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California State Reading Lists

2023 - 2024 California Young Reader Medal Finalist

Alone

(Part of Alone)
This edition: Hardcover, 416 pages
Publication date: January 12, 2021
Ages: 10 - 99

A New York Times bestseller! Perfect for fans of Hatchet and the I Survived series, this harrowing middle grade debut novel-in-verse from a Pushcar...

2022 - 2023 California Young Reader Medal Finalist

A Heart in a Body in the World

This edition: Hardcover, 368 pages
Publication date: September 18, 2018
Ages: 14 - 99

“This is one for the ages.” —Gayle Forman, author of the #1 bestseller If I Stay “A book everyone should read right now.” —The New York Times Book ...

Parker Looks Up

An Extraordinary Moment
Illustrated by Brittany Jackson
This edition: Hardcover, 40 pages
Publication date: October 15, 2019

A New York Times bestseller! A visit to Washington, DC’s National Portrait Gallery forever alters Parker Curry’s young life when she views First La...

2021 - 2022 California Young Reader Medal finalist

The Black Kids

This edition: Hardcover, 368 pages
Publication date: August 04, 2020
Ages: 14 - 99

A New York Times bestseller A William C. Morris Award Finalist “Should be required reading in every classroom.” —Nic Stone, #1 New York Times bests...

Sulwe

Illustrated by Vashti Harrison
This edition: Hardcover, 48 pages
Publication date: October 15, 2019
Ages: 4 - 8

A New York Times bestseller! Featured in its own episode in the Netflix original show Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices! Recipient of a Coretta S...

2020 - 2021 California Young Reader Medal Finalist

Long Way Down

This edition: Hardcover, 320 pages
Publication date: October 24, 2017
Ages: 12 - 99

Longlisted for the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature Parents’ Choice Gold Award Winner An ode to Put the Damn Guns Down, this is Na...

2022 John and Patricia Beatty Award

Frankie & Bug

This edition: Hardcover, 288 pages
Publication date: October 12, 2021
Ages: 8 - 12

“Joyful, occasionally heartbreaking, deeply moving.” —R. J. Palacio, bestselling author of Wonder In the debut middle grade novel from #1 New York ...

2022 Eureka! Excellence in Nonfiction Gold Award

Hardcourt

Stories from 75 Years of the National Basketball Association
Illustrated by James E. Ransome
This edition: Hardcover, 112 pages
Publication date: January 18, 2022
Ages: 8 - 12

Celebrate seventy-five years of the NBA in this exciting and beautifully illustrated middle grade account of the legendary athletes, coaches, and t...

2021 Eureka! Excellence in Nonfiction Gold Award

Jump at the Sun

The True Life Tale of Unstoppable Storycatcher Zora Neale Hurston
Illustrated by Jacqueline Alcántara
This edition: Hardcover, 48 pages
Publication date: January 12, 2021
Ages: 4 - 8

From the Newbery Honor–winning author of Genesis Begins Again comes a shimmering picture book that shines the light on Zora Neale Hurston, the extr...

Keeping the City Going

Illustrated by Brian Floca
This edition: Hardcover, 40 pages
Publication date: April 27, 2021
Ages: 4 - 8

Caldecott Award winner Brian Floca gives a heartfelt thank you to the essential workers who keep their cities going during COVID-19 quarantine in t...

The Beak Book

Illustrated by Robin Page
This edition: Hardcover, 40 pages
Publication date: January 05, 2021
Ages: 3 - 8

From Caldecott Honor illustrator Robin Page comes this striking nonfiction STEM picture book exploring the fascinating and surprising ways differen...

2022 Eureka! Excellence in Nonfiction Award Honor Title

Black Ballerinas

My Journey to Our Legacy
Illustrated by Salena Barnes
This edition: Hardcover, 64 pages
Publication date: November 02, 2021

From New York Times bestselling and award-winning author and American Ballet Theatre principal dancer Misty Copeland comes an illustrated nonfictio...

2021 Eureka! Excellence in Nonfiction Award Honor Title

Yayoi Kusama

Ready-to-Read Level 3
(Part of You Should Meet)
Illustrated by Alexandra Badiu
This edition: Hardcover, 48 pages
Publication date: August 31, 2021
Ages: 6 - 8

Get to know Yayoi Kusama, a Japanese artist known for her extensive use of polka dots and for her infinity installations, in this fascinating nonfi...

Fourteen Monkeys

A Rain Forest Rhyme
Illustrated by Steve Jenkins
This edition: Hardcover, 32 pages
Publication date: July 06, 2021
Ages: 3 - 8

Travel to a tropical rainforest where fourteen species of monkeys live in harmony in this playful, fact-filled book from award-winning author Melis...

Rock by Rock

The Fantastical Garden of Nek Chand
Illustrated by Sam Boughton
This edition: Hardcover, 48 pages
Publication date: February 23, 2021
Ages: 4 - 8

This luminous picture book tells the fascinating true story of artist Nek Chand and how his secret art project—hidden away in a jungle—became one o...

Try It!

How Frieda Caplan Changed the Way We Eat
Illustrated by Giselle Potter
This edition: Hardcover, 32 pages
Publication date: January 12, 2021
Ages: 3 - 8

Meet fearless Frieda Caplan—the produce pioneer who changed the way Americans eat by introducing exciting new fruits and vegetables, from baby carr...

Yayoi Kusama

Ready-to-Read Level 3
(Part of You Should Meet)
Illustrated by Alexandra Badiu
This edition: Trade Paperback, 48 pages
Publication date: August 31, 2021
Ages: 6 - 8

Get to know Yayoi Kusama, a Japanese artist known for her extensive use of polka dots and for her infinity installations, in this fascinating nonfi...

2021 California Book Award (Commonwealth of CA)

The Black Kids

This edition: Trade Paperback, 400 pages
Publication date: April 05, 2022
Ages: 14 - 99

A New York Times bestseller A William C. Morris Award Finalist “Should be required reading in every classroom.” —Nic Stone, #1 New York Times bests...

2020 California Book Award (Commonwealth of CA)

A Place to Belong

Illustrated by Julia Kuo
This edition: Hardcover, 416 pages
Publication date: May 14, 2019
Ages: 10 - 14

A Kirkus Reviews Best Middle Grade Book of 2019 A Japanese-American family, reeling from their ill treatment in the Japanese internment camps, give...