Current 2x2 Reading List
The 2X2 Reading List is a project of the Children’s Round Table, a unit of the Texas Library Association.
Texas Library Association sponsors the 2X2 Reading List solely to encourage free voluntary reading.
Titles on the 2x2 lists are paired with simple activities to make reading together even more fun and labels to put inside book covers. Both English and Spanish versions will be available soon for this new list.
Suggestions of books for the committee to consider for inclusion on the reading list may be made by librarians, teachers and parents.
Points to consider when recommending a book for consideration by the 2x2 committee.
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You must have read the book.
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The content of the book must be age appropriate for children two years through grade two.
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The copyright date must be 2011 for the 2012 list.
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Only book formats are eligible.
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The book must have an English text, but dual language and translations will be considered.
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The book must have received a favorable review in a reviewing source.
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Ineligible categories of materials are textbooks, abridgments, and new editions or portions of books previously published.
Suggestions for the next list must be submitted by November 15, 2011.
Use the online form or recommend a title by sending the appropriate information by email.
Visit the Mackin Booktalk website, which is is made possible by leading authors, publishers, state award programs and Mackin Educational Resources.
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2012 Texas 2x2 Reading List
Download 2012 list - doc
Ashman, Linda. No Dogs Allowed! Illustrated by Kristin Sorra. Sterling. ISBN 978-1-4027-5837-9. $14.95. Ages 4-8. Welcome to Alberto's restaurant…unless you're a dog, a cat, a bunny, or ANYTHING with fur, feathers, or scales!
Beaumont, Karen. No Sleep for the Sheep! Illustrated by Jackie Urbanovic. Harcourt. ISBN 978-0-15-204969-0. $16.99. Ages 4-7. A sheep wants nothing but to go to sleep in the big red barn on the farm, but each time he closes his eyes, another animal moos or neighs to come in.
Chabon, Michael. The Astonishing Secret of Awesome Man. Illustrated by Jake Parker. Balzer+Bray. ISBN 978-0-06-191462-1. $17.99. Ages 5-8. A young superhero describes his awesome powers, which he then demonstrates as various foes arrive on the scene.
Crosby, Jeff. Wiener Wolf. Disney Hyperion. ISBN 978-1423413983-6. $15.99. Ages 4-7. Wiener dog’s easy life has lost its luster. So when the call of the wild comes, he answers! Weiner Dog becomes...Weiner Wolf.
Crum, Shutta. Mine! Illustrated by Patrice Barton. Knopf. ISBN 978-0-375-86711-8. $16.99. Ages 2-5. Two young children and a dog learn about the troubles and triumph of sharing.
Czekaj, Jef. Cat Secrets. Balzer+Bray. ISBN 978-0-06-192088-2. $16.99. Ages 3-6. Important secrets about how best to live a cat's life will be revealed only to those who can prove that they are genuine cats.
Ehlert, Lois. Rrralph. Beach Lane. ISBN 978-1-4424-1305-4. $17.99. Ages 2-5. The narrator describes discovering how Ralph the dog can talk, appropriately saying such words as "roof", "rough", "bark," and "wolf".
Gormley, Greg. Dog in Boots. Illustrated by Roberta Angaramo. Holiday House. ISBN 978-0-8234-2347-7. $17.95. Ages 4-8. After reading "Puss in boots", a young dog decides to try a variety of shoes, only to find the perfect footwear is right under his nose.
Hall. Michael. Perfect Square. Greenwillow. ISBN 978-0-06-191513-0. $16.99. Ages 4-8. A perfect square is torn, punched with holes, and crumpled but finds with each transformation that it can be something new and just as happy.
Hoppe, Paul. The Woods. Chronicle Books. ISBN 978-0-8118-7547-9. $16.99. Ages 4-7. Being afraid of the dark doesn't mean being afraid alone. When a boy can't find his favorite stuffed bunny, he bravely heads into the woods to look for it.
Judge, Lita. Red Sled. Atheneum. ISBN 978-1-4424-2007-6. $16.99. Ages 2-8. At night, a host of woodland creatures plays with a child's red sled.
Klassen, Jon. I Want My Hat Back. Candlewick Press. ISBN 978-0-7636-5598-3. $15.99. Ages 4-8. A bear almost gives up his search for his missing hat until he remembers something very important.
Kosteciki-Shaw, Jenny Sue. Same, Same But Different. Henry Holt. ISBN 978-0-8050-8946-2. $16.99. Ages 4-8. Pen pals, Elliott and Kailish discover that even though they live in different countries they both love to climb trees, own pets, and ride school buses.
McDonnell, Patrick. Me…Jane. Little, Brown and Company. ISBN 978-0-316-04546-9. $15.99. Ages 3-8. Holding her stuffed toy chimpanzee, young Jane Goodall observes nature, reads Tarzan books, and dreams of living in Africa and helping animals.
Niemann, Christoph. That’s How! Greenwillow. ISBN 978-0-06-201963-9. $16.99. Ages 2-5. A very imaginative boy answers a girl's questions about how different kinds of vehicles work.
Ray, Mary Lyn. Stars. Illustrated by Marla Frazee. Beach Lane. ISBN 978-1-4424-2249-0. $16.99. Ages 4-6. Explore the wonder of stars, whether they are in the night sky, on a plant as a promise of fruit to come, or in one's pocket for days when one does not feel shiny.
Rinker, Sherri Duskey. Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site. Illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld. Chronicle Books. ISBN 978-0-8118-7782-4. $16.99. Ages. 2-8. At sunset, when their work in done for the day, a crane truck, a cement mixer, and other people pieces of construction equipment make their way to their resting places to go to sleep.
Rocco, John. Blackout. Disney Hyperion. ISBN 978-142312190-0. $16.99. Ages 4-8. A boy and his family find magic in a summer blackout.
Stevens, April. Edwin Speaks Up. Illustrated by Sophie Blackall. Schwartz & Wade. ISBN 978-0-375-85337-1. $16.99. Ages 4-8. Before his family leaves the grocery store, Baby Edwin makes sure their grocery cart contains the last ingredient needed to make his birthday celebration complete.
Vamos, Samantha R. The Cazuela That the Farm Maiden Stirred. Illustrated by Rafael López. Charlesbridge. ISBN 978-1-58089-242-1. $17.95. Ages 5-8. A cumulative tale of a farm maiden who, aided by a group of animals, prepares "Arroz con Leche," rice pudding.