Your child will be reading many books this year. A "just right" book is a book that your child can read independently; books should be neither too difficult nor too easy in order for your child to grow as a reader. Many children reach second grade and assume that reading should be all about "chapter books." The truth is, while many chapter books are fantastic for kids at this age, picture books are still of tremendous value to second grade readers as they tend to be full of rich vocabulary, detailed description and complex storytelling!
The "five finger rule" is one way for your child to choose a "just right" book.
Once your child has chosen a book, ask him or her to read the first page aloud. As your child reads, he/she should count on one hand any unknown words. If there are five or more unknown words on a full page of text, this book is too difficult! If your child knows all the words, it may be too easy.
When reading a "just right" book:
Children enjoy and benefit from rereading familiar text, but in order to grow as a reader, your child needs to read books which are "just right". If your child chooses a book that is too difficult, this would be a great choice for reading together.