TEXAS 2X2 READING LIST

LMNO Peas

Author/Illustrator: Keith Baker

Baker, K. (2010). LMNO peas. New York: Beach Lane Books.

Genre: Fantasy

Awards: 2011 Texas 2x2 Reading List, 2011 ALA Children's Notable List

Summary: An alphabet book that focuses on career, hobbies, and other interests as shown by a lively group of peas.  The background is a large white space which allow the colorful illustrations to leap off the page.

How this book relates to young children: Children will enjoy the use of the peas in the telling of the story and all the different careers/hobbies they may never have heard of.

How I would use this book with young children: A great alphabet book to use during college and career week.

Dancing Feet!

Author: Lindsey Craig
Illustrator: Marc Brown

Craig, L., & Brown, M. T. (2010). Dancing feet!. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.

Genre: Fantasy

Awards: 2011 Texas 2x2 Reading List

Summary: A book that highlights the "music" of the animal world using onomatopoeia.  Hand-painted collages use primary shapes and colors to engage the reader.

How this book relates to young children: A catchy book with vibrant illustrations that can get children up and moving.

How I would use this book with young children: A good lesson on onomatopoeia as part of a poetry / figurative language study.

Duck! Rabbit!

Author: Amy Krouse Rosenthal
Illustrator: Tom Lichtenheld

Rosenthal, A. K., & Lichtenheld, T. (2009). Duck! Rabbit!. San Francisco: Chronicle Books.

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Awards: 2010 Texas 2x2 Reading List, 2010 ALA Notable List

Summary: Two unseen characters argue about whether what we see is a duck or a rabbit and try to prove their opinions.  The illustrations are very simple and use only a few colors which allow the reader to use their imagination along with the pictures.

How this book relates to young children: Children will enjoy trying to decide what exactly the animal is.

How I would use this book with young children: Have children try to draw two things that could be mistaken for one another.

The Circus Ship

Author/Illustrator: Chris Van Dusen

Dusen, C. V. (2009). The circus ship. Somerville, MA: Candlewick.

Genre: Fantasy

Awards: 2010 Texas 2x2 Reading List, 2009 Lupine Award, 2009 Comstock Honor

Summary: The story of a circus ship that encounters trouble and the animals must swim to safety on a nearby island and prove their worth to the residents.  The illustrations are bright and full of detail.

How this book relates to young children: Children will enjoy making predictions about the future of the animals.

How I would use this book with young children: Class can act out a reader's theater of the story.

No Babysitters Allowed

Author: Amber Stewart
Illustrator: Laura Rankin

Stewart, A. (2008). No babysitters allowed. New York, NY: Bloomsbury U.S.A. Children's Books.

Genre: Fantasy

Awards: 2009 Texas 2x2 Reading List

Summary: Young bunny doesn't want anything to do with his babysitter until he hears her reading his stories all wrong, but he would have to get out of his special fort in order to correct her.  The illustrations are colorful, yet simple, and very childlike.

How this book relates to young children: Reassurance about separation, which all children go through.

How I would use this book with young children: Children can discuss times when they felt like Hopscotch did and how they coped.