Texas 2x2 Reading List

Aston, D. (2006). An egg is quiet. Illus. by Sylvia Long. San Francisco: Chronicle Books LLC.

         

            The Egg is Quiet is an information book about all different kinds of eggs.  It shows the different animals and insects.  It shows that eggs come in all shapes, sizes, colors and textures. It shows how some eggs are sheltered by its parent while other are alone and have the colors of its surrounding to protect it from predators  This book also shows the different life stages of different eggs and how the egg grows silently until it surrenders the animal that grows within it.

            The pages of this book have a shiny photo finish that clearly shows all the vibrant colors of the different eggs.  This has intriguing end papers that show the different eggs in the front cover and there product in the back.

Genre:   Non-fiction

Format:  Picture book
Suggested Age or Grade level (s):  Ages 5-10
Awards:  2007 Texas 2*2 Award
               2006 Children’s and YA Bloggers’ Literary Award
               

Beaumont, K., & Urbanovic, J. (2011). No sleep for the sheep!. Boston: Houghton Children Books.

           

 Ah sleep, sheep is asleep in the big red barn on the farm.  Unfortunately for sheep, her fellow farm animals continuously interrupt her rest with noisy attempts to talk.  Will she ever get uninterrupted sleep? This is a great read-aloud.

Genre:   Fiction

Format: Picture Book

Suggested Age or Grade level (s):  Ages  4 - 8

Awards:    2012 Texas Library Association 2X2 Reading List  

Fox, M (2004). Where is green sheep? Illus. by Judy Horacek. Florida: Harcourt Books.

             This story uses a repetitious pattern as it involves the audience in looking for green sheep.  The author uses places and things that should be familiar to the reader as locations to look for the missing sheep such colors, weather, and things in which we travel. Well we haven’t found green sheep yet so let us keep looking.

            The illustrator uses simple clean lines to highlight the straight forwardness of the text.  The colors used in the illustrations are soothing like the text which is to lull little ones to sleep.

Genre:  Fiction

Format:  Picture Book
Suggested Age or Grade level (s):  Ages 4 - 8
Awards:    2004 Texas 2*2

Klassen, J., & Candlewick Press. (2011). I want my hat back. Somerville, Mass: Candlewick Press.

            Bear has lost his hat and wonders the forest in search of it.  As he wonders, he asks the other animals he encounters if they have seen the longed for hat.  Everyone says they haven't seen it but are they all telling the truth?  The illustrations are very simple and the background is sparse which allow the reader to focus on what is important the bear and his lost hat.  This book is a spectacular way to introduce dialogue and inference.

 Genre:   Fiction

Format: Picture Book
Suggested Age or Grade level (s):  Ages  4 - 8
Awards:     2012 Texas Library Association 2X2 Reading List  
                  2011 New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Books  
                  2012 Theodor Seuss Geisel Medal Honor Book  
                  2012 ALA Notable Children's Books  

Klassen, J., & Candlewick Press. (2012). This is not my hat. Somerville, Mass: Candlewick Press.

           

            Jon Klassen is back and this time the characters are underwater.  A little fish as stolen a hat from a sleeping big fish.  He believes his theft will go unnoticed long enough for him to get away.  Will he? What is the crabs role in the book? In this book Klassen uses the illustrations to move the story along and play mind games with the reader. 

Genre:   Fiction

Format: Picture Book
Suggested Age or Grade level (s):  Ages  4 - 8
Awards:    2013 Texas Library Association 2X2 Reading List  
                2013 ALA Notable Children's Books  
                2013 Caldecott Medal
                2012 School Library Journal Best Books