wombat) by Jackie French _(Grades K–3 · pub 2002)_
- [Dogku](https://readinglist.school/book/dogku) by Andrew Clements _(Grades K–2 · pub 2014)_
- [Dogzilla](https://readinglist.school/book/dogzilla) by Dav Pilkey _(Grades K–3 · pub 2003)_
- [Don't Fidget a Feather!](https://readinglist.school/book/dont-fidget-a-feather) by Erica Silverman _(Grades K–3 · pub 1994)_
- [Don't Need Friends](https://readinglist.school/book/dont-need-friends) by Carolyn Crimi _(Grades K–2 · pub 1999)_
- [Donut Feed the Squirrels](https://readinglist.school/book/donut-feed-the-squirrels) by Mika Song _(Grades 2–8 · pub 2020)_
- [Don’t Touch My Room](https://readinglist.school/book/dont-touch-my-room) by Patricia Lakin _(Grades K–3 · pub 1985)_
- [Drawn Together](https://readinglist.school/book/drawn-together) by Minh Le _(Grades K–3 · pub 2018)_
- [Except Antarctica!](https://readinglist.school/book/except-antarctica) by Todd Sturgell _(Grades K–3 · pub 2021)_
- [Exclamation Mark!](https://readinglist.school/book/exclamation-mark) by Amy Krouse Rosenthal _(Grades K–3 · pub 2022)_
- [Fireworks](https://readinglist.school/book/fireworks) by Matthew Burgess _(Grades K–3 · pub 2025)_
- [Frog Went A-Courtin'](https://readinglist.school/book/frog-went-a-courtin) by John M. Langstaff _(Grades K–3 · pub 1955)_
- [Gaston](https://readinglist.school/book/gaston) by Kelly DiPucchio _(Grades K–3 · pub 2017)_
- [Go Away, Big Green Monster](https://readinglist.school/book/go-away-big-green-monster) by Ed Emberley _(Grades K–3 · pub 1992)_
- [Grandpa's Teeth](https://readinglist.school/book/grandpas-teeth) by Rod Clement _(Grades K–3 · pub 1998)_
- [Guji Guji](https://readinglist.school/book/guji-guji) by Chen, Zhiyuan _(Grades K–3 · pub 2004)_
- [Harvey Potter's Balloon Farm](https://readinglist.school/book/harvey-potters-balloon-farm) by Jerdine Nolen _(Grades K–3 · pub 1994)_
- [He Came With the Couch](https://readinglist.school/book/he-came-with-the-couch) by David Slonim _(Grades K–3 · pub 2005)_
- [Heart of a Tiger](https://readinglist.school/book/heart-of-a-tiger) by Marsha Diane Arnold _(Grades K–3 · pub 1995)_
- [Herbie's Troubles](https://readinglist.school/book/herbies-troubles) by Carol Chapman _(Grades K–3 · pub 1981)_
- [Here Comes the Garbage Barge](https://readinglist.school/book/here-comes-the-garbage-barge) by Jonah Winter _(Grades 2–8 · pub 2010)_
- [High-Wire Henry](https://readinglist.school/book/high-wire-henry) by Mary Calhoun _(Grades K–3 · pub 1991)_
- [Hoodwinked](https://readinglist.school/book/hoodwinked) by Arthur Howard _(Grades K–2 · pub 2005)_
- [Hooway for Wodney Wat](https://readinglist.school/book/hooway-for-wodney-wat) by Helen Lester _(Grades K–3 · pub 2003)_
- [How to Stay Invisible](https://readinglist.school/book/how-to-stay-invisible) by Maggie C. Rudd _(Grades 2–8 · pub 2023)_
- [Humpty-Dumpty Egg-Splodes](https://readinglist.school/book/humpty-dumpty-egg-splodes) by O'Malley, Kevin _(Grades K–3 · pub 2003)_
- [Hungry Hen](https://readinglist.school/book/hungry-hen) by Richard Waring _(Grades K–2 · pub 2001)_
- [I Ain't Gonna Paint No More](https://readinglist.school/book/i-aint-gonna-paint-no-more) by Karen Beaumont _(Grades K–2 · pub 2005)_
- [I Need My Monster](https://readinglist.school/book/i-need-my-monster) by Amanda Noll _(Grades K–3 · pub 2009)_
- [I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato](https://readinglist.school/book/i-will-never-not-ever-eat-a-tomato) by Lauren Child _(Grades K–3 · pub 2000)_
- [Ida B. and Her Plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid Disaster, and (Possibly) Save the World](https://readinglist.school/book/ida-b-and-her-plans-to-maximize-fun-avoid-disaster-and-save-the-world) by Katherine Hannigan _(Grades 2–8 · pub 2004)_
- [If I Built a Car](https://readinglist.school/book/if-i-built-a-car) by Chris Van Dusen _(Grades K–3 · pub 2007)_
- [If I Built a School](https://readinglist.school/book/if-i-built-a-school) by Chris Van Dusen _(Grades K–3 · pub 2019)_
- [Julius, the Baby of the World](https://readinglist.school/book/julius-the-baby-of-the-world) by Kevin Henkes _(Grades K–3 · pub 1990)_
- [Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale](https://readinglist.school/book/knuffle-bunny-a-cautionary-tale) by Mo Willems _(Grades K–2 · pub 2004)_
- [Lawn Boy](https://readinglist.school/book/lawn-boy) by Gary Paulsen _(Grades 2–8 · pub 1993)_
- [Library Mouse](https://readinglist.school/book/library-mouse) by Daniel Kirk _(Grades K–3 · pub 2010)_
- [Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse](https://readinglist.school/book/lillys-purple-plastic-purse) by Kevin Henkes _(Grades K–3 · pub 1996)_
- [Lion vs. Rabbit](https://readinglist.school/book/lion-vs-rabbit) by Alex Latimer _(Grades K–3 · pub 2017)_
- [Little Rabbit's Loose Tooth](https://readinglist.school/book/little-rabbits-loose-tooth) by Lucy Bate _(Grades K–3 · pub 1975)_
- [Livingstone Mouse](https://readinglist.school/book/livingstone-mouse) by Pamela Duncan Edwards _(Grades K–3 · pub 1996)_
- [Liza Lou and the Yeller Belly Swamp](https://readinglist.school/book/liza-lou-and-the-yeller-belly-swamp) by Mercer Mayer _(Grades K–3 · pub 1976)_
- [Lulu's Mysterious Mission](https://readinglist.school/book/lulus-mysterious-mission) by Judith Viorst _(Grades 2–8 · pub 2014)_
- [Madeline Finn and the Library Dog](https://readinglist.school/book/madeline-finn-and-the-library-dog) by Lisa Papp _(Grades K–2 · pub 2016)_
- [Martha Speaks](https://readinglist.school/book/martha-speaks) by Susan Meddaugh _(Grades K–3 · pub 1992)_
- [Mei Li](https://readinglist.school/book/mei-li) by Thomas Handforth _(Grades K–3 · pub 1938)_
- [Memoirs of a Goldfish](https://readinglist.school/book/memoirs-of-a-goldfish) by Devin Scillian _(Grades K–3 · pub 2010)_
- [Millie Waits for the Mail](https://readinglist.school/book/millie-waits-for-the-mail) by Alexander Steffensmeier _(Grades K–3 · pub 2006)_
- [Minnie's Diner: A Multiplying Menu](https://readinglist.school/book/minnies-diner-a-multiplying-menu) by Dayle Ann Dodds _(Grades K–3 · pub 2004)_
- [Miss Nelson Has a Field Day](https://readinglist.school/book/miss-nelson-has-a-field-day) by Harry Allard _(Grades K–3 · pub 1985)_
- [Miss Nelson Is Back](https://readinglist.school/book/miss-nelson-is-back) by Harry Allard _(Grades K–3 · pub 1982)_
- [Miss Nelson Is Missing](https://readinglist.school/book/miss-nelson-is-missing) by Harry Allard _(Grades K–3 · pub 1977)_
- [Miss Smith's Incredible Storybook](https://readinglist.school/book/miss-smiths-incredible-storybook) by Michael Garland _(Grades K–3 · pub 2003)_
- [Mr. Fox's Game of "No!"](https://readinglist.school/book/mr-foxs-game-of-no) by David LaRochelle _(Grades K–3 · pub 2024)_
- [Mr. Tanen's Ties](https://readinglist.school/book/mr-tanens-ties) by Maryann Cocca-Leffler _(Grades K–3 · pub 1999)_
- [Muncha! Muncha! Muncha!](https://readinglist.school/book/muncha-muncha-muncha) by Candace Fleming _(Grades K–3 · pub 2001)_
- [My Explosive Diary](https://readinglist.school/book/my-explosive-diary) by Emily Gale _(Grades 2–8 · pub 2014)_
- [My Lucky Day](https://readinglist.school/book/my-lucky-day) by Keiko Kasza _(Grades K–3 · pub 2003)_
- [Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea](https://readinglist.school/book/narwhal-unicorn-of-the-sea) by Ben Clanton _(Grades K–3 · pub 2016)_
- [Never Spit on Your Shoes](https://readinglist.school/book/never-spit-on-your-shoes) by Denys Cazet _(Grades K–3 · pub 1990)_
- [No Such Thing](https://readinglist.school/book/no-such-thing) by Jackie French Koller _(Grades K–3 · pub 1997)_
- [Norman Didn't Do It!](https://readinglist.school/book/norman-didnt-do-it) by Ryan T. Higgins _(Grades K–3 · pub 2021)_
- [One Lucky Girl](https://readinglist.school/book/one-lucky-girl) by George Ella Lyon _(Grades K–2 · pub 2000)_
- [Peabody](https://readinglist.school/book/peabody) by Rosemary Wells _(Grades K–3 · pub 1983)_
- [Peter Spit a Seed at Sue](https://readinglist.school/book/peter-spit-a-seed-at-sue) by Jackie French Koller _(Grades K–2 · pub 2008)_
- [Pigs Aplenty, Pigs Galore!](https://readinglist.school/book/pigs-aplenty-pigs-galore) by David McPhail _(Grades K–3 · pub 1994)_
- [Poopsie Gets Lost](https://readinglist.school/book/poopsie-gets-lost) by Hannah E. Harrison _(Grades K–3 · pub 2022)_
- [Poor Louie](https://readinglist.school/book/poor-louie) by Tony Fucile _(Grades K–3 · pub 2017)_
- [Poppleton in Winter](https://readinglist.school/book/poppleton-in-winter) by Cynthia Rylant _(Grades 2–3 · pub 2001)_
- [Prayer for a Child](https://readinglist.school/book/prayer-for-a-child) by Rachel Field _(Grades K–3 · pub 1944)_
- [Press Here](https://readinglist.school/book/press-here) by Hervé Tullet _(Grades K–3 · pub 2011)_
- [Red Racer](https://readinglist.school/book/red-racer) by Audrey Wood _(Grades K–3 · pub 1995)_
- [Riptide](https://readinglist.school/book/riptide) by Frances Ward Weller _(Grades K–3 · pub 1990)_
- [Rotten Teeth](https://readinglist.school/book/rotten-teeth) by Laura Simms _(Grades K–3 · pub 1998)_
- [Round Trip](https://readinglist.school/book/round-trip) by Ann Jonas _(Grades K–3 · pub 1983)_
- [Rugby and Rosie](https://readinglist.school/book/rugby-and-rosie) by Nan Parson Rossiter _(Grades K–3 · pub 1997)_
- [Sam, Bangs & Moonshine](https://readinglist.school/book/sam-bangs-moonshine) by Evaline Ness _(Grades K–3 · pub 1966)_
- [Say What?](https://readinglist.school/book/say-what) by Margaret Peterson Haddix _(Grades 2–8 · pub 2004)_
- [Scaredy Squirrel](https://readinglist.school/book/scaredy-squirrel) by Melanie Watt _(Grades K–3 · pub 2006)_
- [Sharing Susan](https://readinglist.school/book/sharing-susan) by Eve Bunting _(Grades 2–8 · pub 1991)_
- [Shark vs. Train](https://readinglist.school/book/shark-vs-train) by Chris Barton _(Grades K–3 · pub 2010)_
- [Stanley's Wild Ride](https://readinglist.school/book/stanleys-wild-ride) by Linda Bailey _(Grades K–3 · pub 2006)_
- [Star in the Storm](https://readinglist.school/book/star-in-the-storm) by Joan Hiatt Harlow _(Grades 2–8 · pub 2000)_
- [Summer Vamp](https://readinglist.school/book/summer-vamp) by Violet Chan Karim _(Grades 2–8 · pub 2024)_
- [Swing](https://readinglist.school/book/swing) by Audrey Meeker _(Grades 2–8 · pub 2024)_
- [Tangerine](https://readinglist.school/book/tangerine) by Edward Bloor _(Grades 2–8 · pub 1997)_
- [Ted](https://readinglist.school/book/ted) by Tony DiTerlizzi _(Grades K–3 · pub 2004)_
- [The Aquanaut](https://readinglist.school/book/the-aquanaut) by Dan Santat _(Grades 2–8 · pub 2022)_
- [The Araboolies of Liberty Street](https://readinglist.school/book/the-araboolies-of-liberty-street) by Sam Swope _(Grades K–3 · pub 1989)_
- [The Barnabus Project](https://readinglist.school/book/the-barnabus-project) by Terry Fan _(Grades K–3 · pub 2020)_
- [The Bear and the Piano](https://readinglist.school/book/the-bear-and-the-piano) by David Litchfield _(Grades K–3 · pub 2015)_
- [The Box Turtle](https://readinglist.school/book/the-box-turtle) by Vanessa Roeder _(Grades K–3 · pub 2020)_
- [The Cow Who Wouldn't Come Down](https://readinglist.school/book/the-cow-who-wouldnt-come-down) by Paul Brett Johnson _(Grades K–3 · pub 1993)_
- [The Dog Who Had Kittens](https://readinglist.school/book/the-dog-who-had-kittens) by Polly M. Robertus _(Grades K–3 · pub 1988)_
- [The Gingerbread Man Loose in the School](https://readinglist.school/book/the-gingerbread-man-loose-in-the-school) by Laura Murray _(Grades K–3 · pub 2010)_
- [The Golden Hour](https://readinglist.school/book/the-golden-hour) by Niki Smith _(Grades 2–8 · pub 2021)_
- [The Grannyman](https://readinglist.school/book/the-grannyman) by Judith Byron Schachner _(Grades K–3 · pub 1999)_
- [The Great White Man-Eating Shark](https://readinglist.school/book/the-great-white-man-eating-shark) by Margaret Mahy _(Grades K–3 · pub 1989)_
- [The Monster Who Ate My Peas](https://readinglist.school/book/the-monster-who-ate-my-peas) by Danny Schnitzlein _(Grades K–3 · pub 2001)_
- [The Recess Queen](https://readinglist.school/book/the-recess-queen) by Alexis O'Neill _(Grades K–3 · pub 2002)_
- [The Secret Science Project That Almost Ate the School](https://readinglist.school/book/the-secret-science-project-that-almost-ate-the-school) by Judy Sierra _(Grades K–3 · pub 2006)_
- [The Sign Painter](https://readinglist.school/book/the-sign-painter) by Allen Say _(Grades 2–3 · pub 2000)_
- [The Soccer Mom From Outer Space](https://readinglist.school/book/the-soccer-mom-from-outer-space) by Barney Saltzberg _(Grades K–3 · pub 2000)_
- [The Stories Julian Tells](https://readinglist.school/book/the-stories-julian-tells) by Ann Cameron _(Grades 2–3 · pub 1987)_
- [The Toll-Bridge Troll](https://readinglist.school/book/the-toll-bridge-troll) by Patricia Rae Wolff _(Grades K–3 · pub 1995)_
- [The Wolf's Chicken Stew](https://readinglist.school/book/the-wolfs-chicken-stew) by Keiko Kasza _(Grades K–3 · pub 1987)_
- [The Yawns Are Coming](https://readinglist.school/book/the-yawns-are-coming) by Christopher Eliopoulos _(Grades K–3 · pub 2020)_
- [There's a Ghost in This House](https://readinglist.school/book/theres-a-ghost-in-this-house) by Oliver Jeffers _(Grades K–3 · pub 2021)_
- [Titanicat](https://readinglist.school/book/titanicat) by Marty Crisp _(Grades K–3 · pub 2008)_
- [Togo](https://readinglist.school/book/togo) by Robert J. Blake _(Grades 2–8 · pub 2002)_
- [Tops and Bottoms](https://readinglist.school/book/tops-and-bottoms) by Janet Stevens _(Grades 2–3 · pub 1997)_
- [Trouper](https://readinglist.school/book/trouper) by Meg Kearney _(Grades K–2 · pub 2013)_
- [Two bad Ants](https://readinglist.school/book/two-bad-ants) by Chris Van Allsburg _(Grades K–3 · pub 1988)_
- [We Forgot Brock!](https://readinglist.school/book/we-forgot-brock) by Carter Goodrich _(Grades K–3 · pub 2015)_
- [What Do They Do with All That Poo?](https://readinglist.school/book/what-do-they-do-with-all-that-poo) by Jane Kurtz _(Grades K–3 · pub 2018)_
- [What Happened to Patrick's Dinosaurs?](https://readinglist.school/book/what-happened-to-patricks-dinosaurs) by Carol Carrick _(Grades K–3 · pub 1986)_
- [When Zachary Beaver Came to Town](https://readinglist.school/book/when-zachary-beaver-came-to-town) by Kimberly Willis Holt _(Grades 2–8 · pub 1999)_
- [When the Wolves Returned](https://readinglist.school/book/when-the-wolves-returned) by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent _(Grades 2–8 · pub 2008)_
- [Who Wet My Pants?](https://readinglist.school/book/who-wet-my-pants) by Bob Shea _(Grades K–3 · pub 2019)_
- [Widget](https://readinglist.school/book/widget) by Lyn Rossiter McFarland _(Grades K–3 · pub 2001)_
- [Zen and the Art of Faking It](https://readinglist.school/book/zen-and-the-art-of-faking-it) by Jordan Sonnenblick _(Grades 2–8 · pub 2007)_
- [Zombies Don't Eat Veggies!](https://readinglist.school/book/zombies-dont-eat-veggies) by Jorge Lacera _(Grades K–2 · pub 2019)_
- [¡Vamos! Let's Go Eat](https://readinglist.school/book/vamos-lets-go-eat) by Raúl the Third III _(Grades 2–8 · pub 2020)_

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