WELCOME TO 2026! IT'S JANUARY!

What a great month for books! TLA published there 2x2 list and the Bluebonnet winner should be announced soon. You must read Zip Zap Wickety Wack by Diffee. It's the funniest book I have read in a long time.  Black Mambas is on the Bluebonnet list for next year and I think it might have a shot. For this year, I'd love to see Magnolia Wu win. Or Stuntboy. But Pedro's Yo-Yos was also really good. The ALA Youth Media Awards were also announced. The biggies - Fireworks won the Caldecott (written by Matthew Burgess and illustrated by Cátia Chien) and Renée Watson's All the Blues in the Sky won the Newbery. I loved Fireworks; I haven't read Watson's book - I know it is a book about grief and death. With everything happening right now, I have to be in the mood to read a book that I know will make me sad. However, I am sure there is hope also! So I will read it soon. There were tons of other great titles. I Hear the Snow, I Smell the Sea was a Schneider Family award winner. Every Monday Mabel by Jashar Awan won a Caldecott Honor (their picture books are delightful!). Buffalo Dreamer by Violet Duncan won an American Indian lit award; Will's Race for Home by Jewell Parker Rhodes won a Corretta Scott King award; and Candace Fleming won multiple lifetime awards along with winning a YA non-fiction for her Death in the Jungle. Bardugo's The Invisible Parade won a Pura Belpré honor for John Picacio's illustrations - very well-deserved. Along with The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest by Aubrey Hartman and The Teacher of Nomad Land by Daniel Nayeri winning Newbery honors, it was a lovely list. And my TBR has grown exponentially, of course. From what I read this month, the new Interrupting Chicken is very cute. The new Bad Badger isn't published yet but if you liked the first one, you will love this one also. And the two picture book biographies for James Marshall and Arnold Lobel are simply lovely. You will appreciate their work so much more, if that is possible. And learn things along the way. Both are true love letters to them and to their amazing books. Also check out Cabin Head and Tree Head! It's a graphic novel that is on the surreal side but it will make you think a bit. I could go on - lots of great books. 

But what have YOU been reading?

                     

       

      

     

  

 

 

 

Presenting The Texas Library Association's 2x2 Reading List for 2026! 

These books are chosen for an audience of 2 year olds to 2nd graders. It's a great resource if you are looking for early elementary books.  I have read nine of these, soon to be ten since Zip Zap Wickety Wack is in my TBR picture book stack. I really like Don't Trust Fish and Every Monday Mabel. If you've ever had a kid who eagerly awaits the arrival of the garbage truck each week - Every Monday Mabel is a must read.  

 DECEMBER

Lots of reading in December!! 

A few things that stood out - A Forest Song by Kirsten Hall is a cento! I had never heard of a cento but I fell in love with the idea. Leigh Bardugo's The Invisible Parade is gorgeous. The History of We by Nikkolas Smith is (deservedly) getting award buzz and will help you readjust some thinking. And I loved Birdlore by Jess Keating because I love birds and it introduced me to a new Mighty Girl/Woman. Coach by Jason Reynolds was a satisfying conclusion to the Track series. And everyone needs to read Please Pay Attention by Jamie Sumner. I received The Patchwork Girl of Oz graphic novel and What the Dead Leave Behind by Rosemary Simpson for Christmas, among other books. And gifted myself Philip Pullman's The Rose Field which should be the final book about Lyra. We shall see! 

What books did you receive for the holidays?