Texas 2x2 Reading List

Becker, B. (2009). A visitor for bear. Candlewick Press.

Genre: Fiction - Realistic Fiction

All Bear wants is to be left in peace. He has a sign – “No Visitors,” but Mouse just ignores it. Bear repeatedly throws Mouse out of the house but each time, Mouse appears in another unexpected place. Finally, Bear and Mouse sit down for tea and begin a friendship.

Children can relate to wanting to strike up friendships with new people. They, like Mouse, are not always sure how to do that, though.

This book is to be read aloud to a small group of younger children. It is a conversation starter about beginning friendships and also, manners when visiting friends’ homes. 

Urbanovic, J. (2008). Duck soup. HarperCollins Publishers.

Genre: Fiction - Realistic Fiction

Max wants to make his own masterpiece soup but he goes out to the garden to get the “missing” ingredient. As he is busy, his friends walk in and, not seeing Max, decide that Max must have fallen into the pot of soup. They mistakenly pour out the soup, looking for Max. In the end, Max and his friends eat pizza instead of soup.

Bold graphics and multicultural references make this book fun to read in small groups. I would type out various sentences without punctuation marks to sort into statements, questions, and exclamations. You could also introduce a lesson about sequential order of cooking before writing/drawing a “how-to.”

Rocco, J. (2011). Blackout. (1 ed., Vol. 1). New York: Disney Hyperion Books.
Genre: Fiction - Realistic Fiction

On a busy summer night, a neighborhood experiences a blackout. One family plays inside until it gets too hot and then, discover it is more fun outside. Suddenly, no one is too busy to visit! When the lights come back on, the children decide to try “blackout” nights for family fun.

This story is told from the child’s perspective. The story is depicted as a graphic novel with speech bubbles and very little text. The colors are bright and the family is young and “hip.”

This would be fun to use during story time, with the lights off (of course!).

Using this during summer story time would be ideal. I would introduce board games after this book since many children do not know how to play basic board games. 

McDonnell, P. Me... jane. New York: Little Brown & Co, 2011. Print.
Genre: Non-fiction - Biography

This is a light-hearted look at Dr. Jane Goodall’s childhood dream to live in Africa where she would live with and study animals. Original sketches drawn by young Jane are included in the illustrations.

This book could be shared with a whole group, in a small group, or at bedtime, depending on what you want to emphasize.

The illustrations are done in a comical style, almost like a cartoon, that makes the history lesson seem less daunting and more fun. Children will find the young and curious Jane to be a “regular” little girl.

After reading this book to an elementary group, I would ask students to think of their biggest dream and sketch it out, just like Jane did. “Now, what will you need to do to make that dream happen?”

Alter, A. (2010). Disappearing desmond. New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf.

Genre: Fiction - Realistic Fiction

Desmond is very shy and does not like to be noticed. But when Gloria shows up, she notices him and helps him come out of his shell. He becomes so confident that he begins to notice other shy children, too.

Several children experience anxiety and shyness in new situations. They can relate to Desmond’s wish to disappear.

Due to the apparent age of Desmond, I would likely use this during story time for young children at the beginning of the school year. 

This book, along with ice breaker games, would help youngsters feel more comfortable during story time and set the tone for a new school year. 

Texas 2x2 Reading List