2023 Texas 2×2 Reading List

Check out the 2023 Texas 2×2 reading list, developed by the Texas Library Association to encourage voluntary reading for children aged two to grade two.

Plano Public Library has all 20 2×2 titles available for checkout, and you can visit a library location for information on Texas Library Association reading lists and to browse our Texas 2×2’s, Lone Star, and Bluebonnet titles.

A Seed Grows by Antoinette Portis. An educational picture book about the life cycle of a sunflower. Print / eBook.

Bathe the Cat by Alice B. McGinty, illustrated by David Roberts. Dad has posted a list of chores for the family to do before grandma comes, including bathing the cat; but the cat does not want a bath, so she mixes up the instructions, and soon the family is mowing the floor, vacuuming the lawn, mopping the baby–and the house is in chaos. Print / eBook.

Bear Has a Belly by Jane Whittingham. Starting with Rabbits and their long, floppy ears and heading towards unique comparisons like Otter’s slippery, smooth back, readers are invited to explore similarities between themselves and the North American animals in this engaging, rhyming board book. Print.

Berry Song by Michaela Goade. As a young Tlingit girl collects wild berries over the seasons, she sings with her Grandmother as she learns to speak to the land and listen when the land speaks back. Print.

Big Truck Little Island by Chris Van Dusen. Based on a real incident that occurred in the island town of Vinalhaven, Maine, this rhyming story recounts what happens when a really big flatbed truck carrying a mysterious, covered load across a small island gets stuck on a tight curve and blocks traffic in both directions. Print.

Chester Van Chime Who Forgot How to Rhyme by Avery Monsen, illustrated by Abby Hanlon. Rhyming has always come easily to Chester van Chime. But one day he loses his gift and struggles to find the right words. Print.

Counting to Bananas: A Mostly Rhyming Fruit Book by Carrie Tillotson, illustrated by Estrela Lourenco. A banana wants to be the star of this rhyming counting book, but the narrator has other plans. Print / eBook.

Endlessly Ever After: Pick Your Path to Countless Fairy Tale Endings!  by Laurel Snyder, illustrated by Dan Santat. In this rhyming mash-up of many fairy tales, the reader is invited to follow Rosie down the many possible paths which may lead to a sleeping maiden, a hungry wolf, a girl locked in a tower, or a goose that lays golden eggs–but with some luck, and some smart choices, Rosie may save herself and her fellow fairy tale characters. Print / eBook.

I Was Born a Baby by Meg Fleming. This adorable read-aloud story introduces baby animals who share what they are called and what they grow up into, and shows how some baby animals share their names with several other species. Print.

I’m Hungry!/Tengo Hambre! by Angela Dominguez. When a bluebird comes upon a dinosaur who’s down in the dumps, he asks what’s wrong. “¡Tengo hambre!” says the dinosaur. I’m hungry! Does the dinosaur want a banana? “¿Plátano? No.” Fish? “¿Pescado? No, gracias.” Nothing seems to do the trick! What does a dinosaur want to eat? This delightful bilingual picture book is about finding just the right food–and just the right friend. Print / Wonderbook / eBook.

Mina by Matthew Forsythe. Mina the mouse is very upset when her father brings home a pet “squirrel” that she is certain is a cat. Print / eBook.

Odd Birds: Meet Nature’s Weirdest Flock by Laura Gehl, illustrated by Gareth Lucas. Meet odd birds from around the world, learn about what makes them unique, and wonder… Are they really the odd ones here? Print / eBook.

Perfectly Imperfect Mira by Faith Pray. Mira wants to be good at something, but she is held back by her desire to be perfect. Print.

Pizza! A Slice of History by Greg Pizzoli. Bursting with color and fun facts, this delightful history of pizza takes readers through time and around the globe to serve up the real story of the world’s favorite food. Print / eBook.

Powwow Day by Traci Sorell, illustrated by Madelyn Goodnight. Because she has been very ill and weak, River cannot join in the dancing at this year’s tribal powwow, she can only watch from the sidelines as her sisters and cousins dance the celebration–but as the drum beats she finds the faith to believe that she will recover and dance again. Print / Wonderbook / eBook.

Solitary Animals: Introverts of the Wild by Joshua David Stein, illustrated by Dominique Ramsey. Some animals are solitary and others live in packs. Print / eBook.

Somewhere in the Bayou by Jarrett Pumphrey and Jerome Pumphrey. Rat, Squirrel, Rabbit, and Mouse want to cross the bayou, but next to the log they are considering as a bridge is a sneaky tail, which may be attached to someone dangerous–each of the four approaches the problem with a different strategy, with varying results. Print / eBook.

That’s Not My Name! by Anoosha Syed. Mirha questions her name after her classmates continually pronounce it wrong on the first day of school so her mother helps her to learn the significance of her name and to be proud of it. Print / eBook.

Vámonos: Mexican Folk Art Transport in English and Spanish by Cynthia Weill. An introduction in English and Spanish to different methods of transportation. Print / eBook.

Where in the World Are You?  by Marie G. Rohde. A curious cat embarks on a journey of discovery that encourages young readers to think about their place in the world, reminding us that even when we are apart, we are all connected. Print.