Every year, the Texas Library Association creates a reading list for books aimed at kids in K-2nd grade. I usually try to read as many as I can and this year - I read them all!  Hooray for me! I've included my own reviews for some books; for others I have provided the publisher blurb. And I have highlighted my personal faves. So if you are looking for some great books, this list is a great place to start. I found all of these at my local library!

TLA'S 2021 2x2 Suggested Reading List

Boxitects by Kim Smith. Clarion Books.  

Meg goes to Maker School to hone her talent for building with boxes, but when Simone, another boxitect, arrives they become so competitive they nearly fail in the annual Maker Match. Be sure to have a few boxes on hand to build your own creation!

Every Night is Pizza Night by J. Kenji López-Alt. Illustrated by Gianna Ruggiero. W.W. Norton.  

Convinced that pizza is the best food, Pipo will eat nothing else until her fed-up parents send her on a quest to prove that no dishes in their multicultural neighborhood are better. Be prepared to order - or make - pizza after reading this one! Fortunately, it includes a pizza recipe.

Facts vs. Opinions vs. Robots by Michael Rex. Nancy Paulsen Books.  

Robots try to figure out the difference between facts and opinions. A cute introduction/reminder for this extremely important topic.

Federico and the Wolf, by Rebecca Gomez. Illustrated by Elisa Chavarri. Clarion Books.  

A modern retelling of Little Red Riding Hood in which Federico rides his bicycle to the market for Abuelo's groceries, then stands up to a hungry wolf. Includes a recipe for pico de gallo and glossary of Spanish terms.

First Day Critter Jitters by Jory John. Illustrated by Liz Climo. Dial Books for Young Readers.  

The animals are worried about the first day of school. Sloth is afraid that he won't get there on time. Parrot has a tendency to repeat things, and doesn't want to annoy anyone. Snake can't figure out how to carry a backpack. But when they get to class on the first day, the critters are all surprised to find out that they aren't the only jittery ones, and that it's easier and more fun to face new things when you do it together.

Hike by Pete Oswald. Candlewick Press.  

In the cool and quiet early light of morning, a father and child wake up. Today they're going on a hike. Follow the duo into the mountains as they witness the magic of the wilderness, overcome challenges, and play a small role in the survival of the forest. By the time they return home, they feel alive -- and closer than ever -- as they document their hike and take their place in family history. Wordless! 

I Am Every Good Thing by Derrick Barnes. Illustrated by Gordon C. James. Penguin. 

This upbeat, empowering, important picture book pays homage to the strength, character, and worth of a child.

Louis by Tom Lichtenheld. Illustrated by Julie Rowan-Zoch.  

Louis the bear has had enough. From day one, life has been one indignity after another. If he's not being used as a hankie, he's being hung out to dry--literally. (No one likes clothespins used on their ears!) This teddy is sneaking away just as soon as he can. Then again, no use running off in the rain . . .or during a show-and-tell routine. Maybe Louis has something to lose, after all.  It's adorable - and funny!

Packs – Strength in Numbers by Hannah Salyer. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 

Out of all of these books, this was my least favorite. I appreciated the information on names for different groupings of animals -- herd for American bison; cloud for bats; and an implausibility of wildebeests, for example. And it is good to be reminded that there are endangered animals. And also that diversity is important. But I felt that the book couldn't really decide what it wanted to be. And I was very distracted by the smiling animals. What about the wildebeests? No smiles on the wildebeests, butterflies, ants, bees, or coral. But all of the other animals were drawn with smiling faces. And I'm not sure why....

A Polar Bear in the Snow by Mac Barnett. Art by Shawn Harris. Candlewick Press. 

Follow a magnificent polar bear through a fantastic world of snow and shockingly blue sea. Over the ice, through the water, past Arctic animals and even a human...where is he going? This book is fun AND filled with information!

See the Cat – Three Stories About a Dog by David LaRochelle. Illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka. Candlewick Press.  

What happens when the book gets it wrong? Max is not a cat-- Max is a dog! But much to his dismay, this book keeps instructing readers to "see the cat." How can Max get through to the book that he is a dog? This is a trio of stories for beginning readers that build to an immensely satisfying conclusion.

Shapes by Shelley Rotner and Anne Woodhull. Photographs by Shelley Rotner. Holiday House.  

Beautifully photographed, a diverse group of children explore the unexpected shapes of everyday sights and objects. So many shapes!
I really enjoyed this shape book. I liked that it included some information at the beginning about the importance of learning shapes - "Some studies suggest that seeing different shapes might help children see the different shapes of letters and numbers." This book does a great job of encouraging little ones and their parents to look for naturally occurring shapes.

Speak Up by Miranda Paul. Illustrated by Ebony Glenn. Clarion Books.  

You don't always have to use your voice to speak up. You can write it down, pick up trash, stand by a friend or make some art to show how you feel. Sometimes you do need to say something, though. If you make a mistake, say you are sorry. If a name or word is hard to pronounce, ask the person to help you pronounce it correctly. Don't tell lies. Don't spread false information. And if you know others are doing that, then try to find a way to show the truth. The book includes ideas on how to speak up - both using your voice and not using your voice. And it provides an example of how one kid speaking up made a difference.

The Three Billy Goats Buenos by Susan Middleton Elya. Illustrated by Miguel Ordóñez. G.P. Putnam’s Sons.   

A wonderful retelling of one of my favorite folktales - The Three Billy Goats Gruff - the book starts with a vocabulary list of Spanish words that the reader will encounter in the text. And then our story starts off with cabritos uno and dos tricking the troll into letting them cross. But goat number three wants to know WHY the troll is so grumpy. Observant readers will already know the answer - and the goats are quick to figure out a way to help.

Underground: Subway Systems Around the World by Uijung Kim. Cicada Books Ltd.  

An informative book with an element of play, Underground is a Where's Waldo type book for anyone who loves subways. In addition to the search and find, there are lots of facts about each of the subways listed. What's the busiest subway in Europe, for example? The busiest subway in the world? How about the largest subway? Also - there is a glossary included in the back of the book that provides a definition for all of the interesting items you are looking for! A Noh mask in Tokyo and a pretzel in New York, for example. I am glad this is on the 2x2 list. It might have gotten lost in the stacks but now kids and parents will have fun learning amazing subway facts!

Up on Bob by Mary Sullivan. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.  

It's hard work getting everything just right for a nap -- and then Someone has to come along and create a hiccup in the process... What's a Bob to do?

What About Worms!? by Ryan T. Higgins and Mo Willems. Hyperion Books for Children. I love Ryan T. Higgins' books. And I love Elephant & Piggie. So it's no surprise that I loved this book! Tiger is very afraid of worms. But what about the worms? Do you think they are afraid of Tiger? Or have they discovered an awesome way to deal with their fears?

What Do You Do If You Work at the Zoo? by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page. Illustrated by Steve Jenkins. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.  

Another winner for Steve Jenkins! Would you like to carry a joey around in a pouch for six months? Weigh a python? Count penguins? Or help a hyena cool off by feeding it a blood Popsicle? Those are just a few of the many things that zoo workers do every day. I especially liked that a timeline of zoos was included in the back along with a list of the world's best zoos. There was also information on how zoos are constantly changing and why they are important. And now I want to go volunteer at a zoo! Though I'd probably be assigned to shoveling poop - a VERY important job at the zoo! 

The Yawns Are Coming! by Christopher Eliopoulos. Dial Books for Young Readers. 

Two friends are having a sleepover. They plan to stay up all night and have a long list of all the things they are going to do. But then, out of nowhere -- the Yawns are there! They try to resist but eventually give in to the inevitable sleepies and snoozes. Most importantly? They wake up happy the next morning (because they actually slept) and create a new list of adventures.
Very cute - though I'm not sure it will convince the night owls that sleeping is more important than night-time adventuring. 

You Matter by Christian Robinson. Atheneum Books for Young Readers. 

Christian Robinson is an amazing children's book author and illustrator! In this full, bright, and beautiful picture book, many different perspectives around the world are deftly and empathetically explored--from a pair of bird-watchers to the pigeons they're feeding. Young readers will be drawn into the luminous illustrations inviting them to engage with the world in a new way and see how everyone is connected, and that everyone - and everything - matters.