2026 2×2 Reading List Announced!

The Texas Library Association is delighted to announce the arrival of the 2026 2×2 Reading List!

These beautifully illustrated, often humorous, and instructive volumes are the best of recent books meant for children 2 years old to grade two. Librarians serving on the Texas Library Association Children’s Round Table 2X2 Committee read hundreds of books before narrowing the list to these selected 20.

The 2×2 books on the list can be read to small children, as well as read by young readers. The list was developed to give parents, caregivers and teachers a curated list of quality books. These are excellent books for reading during story time at the library or school, at bedtime with a parent or grandparent or for fun at any time. Find the 2×2 coloring hat and activity page here.

2026 Texas 2×2 List

• Bear and the Three Goldilocks written by Patrick Horne; illustrated by Dan Yaccarino
• Big Bike, Little Bike written by Kelli DuBay Gillis; illustrated by Jacob Souva
• Big Enough by Regina Linke
• Broken by X. Fang
• Cranky, Crabby Crow (Saves the World) by Corey R. Tabor
• Don’t Trust Fish written by Neil Sharpson; illustrated by Dan Santat
• Earl & Worm: The Bad Idea and Other Stories by Greg Pizzoli
• Every Monday Mabel by Jashar Awan
• I Hate Everything! By Sophy Henn
• If You Make a Call on a Banana Phone written by Gideon Sterer; illustrated by Emily Hughes
• It’s Corn Picking Time! written by Jill Esbaum; illustrated by Melissa Crowton
• Mistaco! A Tale of Tragedy y Tortillas by Eliza Kinkz
• POP! Goes the Nursery Rhyme written by Betsy Bird; illustrated by Andrea Tsurumi
• Punch! A Story About Kindness by Michael Hall
• Ready, Steady, Sloth! written by Justin Anderson; illustrated by Manu Montoya
• The Bakers Dozen written by Amy Moore; illustrated by Andrea Stegmaier
• The Escape Artist: A True Story of Octopus Adventure written by Thor Hanson; illustrated by Galia Bernstein
• The Monster in the Lake by Leo Timmers
• Who Ate Steve? written by Susannah Lloyd; illustrated by Kate Hindley
• Zip Zap Wickety Wack: A Story About Sharing by Matthew Diffee

Collection Development Statement
The 2×2 List is not designed to support any particular curriculum. Librarians are not required or expected to purchase every book on the list. Due to the diversity in age range and topics, librarians should follow their local collection development policies and guidelines when considering which titles to purchase for their library.