1970s books assigned in 2nd grade
US schools assign 26 books written in the 1970s to 2nd grade students, across 8 states, spanning 350L–470L. Every title below is cited from a state ELA standard, district reading list, or AP/IB syllabus.
Most widely assigned from the 1970s
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing
Judy Blume · on 8 reading lists
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- Titles
- 26
- Written
- 1970–1979
- Lexile range
- 350L–470L
- States assigning
- 8
The list — 1970s, 2nd grade
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A Story, a StoryGail E. Haley
Africa DreamEloise Greenfield
Amos & BorisWilliam Steig
Anno's AlphabetMitsumasa Anno
Anno's JourneyMitsumasa Anno
Arrow to the SunGerald McDermott
Ashanti to ZuluMargaret Musgrove
Big Bad BruceBill Peet
Cloudy with a Chance of MeatballsJudi Barrett
CornrowsCamille Yarbrough
Duffy and the DevilHarve Zemach
Frog and Toad Are FriendsArnold Lobel · 350L
How Droofus the Dragon Lost His HeadBill Peet
Little Rabbit's Loose ToothLucy Bate
Liza Lou and the Yeller Belly SwampMercer Mayer
Miss Nelson Is MissingHarry Allard
Noah's ArkPeter Spier
One Fine DayNonny Hogrogian
Ox-cart ManDonald Hall
Ray CharlesSharon Bell Mathis
Tales of a Fourth Grade NothingJudy Blume · 470L
The Funny Little WomanArlene Mosel
The Garden of Abdul GasaziChris Van Allsburg
The Girl Who Loved Wild HorsesPaul Goble
Show all 26 titles
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- The Treasure · Uri Shulevitz
- Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears · Verna Aardema
Most-assigned 1970s authors in 2nd grade
Mitsumasa Anno (2) · Bill Peet (2) · William Steig · Gerald McDermott · Arnold Lobel · Mercer Mayer
Common questions
- How many 1970s books are assigned in 2nd grade?
- 26 books written between 1970 and 1979 appear on 2nd grade reading lists tracked by ReadingList. Each one is cited from a state department of education, district list, or AP/IB syllabus.
- What Lexile range do these 1970s books cover?
- Lexile measures for the 1970s titles assigned in 2nd grade run from 350L to 470L. Poetry, drama, and graphic novels without a published Lexile measure are not counted in that range.
- Are these assigned nationally or in a few states?
- 8 states assign at least one 1970s title at 2nd grade in the lists tracked here, so this is a broad pattern rather than a single state's canon. Per-state lists are on each state page.