# Advice on buying books for a second-grade girl **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 21, 2018, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-buying-books-for-a-second-grade-girl/826461 "2018-12-21T02:49:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![BlueInfinity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BlueInfinity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlueInfinity)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2018, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-buying-books-for-a-second-grade-girl/826461/21 "2018-12-21T20:14:55Z")
Any “recommend a book for a child” thread needs a Phantom Tollbooth recommendation, so here it is. Does she like a modern, historical, fantasy, or scifi setting? If you can track down the Princess Academy trilogy, I recommend it. Ella Enchanted is also good. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2018, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-buying-books-for-a-second-grade-girl/826461/22 "2018-12-22T04:19:47Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > Nancy Drew mysteries? Yes! That was about the age I was when I started reading Nancy Drew, Trixie Belden ad the Bobsey Twins mysteries. ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2018, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-buying-books-for-a-second-grade-girl/826461/23 "2018-12-22T23:50:52Z")
The Melendy books by Elizabeth Enright: The Saturdays, The Four-Story Mistake, And Then There Were Five, and Spiderweb for Two. Flora and Ulysses, by Kate DiCamillo, and the Mercy Watson books by Kate DiCamillo (which are easier to read). I agree with taking her to a bookstore. There are lots of great nonfiction books for young readers her age, and she might see a book about a subject you didn’t know she was interested in. Or maybe even she didn’t know it until she sees the book. ---
**Author:** ![Patx2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/73ab20/32.png) [@Patx2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patx2)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2018, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-buying-books-for-a-second-grade-girl/826461/24 "2018-12-23T04:04:56Z")
Julie B Jones, there are lots of them. ---
**Author:** ![Patx2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/73ab20/32.png) [@Patx2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patx2)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2018, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-buying-books-for-a-second-grade-girl/826461/25 "2018-12-23T04:06:02Z")
That should’ve been Junie B. Jones. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2018, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-buying-books-for-a-second-grade-girl/826461/26 "2018-12-23T11:34:45Z")
I actually would think she’d be ready for at least the first Narnia book (Wardrobe, of course–even has a bit of Christmas in it) if she’s doing the Little House books. But you know here better than we do. What comes to mind are the books my sister liked at that reading level. She was into the American Girl books, which all have a Christmas or Winter holiday book for book 3. She was also into Babysitter’s Little Sister books. Both sets have this type of ritual to them with how they are arranged. And, yeah, the Phantom Tollbooth was fun at that age, even if I didn’t understand any of the satire at the time. ---
**Author:** ![araminty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5e925/32.png) [@araminty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/araminty)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2018, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-buying-books-for-a-second-grade-girl/826461/27 "2018-12-23T20:19:41Z")
Please go and ask the children’s librarian! The problem with soliciting kidlit recommendations from oldies is nostalgia. Many of the books mentioned here are objectively bad books. Rose-coloured glasses, yanno? I’m not saying all classic kidlit is bad, far from it. It’s just that time marches on, and if the same two dozen titles keep getting bought for the next generation of eight year-olds, how do newer titles ever get a look-in? Ask your librarian what kids that age are reading in your town. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2018, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-buying-books-for-a-second-grade-girl/826461/28 "2018-12-23T21:29:34Z")
**araminty** , I understand what you are saying, and I do think I’ll talk to one of the kid librarians when I’m at work next Wednesday. But even thought the older books have non PC stuff in them(Pa Wilder in blackface, anyone?) they are sill good books and the unPC parts could be a teaching tool. ---
**Author:** ![araminty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5e925/32.png) [@araminty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/araminty)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2018, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-buying-books-for-a-second-grade-girl/826461/29 "2018-12-23T22:51:24Z")
I don’t mean for people to feel defensive about their own childhood faves. And I don’t specifically object to any one aspect of older books. Just that, the world has changed, and so has the field of children’s literature. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2018, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-buying-books-for-a-second-grade-girl/826461/30 "2018-12-24T00:47:48Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > **araminty** , I understand what you are saying, and I do think I’ll talk to one of the kid librarians when I’m at work next Wednesday. But even thought the older books have non PC stuff in them(Pa Wilder in blackface, anyone?) they are sill good books and the unPC parts could be a teaching tool. Oops, it wasn’t Mr Wilder but Mr Ingalls in blackface, I was thinking of Laura’s married name!:eek: ---
**Author:** ![CelticKnot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/celticknot/32/3392_2.png) [@CelticKnot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CelticKnot)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2018, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-buying-books-for-a-second-grade-girl/826461/31 "2018-12-24T01:32:54Z")
If you want a Christmas themed book, _The Best Christmas Pageant Ever_ is wonderful. Hilarious and touching. I still get teary eyed when I read it. ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2018, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-buying-books-for-a-second-grade-girl/826461/32 "2018-12-24T04:07:16Z")
I asked my eight-year old granddaughter and here’s what she replied. The spelling is hers: June b Jones Marvin red post Hunpry the hamster ---
**Author:** ![Patx2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/73ab20/32.png) [@Patx2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patx2)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2018, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-buying-books-for-a-second-grade-girl/826461/33 "2018-12-24T04:12:57Z")
> [@JohnGalt](#): > > I asked my eight-year old granddaughter and here’s what she replied. The spelling is hers: > > June b Jones > Marvin red post > Hunpry the hamster Humphrey is a great choice! ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2018, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-buying-books-for-a-second-grade-girl/826461/34 "2018-12-24T14:05:13Z")
Boxcar Children Gertrude Chandler Warner The set includes the first four books in the series. The books were a childhood favorite of mine. Great introduction to mystery books. Then later the child can read Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys. [https://www.amazon.com/Boxcar-Children-Books-1-4/dp/0807508543](https://www.amazon.com/Boxcar-Children-Books-1-4/dp/0807508543) > [@](#): > > The Boxcar Children is a beloved series of chapter books that has been captivating readers for generations with its fun, easy to read storylines that feature a tight-knit group of children having adventures and solving mysteries together.Originally published in 1942, the Boxcar Children series has continued to grow, adding new adventures each year. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-buying-books-for-a-second-grade-girl/826461.md?page=1)