Oliver is excited because the famous Chef Antonia is going to visit his classroom. All the children are going to bring a family favorite food to share; however, Oliver doesn’t know what he is going to bring. To find out what happens next, read The Best Chef in Second Grade written by Katharine Kenah and illustrated by Abby Carter. This book is also available in book and CD kit format.

Soccer Song by Patricia Reilly Giff introduces us to Jill, a girl who loves sports. She uses her strong hands and long arms to play many outdoor games and even rescues a cat! But you cannot use your hands or arms when you play soccer! Can Jill use her head and find a way to be really good at soccer? A story written especially for young children all about trying to do your best. This is a Green Light Readers Level 2 series book.

David A. Adler's Young Cam Jansen series is a great one for kids who are starting to read on their own. The reading level is roughly grades K-2 and ages 5-8.

The books are short, tame, but interesting mysteries that readers can try to solve before Cam Jansen solves them. "Cam," short for Camera, is the nickname of Jennifer Jansen, an elementary school girl with a photographic memory and a wonderful attitude. There are 16 books in the series and counting, so kids will have plenty of stories in this series to satisfy them. The illustrations by the accomplished Susanna Natti are vivid and attractive. And each book includes a "Memory Game" at the end of the book. The best thing about the series, though, may be that kids that read all the books in this series can graduate to the longer, slightly more difficult  books of the Cam Jansen Adventures series.

For more information about Cam Jansen, check out the Cam Jansen Mysteries website.

How to Drive Your Sister Crazy by Diane Z. Shore, features Bradley Harris Pinkerton and his big sister.  Need a chapter book for an early reader?  Here’s one you can suggest for any boy who has a big sister.  With chapters called Hide & Ssseek (about a snake of course), Out of Order (which gives hints for rearranging certain things in a big sister’s room), and Phone Fun (we all know how much girls love talking on the phone), the tricks and tips are sure to cause lots of laughs.  As the author and Bradley suggest though, we may not want to show this book to any big sisters.