Chapter Books for Boys – 2nd – 4th Grade

This post was sponsored on behalf of Zenni Optical via One2One Network. All opinions stated are my own.

Foster a love for reading with these engaging chapter books for boys.  Perfect for 2nd – 4th graders.

When your child learns to read, it’s amazing.  Phew.  Major lifetime milestone complete.  But when your kids discovers a love of reading?  Magic.

As a die-hard reader myself, I know the joy and the comfort of a fabulous book.  The places you can travel in your imagination, the soothing effect of reading before bed, and the endless R&R great books provide.

My son Graham, who is like me in so many ways, shares my passion for books as well.  Sure, we read as a family every night before bedtime, but as of late?  He’s waking up early to read.  Taking breaks from the pool to rest on a towel and get through a few chapters.  And, staying up into the wee hours of the night when the plot starts to thicken.  I simply don’t have the heart to tell him to stop reading…  it’s kinda like saying, please stop eating your broccoli.  You need to save room for ice cream.

I don’t think you can force a kid to be a lover of books, but you can certainly make sure they have the right tools and hope for the best.  I’m so glad to have found some of these chapter books that inspired my son to pick-up recreational reading.  Hopefully, armed with these great series that are perfect for 2nd and 3rd grade boys (and yes, girls too!), you’ll soon have a little bookworm of your own.

Captain Underpants – Rule #1: just because it’s not something I want to read doesn’t mean I shouldn’t let them read it.  Sure, I can pass on Professor Poopypants and Wedgie Woman, but if it makes my kid laugh?  And feel a little scandalous?  They’re gonna love it.  The series currently boasts 14 books and three spin-offs.  That’s a lot of underpants, but hey…

From the publisher: “Faster than a speeding waistband… more powerful than boxer shorts…” It’s Captain Underpants! Young readers will devour these paperbacks in the side-splitting, potty-humored (literally) Captain Underpants series. These books are award-winning–but really, who cares about awards when you’re reading about talking toilets and the perilous plot of Professor Poopypants?

Magic Treehouse – This was the first series that my son actually got into.  I love that there are so many, and almost always dozens available to check out at the library.  My son doesn’t seem to mind skipping either, often reading books based on availability rather than what’s next in the series.

From the publisher: Jack and his little sister Annie are just two regular kids from Frog Creek, Pennsylvania. Then they discover a mysterious tree house packed with all sorts of books…and their lives are never the same! Soon they are traveling through time and space in the magic tree house and having amazing adventures.

The I Survived Series – Each book in this series tells a terrifying and thrilling story from history, through the eyes of a boy who lived to tell the tale.  Although sometimes I feel like I need to give a little context to the event, I’ve been really surprised about how well my son has understood each story and was mature enough to ask me questions on his own, when he had them.

Harry Potter: I’m fairly certain these books need no introduction. And, if I’m to be honest, I haven’t read them myself. What I do know is my son is voraciously consuming. It’s been a Harry Potter summmer and I’m happy to indulge his fascination and get him all the books he can read!

Hardy Boys: Does a classic ever get old? Not when it involves mysteries and the Hardy Boys. I loved Nancy Drew mysteries when I was my son’s age, and I’m delighted that he’s enjoying them. He’s about half way through the first and I’ve gotta feeling we’ll be collecting these by the dozen, shortly.

Secrets of Droon: I picked a few of these up at a consignment sale. When I showed them to Graham, he was thrilled. Unbeknownst to me, he’d been on the waitlist for a few books in this series at his school’s library. #Pattingmyselfontheback

From the Publisher: Eric, Julie, and Neal have just found something magic in Eric’s basement. They have discovered a staircase to another world! The world of Droon is amazing – full of magic, flying lizards, and fun, furry creatures. But how will Eric, Julie, and Neal find their way home? Maybe their new friend, Princess Keeah, can help?

The Elementia Chronicles: If you have a minecraft fan in your house, then why not select a series inspired by his favorite game?

From the Publisher: Fans of the bestselling video game Minecraft, middle grade readers, and action-adventure story enthusiasts of all ages are about to embark on an exciting journey that will take them far beyond the world they know. Dark forces are at work on the Elementia server, and when new players Stan, Kat, and Charlie arrive on the scene, they quickly find themselves in peril. Targeted by more experienced players, the noobs must band together against the king, battle the natural forces of the game, and unravel the mysteries of Elementia in the name of justice.

Alien Dude: This might be the first chapter book my son read. The author, whom lives in my hometown, made a visit to my son’s school for a book signing. Let’s just say he came home that day enthusiastic to read both of the Alien Dude books.

From the Publisher: When the villain Wormzilla attacks the school with his army of worms, Alien Dude uses his super powers to destroy them all. This first entry in an early-reader adventure series for reluctant boy (and girl) readers features chapters and multiple plots alongside hilarious cartoon illustrations and gross-out humor.

The “Who Is and What Was Series” Series – Just go ahead and start buying these. Lots of them. We pick them up when we travel with the family (i.e. What is the Statue of Liberty and Who Were the Wright Brothers). And, we’ve gotten them for school projects (Who was George Washington and Who Was Anne Frank), and then some just because he wanted them (What Was Pearl Harbor).  Filled with fact and context, these are fairly quick reads that will have them armed with enough trivia that you might consider bringing them to trivia night next week!

I hope these books are a good start to filling out your future reader’s library.  A few other things to consider when trying to foster a love for reading:

1) Don’t force it!  Sure, they have required reading time for homework, but outside of that just make sure they have the books that they want to read available.

2) If they seem to struggle, get their eye-sight checked!  Glasses are an easy fix.  Brands like Zenni Optical make it super-easy to find on-trend, quality eyewear for the whole family to wear with confidence at affordable prices.  Plus, they have tons of kid styles and sizes.  Speaking of glasses, I’ve been recently informed by family that they think my vision is slipping.  (Whah?) So yeah, gonna get my eyes checked too.  Might see me stylin’ in some Zenni Optical frames soon.

3) Make it fun!  Create a reading nook, set up an indoor tent, or even provide a flashlight for bedtime reading.  Anything to make the experience feel special!

Now I gotta ask… what are your child’s favorite chapter books?