Pick of the Decade 1995-2005:
2nd Grade

Picture Books

Alexander, Lloyd. How the Cat Swallowed Thunder , 2000.

Mother Holly instructs Cat to do the chores while she is away but instead he makes mischief of one kind or another. (See also: The King's Fountain ; The House Gobbaleen ; and The Fortune-Tellers .)

Best, Cari. Goose's Story , 2002.

Each spring, a girl and her dog watch the Canadian geese return. One year she notices that a goose is missing a foot and does her best to help it. (See also: Shrinking Violet .)

Brown, Arthur. Arthur Lost and Found , 1998.

One of the myriad of "Arthur" stories, here, Arthur and Buster take a bus for the first time. When they fall asleep the miss their stop and end up lost in a strange part of town. (One of the Arthur series which begins with Arthur's Nose .)

Burleigh, Robert. Goal! , 2001.

It's the last soccer game of the season and in the final minutes, the score is tied as the story-line follows the action to its dramatic conclusion. (See also: Hoops .)

Cannon, Janell. Verdi , 1997.

Verdi, a vivid yellow, baby python, is determined to never grow up, but when he does, he discovers that he still has a bit of baby python in him after all. (See also: Stellaluna and Crickwing. )

Clements, Andrew. Double Trouble in Walla Walla , 1997.

Lulu is sent to the principal's office when she can't stop spouting nonsense words. Soon she is not the only one affected by the weird word-warp.

Daly, Niki. Once Upon a Time , 2003.

Sarie, who lives in South Africa , has trouble reading, until practicing with her Aunt Anna gives her confidence.

dePaola, Tomie. Strega Nona Takes a Vacation , 2000.

When Strega Nona sets off for the seashore for a much needed vacation, she leaves her assistants, Big Anthony and Bambolona in charge and that can only lead to trouble. (See also: Strega Nona ; Big Anthony and the Magic Ring ; Strega Nona's Magic Lessons ; Merry Christmas Strega Nona ; Strega Nona Meets Her Match ; Strega Nona: Her Story ; and Big Anthony: His Story .)

English, Karen. Hot Day on Abbott Avenue , 2004.

After having a fight, two friends spend the day ignoring each other, until the lure of a game of jump rope helps them to forget about being mad.

Fleischman, Paul. Weslandia , 1999.

Wesley grows a garden full of large, strange plants and decides to create his own civilization.

Funke, Cornelia. The Princess Knight , 2003.

Princess Violetta learns the same knightly skills as her brothers, but when they tease her, she practices at night until she becomes better than they are.

Harper, Jo. Outrageous, Bodacious Boliver Boggs , 1996, o.p.

Boliver Boggs, a mighty teller of tall tales, spins a new story every morning as he explains why he is late for school.

Hoffman, Mary. Boundless Grace , 1995.

Grace feels a bit uneasy about journeying to visit her father and his new family in Africa , but her grandmother tells her that families are what you make of them and Grace is determined to make the most of hers. (See also : Amazing Grace .)

Howard, Elizabeth Fitzgerald. Lulu's Birthday , 2001.

Laura and J. Matthew enjoyed the summer with their great-aunt Lulu and now they are planning a special surprise for her birthday.

Joosse, Barbara. Hot City , 2004.

Mimi and her little brother Joe escape from home and the city's summer heat to read and dream about princesses and dinosaurs in the cool, quiet library.