2x2 Reading List
2009

See & hear the books
A new interactive web-site

The 2X2 Reading List is a project of the Children’s Round Table, a unit of the Texas Library Association. The 2X2 Committee‘s charge is to produce a list of 20 recommended books for children, age two to grade two. You can help with our statewide promotion of the reading list by introducing it in the following locations: • Public libraries • School libraries • Primary care facilities • Day care centers • Early childhood centers • Hospitals • Women, Infant and Children (WIC) sites • Health Department Clinics • Head Start locations.

The master list books, all recommended by one or more reviewing sources, should be evaluated in terms of each library’s selection policy.

It is not mandatory that a school or public library purchase all titles listed.

Becker, Bonny. A Visitor for Bear. Illustrated by Kady MacDonald Denton. Candlewick Press. ISBN-10: 978-0-7636-2807-9. $16.99. Ages 4-8. A love-hate relationship between Bear and Mouse turns a clever children's picture book into a tale of learning to be friendly and making new friends.

Buxton, Jane Browning. The Littlest Llama. Illustrated by Jenny Cooper. Sterling Publishing Company. ISBN-13: 978-1-4027-5277-3. $9.95. Ages 3 and up. Little llama wants to play but his family is too busy, so he wanders off to find a playmate and finds adventure and a wonderful surprise when he returns home.

Cumpiano, Ina. Quinito, Day and Night, Quinito, Dia y Noche. Illustrated by Jose Ramirez. Children's Book Press. ISBN 13: 978-0-89239-226-1. $16.95. Ages 4-8. Little Quinito and his family take the reader through a day filled with opposites, including short/tall, quiet/loud, and rainy/sunny.

Elliott, David. On the Farm. Illustrated by Holly Meade. Candlewick Press. ISBN 13: 978-0-7636-3322-6. $16.99. Ages 2-6. Beautiful woodcut illustrations and simple humorous verses about farm animals will delight children.

Fox, Mem. Ten Little FINGERS and Ten Little TOES. Illustrated by Helen Oxenbury. Harcourt, Inc. ISBN 13: 978-0-15-206057-2. $16.00. Ages 2-5. Rhyming text compares babies born in different countries and in different circumstances, but they all share the commonality of ten little fingers and ten little toes.

Graham, Bob. How to Heal a Broken Wing. Illustrated by the author. Candlewick Press. ISBN 13: 978-0-7636-3903-7. $16.99. Ages 3 and up. Told in small panels, this sweet, gentle story is for all ages with a reminder to take time to care and help in a busy world.

Grant, Judyann Ackerman. Chicken Said, “Cluck!” Illustrated by Sue Truesdell. HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN 13: 978-0-06-028723-8. $16.99. Ages 4-8. Pearl and Earl set out to grow pumpkins with the help of a pesky chicken in this story for emergent readers.

Hills, Tad. What's Up Duck? A Book of Opposites. Illustrated by the author. Schwartz & Wade Books. ISBN 13: 978-0-375-84738-7. $6.99. Ages 2-5. This is a very basic board book about some important early life concepts presented in a way young children will respond with giggles and smiles.

Isadora, Rachel. Uh-oh! Illustrated by author. Harcourt. ISBN 13: 978-0-15-205765-7. $16.00. Ages 2-5. This little toddler's energy pops off the pages as he gets into mischief. Children will love to chime in on the Uh-Oh!'s repeated after each of the child's antics, with a surprise ending to make everyone laugh.

Mariconda, Barbara. Sort it Out! Illustrated by Sherry Rogers. Sylvan Dell Publishing. ISBN 13: 978-1-934359-11-2. $16.95. Ages 4-8. This little packrat presents one of the basic science methods by sorting the things he has collected. The pictures have all kinds of surprises in them, including another packrat who turns out to be the sister.

Mora, Pat. Let's Eat! ! A comer! Illustrated by Maribel Suarez. HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN 13: 978-0-06-085038-8. $12.99. Ages 4-8. A family grateful for its many blessings comes together for a traditional family meal.

Nevius, Carol. Baseball Hour. Illustrated by Bill Thomson. Marshall Cavendish Children. ISBN 13: 978-0-7614-5380-2. $16.99. Ages 4-8. Outstanding photo realist-like illustrations combined with clever poetic verse, supercharges young readers with a thrilling game of little league baseball.

Schories, Pat. Jack Wants A Snack. Illustrated by the author. Front Street. (Boyds Mills Press, Inc.) ISBN 13: 978-1-59078-546-1. $13.95. Ages 2- 6. Children will love exploring the illustrations and following this wordless story of puppy dog Jack as he attempts to obtain a snack of popcorn during an outdoor tea party.

Stewart, Amber. No Babysitters Allowed. Illustrated by Laura Rankin. Bloomsbury U.S.A. Children's Books. ISBN 13: 978-1-59990-154-1. $16.99. Ages 4-6. When his parents go out for the evening, Hopscotch works out his separation anxiety with the help of Mrs. Honeybunch and some good books.

Sutton, Sally. Roadwork. Illustrated by Brian Lovelock. Candlewick Press. ISBN 13: 978-0-7636-3912-9. $15.99. Ages 2-5. Rhyming text and bright illustrations show how a road is made, from planning to moving dirt, laying asphalt, putting up signs, and landscaping.

Tafolla, Carmen. What Can You Do With a Rebozo? Illustrated by Amy Cordova. Tricycle Press. ISBN 13: 978-1-58246-220-2. $14.95. Ages 3-6. Colorful illustrations reflect a simple, joyful family setting and present the many creative ways to use the rebozo, a traditional Mexican woven shawl.

Teckentrup, Britta. Grumpy Cat. Illustrated by the author. Boxer Books. ISBN 13: 978-1-905417-69-8. $14.95. Ages 2-4. A street cat, increasingly grumpy due to loneliness, changes his attitude when a small, abandoned kitten decides to be his friend.

Thomas, Jan. The Doghouse. Illustrated by the author. Harcourt, Inc. ISBN 13: 978-0-15-206533-1. $12.95. Ages 3-5. Cow, Pig, Duck, and Mouse are afraid to retrieve their ball when it goes into the dog's house, but when they do go in they are pleasantly surprised.

Urbanovic, Jackie. Duck Soup. Illustrated by the author. Harper Collins Publishers. ISBN 13: 987-0-06-121441-7. $16.99. Ages 4-8. Max the Duck wants to create the “perfect” soup. When he steps out the backdoor to find a missing ingredient, his friends Brody and Dakota fear the worst when they see a feather floating in the boiling soup.

Walsh, Melanie. 10 Things I Can Do to Help My World. Illustrated by the author. Candlewick Press. ISBN 13: 978-0-7636-4144-3. $15.99. Ages 3-6. Using cutaway pages and one lift-the-flap, Walsh has created an informative and wonderful book for showing young children how they can help conserve and take care of our earth.