Best Children's Books for:
Guided Reading Level L
and D.R.A. Level 20
Below are books that are perfect for kids reading on Guided Reading Level L / DRA Level 20. (It's the same level--just some schools use the one book leveling system and others use the other.) In general, kids read books on level L / DRA 20 in second grade (although every child is different). We hope this list will help you get your reader stocked up for hours of reading fun, and as always, if you know of a good book you think we should include, just let us know.
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of the book titles below are linked to that book on Amazon (or to our
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Chester
(a spunky cat wants
to be the star of his
owner's book and
makes funny edits)
DRA 20 / Guided Rdg L
The Book with
No Pictures
(the reader has to
say the words on
the page...funny!)
DRA 20 / Guided Rdg L
Dog Breath
(corny but funny book
about a dog with
bad breath--lots
of play on words!)
DRA 20 / Guided Rdg L
Officer Buckle
and Gloria
(a dog steals the show
during safety assemblies
-- Caldecott Winner!)
DRA 20 / Guided Rdg L
The Gruffalo
(a mouse invents
a terrible monster
to save himself
from being eaten)
DRA 20 / Guided Rdg L
Dex: The Heart
of a Hero
(a little dog tries to
turn his dream of being
a Super Hero into reality)
DRA 20 / Guided Rdg L
No Jumping
on the Bed
(a boy jumps on the
bed & crashes thru to
neighbor apartments)
DRA 20 / Guided Rdg L
Gaston
(adorably illustrated
story about two dogs
accidentally switched
at birth --SO CUTE!)
DRA 20 / Guided Rdg L
One of Each
(a cute terrier used to
fill his 'perfect' house
with one of everything
until he makes a friend)
DRA 20 / Guided Rdg L
If You Take a
Mouse to School
(cute story of a
little mouse's ever
increasing demands)
DRA 20 / Guided Rdg L
Dogzilla
(the mouse residents
of Mousopolis try to
rid their city of the
terrible Dogzilla)
DRA 20 / Guided Rdg L
Duck & Goose
(two friends mistake
a ball for an egg and
fight over caring for it
--teaches cooperation)
DRA 20 / Guided Rdg L
Me...Jane
(snapshot bio of a
young Jane Goodall
and her love of nature
--Caldecott winner!)
DRA 20 / Guided Rdg L
Tacky the Penguin
(quirky little Tacky
annoys fellow penguins
until he saves the day)
DRA 20 / Guided Rdg L
Abuela
(a girl imagines that
she and her grandma
take a magical flight
over New York City)
DRA 20 / Guided Rdg L
Dear Mrs. LaRue
(a dog stuck in a dog
training school writes
exaggerated letters
to his owner--funny!)
DRA 20 / Guided Rdg L
I'm a Shark
(meet a little shark
who is 'apparently'
not afraid of anything!
Adorable and funny!)
DRA 20 / Guided Rdg L
Naked Mole Rat
Gets Dressed
(Wilbur is the only
Naked Mole Rat who
wants to wear clothes!)
DRA 20 / Guided Rdg L
Interrupting
Chicken
(a little chick keeps
interrupting his dad's
story--Caldecott book!)
DRA 20 / Guided Rdg L
I'm Dirty!
(a backhoe explains
why he loves his
dirty job--funny
sequel to I Stink!)
DRA 20 / Guided Rdg L
Animals Should
Definitely Not
Wear Clothing
(title says it all...
classic but so funny!)
DRA 20 / Guided Rdg L
Harvey Potter's
Balloon Farm
(a girl learns how
this farmer grows his
crop of balloons)
DRA 20 / Guided Rdg L
Song and
Dance Man
(grandpa shares stories
of his vaudeville days
--Caldecott Winner)
DRA 20 / Guided Rdg L
Scaredy Squirrel
(a very careful squirrel
tries to prepare for any
emergency..and then
learns a good lesson)
DRA 20 / Guided Rdg L
Adele & Simon
(as a brother & sister
make their way thru
Paris, he keeps leaving
things behind...Pretty!)
DRA 20 / Guided Rdg L
Ricky Ricotta Mighty Robot early chapter books: Some of the books in this popular series are written at DRA Level L / Guided Reading Level 20, including: Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot, Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot vs. the Mecha-Monkeys from Mars, Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot vs. the Stupid Stinkbugs from Saturn, and Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot vs. the Uranium Unicorns from Uranus. click here to see Ricky Ricotta Mighty Robot books on Amazon
Cam Jansen early chapter books: Some of the readers in this popular mystery series are written at DRA Level L / Guided Reading Level 20, including: The
Mystery of the Babe Ruth Baseball, The Mystery of the Monster Movie,
The Mystery of Flight 54, The Mystery of the Carnival Prize, The First
Day of School Mystery, The Mystery of the Stolen Corn Popper, The
Mystery of the Dinosaur Bones, The Mystery of the UFO, The Mystery of
the Television Dog, The Mystery of the Gold Coins, The Mystery of the
Monkey House, The Mystery at the Haunted House, The Mystery of the
Circus Clown...and MORE! click here to see Cam Jansen books on Amazon
Amelia Bedelia reader books: Some (but not all) of the readers in this silly classic children's book series are written at DRA Level L / Guided Reading Level 20, including: Amelia Bedelia, ...Helps Out, ...Goes Camping, ...Is for the Birds, ...Makes a Friend, ...Sleeps Over, ...Under Construction, ...and the Baby, ... and the Surprise Shower, ...Family Album, Good Driving..., Good Work..., Come Back..., Bravo..., and ...by the Yard. click here to see Amelia Bedelia books on Amazon
Horrible Harry early chapter books: Some of the readers in this classic kid-favorite series are written at DRA Level L / Guided Reading Level 20, including: Horrible
Harry at Halloween, ...and the Goog, ...in Room
2B, ...Takes the Cake, ...and the Dungeon,
...Goes to Sea, ...Moves Up to Third Grade,
...and the Purple People, ...and the Kickball
Wedding, ...and the Ant Invasion, ...and the
Dragon War, ...and the Green Slime, ...and the Christmas
Surprise, ...and the Drop of Doom, ...and the
Mud Gremlins, ...Secret (The few remaining books in the series that are not level L/20 are written at level M/24 to level O/34.) click here to see Horrible Harry books on Amazon
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return to list of books by Guided Reading Level or books by DRA Level or books for second graders