Children’s Book Week is the longest-running national literacy initiative, and we celebrate its 101st anniversary from November 9th-15th!
This notable week is an annual observance of the importance of books for children and teens while it aims to foster a love of reading. Over 2,000 bookstores, libraries, and schools host Book Week storytimes and activities every year.
Children’s Book Week festivities unite children and adults with books, as well as authors and illustrators. In light of the pandemic, this year students and families can celebrate safely at home using these Book Week resources.
Check out a few of the many award-winning books and recommended reading lists for children and teens this year:
2020 Texas Bluebonnet Award
Each year, 20 books are chosen for the Texas Bluebonnet Award Master List. Schools and libraries around the state participate in the program, encouraging students to read a minimum of five books from the list. Students in grades 3-6 vote for their favorite title, and the author of the book receiving the most votes is the winner of the Texas Bluebonnet Award.
The Texas Bluebonnet Awards are awarded by the Texas Library Association, the largest state library association in the U.S. Medina Valley ISD’s Certified District Librarian, Jan Williams, serves on the 2020 program committee.
The winner of the 2020 Texas Bluebonnet Award is El Chupacabras, by Adam Rubin and Crash McCreery. This whimsical dual-language tale portrays the story of a goat farm owner and his daughter, Carla, who fall victim to the legendary El Chupacabras. Magic dust creates giant goats that could destroy their town, so Carla turns to the mythical El Chupacabras. Humorous illustrations and witty writing make this story delightful for all ages.
Tejas Star Reading List
The Tejas Star Reading List provides a recommended reading list to encourage children ages 5-12 to explore multicultural books. This recreational reading list allows students to discover the benefits of bilingualism and multilingualism.
Featured Books:
Hola, Cangrejito! By Jonathan Fenske
El Cangrejito is a crabby crab! Plankton repeatedly tries to cheer him up — with hilarious results! Comic speech bubbles and full-color artwork make this bilingual early reader book a hit with young readers.
Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré By Anika Aldamuy Denise
This picture book is a biography of storyteller, puppeteer, and New York City’s first Puerto Rican librarian, Pura Belpre. Colorful illustrations bring to life the story of the woman who championed bilingual literature.
STEM Books for Students K–12
Students can build literacy skills while learning science in STEM books. The National Science Teaching Association Best STEM Books List is a great resource for children’s science trade books.
Featured Books:
Instructions Not Included: How a Team of Women Coded the Future By Tami Lewis Brown and Debbie Loren Dunn
During WWII, Betty Snyder, Jean Jennings, and Kay McNulty used math, electrical engineering, and logic to command a computer as large as a room. And with little guidance and no instructions, these pioneering women worked tirelessly to create the modern computer world.
Buzzing with Questions: The Inquisitive Mind of Charles Henry Turner By Janice Harrington
The first black entomologist, Charles Henry Turner, was fascinated by plants, animals, and bugs. His curiosity and passion for science led him to read, research, and experiment while making history.
2020 Best Fiction for Young Adults
The Young Adult Library Services Association releases annual lists of their recommended young adult books, including the list for best fiction books.
Featured Books:
The Downstairs Girl By Stacey Lee
In this historical fiction book that mirrors contemporary social issues, Jo Kuan is a Chinese American girl living in Southern society in 1890. She uses a pseudonym to write a witty advice column and discovers more about herself.
The Infinite Noise By Lauren Shippen
Caleb starts therapy when his mood swings become overwhelming. He discovers that he is a person with heightened abilities, and his superpower draws him to an unexplained connection with Adam.
