The 2022 2×2 Reading List is Here!

The Texas Library Association is delighted to announce the arrival of the 2022 2×2 Reading List!

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

The 2X2 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. They are excellent books for storytime at the library or school, bedtime with a parent or grandparent or fun reading at any time.

Among the 2022 selections are:

Brains! Not Just a Zombie Snack by Stacy McAnulty, illustrated by Matthew Rivera. “Brains. 78% water, 100% delicious.” A zombie chef who has sworn off eating brains salivates over this super powerful organ in this funny and fact-filled picture book.

My First Day by Phung Nguyen Quang and Huynh Kim Lien. The rainy season has come to the Mekong Delta, and An, a young Vietnamese boy, sets out alone in a wooden boat wearing a little backpack and armed only with a single oar. His destination is one that is familiar to children all over the world.

Norman Didn’t Do It! (Yes, He Did) by Ryan T. Higgins. Norman is a porcupine. Mildred is a tree. Norman and Mildred are best friends. Just the two of them. And only the two of them. But when a surprise pops up, life will never be the same again.

Here is the complete list:

1. Atticus Caticus by Sarah Maizes, illustrated by Kara Kramer (Candlewick Press, 2021)
2. Bodies Are Cool by Tyler Feder (Penguin Random House, 2021)
3. Brains! Not Just a Zombie Snack by Stacy McAnulty, illustrated by Matthew Rivera (MacMillan, 2021)
4. Burt the Beetle Doesn’t Bite by Ashley Spires (Kids Can Press, 2021)
5. Butterflies Are Pretty…Gross by Rosemary Mosco, illustrated by Jacob Souva (Tundra Books, 2021)
6. Chez Bob by Bob Shea (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2021)
7. Circle Under Berry by Carter Higgins (Chronicle Books, 2021)
8. Don’t Hug Doug (He Doesn’t Like It) by Carrie Finison, illustrated by Daniel Wiseman (Penguin Random House, 2021)
9. Have You Seen Gordon? by Adam Jay Epstein, illustrated by Ruth Chan (Simon and Schuster, 2021)
10. Inside Cat by Brandan Wenzel (Chronicle Books, 2021)
11. Mel Fell by Corey R. Tabor (Balzer + Bray, Harper Collins, 2021)
12. My First Day by Phung Nguyen Quang and Huynh Kim Lien (Penguin Random House, 2021)
13. Norman Didn’t Do It! (Yes, He Did) by Ryan T. Higgins (Disney-Hyperion, 2021)
14. Not Now, Cow by Tammi Sauer, illustrated by Troy Cummings (Abrams Appleseed, 2021)
15. One-osaurus, Two-osaurus by Kim Norman, illustrated by Pierre Collet-Derby (Candlewick Press, 2021)
16. Poem in My Pocket by Chris Tougas, illustrated by Josee Bisaillon (Kids Can Press, 2021)
17. Seaside Stroll by Charles Trevino, illustrated by Maribel Lechuga (Charlesbridge, 2021)
18. Someone Builds The Dream by Lisa Wheeler, illustrated by Loren Long (Penguin Random House, 2021)
19. The Midnight Fair by Gideon Sterer, illustrated by Mariachiaira Di Giorgio (Candlewick Press, 2021)
20. Wonder Walkers by Micha Archer (Penguin Random House, 2021)