The Texas Library Association has announced its new recommended reading lists.

2 x 2: featured titles include: An Egg is Quiet by Dianna Hutts Aston, illustrated by Sylvia Long (author-illustrator interview); Nutmeg and Barley: A Budding Friendship by Janie Bynum; Looking for a Moose by Phyllis Root, illustrated by Randy Cecil (author interview); Count Me a Rhyme: Animal Poems By the Numbers by Jane Yolen, illustrated by Jason Stemple. Note: This list is compiled for young readers ages 2 through second grade. View the whole list.

Personal Note: Jingle Dancer by Cynthia Leitich Smith, illustrated by Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu was a Texas 2 x 2 book in 2001.

The Bluebonnet List: featured titles include: The Middle of Somewhere by J.B. Cheaney; Toys Go Out by Emily Jenkins, illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky; How to Steal a Dog by Barbara O’Conner; and Crossing Bok Chitto: A Choctaw Tale of Friendship by Tim Tingle. Note: this list is compiled for young readers in grades three through six. View the whole list.

The Lonestar List: featured titles include: Beastly by Alex Flinn (author interview); Tales of the Cryptids: Mysterious Creatures That May or May Not Exist by Kelly Milner Halls, Roxyanne Young, and Rick Spears (author interview); Brothers, Boyfriends & Other Criminal Minds by April Lurie (author interview). Note: this list is compiled for young readers in grades six through eight. View the whole list (doc).

The Tayshas List: featured titles include: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie, Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson; Shark Girl by Kelly Bingham (author interview); Glass Houses: The Morganville Vampires, Book 1 by Rachel Caine (author interview); Beige by Cecil Castellucci; The Plain Janes by Cecil Castellucci; Not Like You by Deborah Davis (author interview); Walking on Glass by Alma Fullerton; Dark Water Rising by Marian Hale (author interview); Keturah and Lord Death by Martine Leavitt; The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl by Barry Lyga (author interview); Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr (author interview); Wait for Me by An Na; Tantalize by Cynthia Leitich Smith; Notes from the Midnight Driver by Jordan Sonnenblick (author interview); Rubber Houses by Ellen Yeomans; and Story of a Girl by Sara Zarr (author interview). Note: this list is compiled for young readers in high school. View the whole list (doc)!

Personal Note: I’m incredibly honored that Tantalize (Candlewick, 2007) was included on the Tayshas list. I’d also like to thank Shelby for emailing me with the news when it was posted!