Recommend a book for a 2nd-grader and Badger football

Cafe Society
1

Not one and the same, thank god.

I need to find a book for my little cousin who is in second or third grade. He likes animals – when he and his older brother were asked if they wanted to be farmers when they grew up, the older one said, “No way!” but he said, “I think I can do it, if you let me try.” Probably the most adorable little boy on earth.

I’m thinking about getting him Pirateology, because it looks amazing, or Bunnicula, because I remember reading it at that age and thinking it was pretty cool. His brother is getting Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett. I want to get him something that he’ll be able to read on his own, which rules out things like the Redwall books. I’m really out of touch with what little boys like, seeing as I’ve never been one, and my brothers were fairly weird little boys.

Would Charlotte’s Web be appropriate? What about Roald Dahl books? I’m worried that those would be out of his reading level. Dopers, what are you second and third-graders reading?

The book on the University of Wisconsin-Madison Badgers football team is for my grandparents, who are fans of all things Badger. Any other Badger fans out there with recommended reading? Or something that people in their early seventies would like?

2

Hey, look at that missing preposition. That’s a book on Badger football.

3

Is that about the right age for The Hardy Boys?

4

I can’t claim to be a Badgers fan, but have you looked at:[ul]
[li]Tales from the Wisconsin Badgers ($17.95). [/li][li]On Wisconsin!: The History of Badger Athletics ($13.57 from Amazon.com). [/li][li]Always a Badger: The Pat Richter Story ($13.57 from Amazon.com). [/li][li]Don’t Flinch [Barry Alvarez: The Autobiography] ($24.95) – “The story of Wisconsin’s all-time winningest coach”.[/li][li]Third Down and a War to Go [The All-American 1942 Wisconsin Badgers] ($26.95).[/li][/ul]

5

Charlotte’s web is a great choice. My son read it in 2nd grade and loved it.

Other suggestions:

Cricket in Time Square (might be a bit advanced for 2nd grade)

The Littles (my personal favorite at a kid)

Flat Stanley

Goosebumps (about 60000 titles in this series. My son liked Cry of the Cat.)

Captain Underpant’s series.

Wind in the Willows ( badgers!)

Magic TreeHouse Book Series ( learn history at the same time. About 29 or 30 books in the series now.) Probably get the set on Ebay used. I stopped buying them because my son would have his new book nearly read by the time we made it home from the bookstore ( ok, he started reading the book while I shopped and lollygagged, but still.)

Harry Potter 1 .

Dragonology

Egyptoloty

Wizardology ( I love these books. The only one missing is the Pirate one.)

Don’t overlook Graphic Novels as a gift.
In contusion, I recommend perusing Chinaberry for other tantalizing book selections for all reading levels and interests.

6

Charlotte’s web is a great choice. My son read it in 2nd grade and loved it.

Other suggestions:

Cricket in Time Square (might be a bit advanced for 2nd grade)

The Littles (my personal favorite at a kid)

Flat Stanley

Goosebumps (about 60000 titles in this series. My son liked Cry of the Cat.)

Captain Underpant’s series.

Wind in the Willows ( badgers!)

Magic TreeHouse Book Series ( learn history at the same time. About 29 or 30 books in the series now.) Probably get the set on Ebay used. I stopped buying them because my son would have his new book nearly read by the time we made it home from the bookstore ( ok, he started reading the book while I shopped and lollygagged, but still.)

Harry Potter 1 .

Dragonology

Egyptoloty

Wizardology ( I love these books. The only one missing is the Pirate one.)

Don’t overlook Graphic Novels as a gift.
In contusion, I recommend perusing Chinaberry for other tantalizing book selections for all reading levels and interests.

7

My gift this year to children of about that age was Mr. Popper’s Penguins, by Richard Atwater. It was one of my favorites as a kid, and it’s easy to read, too.

I also like D’Aulaire’s Book of Greek Myths.

8

Also, I do think Roald Dahl is a good choice, especially Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, but only if you don’t get the movie tie-in version!

9

How about Tolkien’s Mr. Bliss? It’s worth it just to get the kid obsessed with Girabbits.

10

Another recommendation for the Captain Underpants books, especially if the kid likes “potty humor”. The vocabulary might be a tad high for second graders (at least starting second graders), but I’ve seen first-graders tackle them without too much trouble.

Plus, since the Captain Underpants books have been banned by uptight prudish boring people, giving 'em is a great way of horking the prudes off. :smiley:

11

Third Down And A War To Go is absolutely dead on perfect for a Badger football fan in their 70’s. Great book.

12

Sure . . . but the Freddy the Pig books are better!

13

Thanks for all the recommendations, everyone. I’ve decided to go with Charlotte’s Web and the Badgers book that Lamar Mundane suggested. I’ll let you know how they both go over.