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Colorado State Reading Lists

2023 Colorado Children's Book Award Nominee

Unicorns Are the Worst!

Illustrated by Alex Willan
This edition: Hardcover, 40 pages
Publication date: September 29, 2020
Ages: 4 - 8

Perfect for fans of Dragons Love Tacos and Unicorn Thinks He’s Pretty Great, this wildly funny and imaginative picture book celebrates the value of...

2022 Colorado Children's Book Award Nominee

Blended

This edition: Hardcover, 320 pages
Publication date: October 30, 2018
Ages: 8 - 12

Eleven-year-old Isabella’s blended family is more divided than ever in this thoughtful story about divorce and racial identity from the award-winni...

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...

The Very, Very Far North

Illustrated by Kelly Pousette
This edition: Hardcover, 272 pages
Publication date: September 03, 2019
Ages: 8 - 12

An inquisitive polar bear named Duane befriends an array of animals as he discovers where he belongs in this charming classic-in-the making that’s ...

You Matter

Illustrated by Christian Robinson
This edition: Hardcover, 40 pages
Publication date: June 02, 2020
Ages: 4 - 8

A New York Times bestseller! Five starred reviews! Named Best Book of the Year by Barnes & Noble, The New York Times/New York Public Library, P...

2023 Colorado Book Award Finalist

Swim, Jim!

Illustrated by Kaz Windness
This edition: Hardcover, 40 pages
Publication date: May 31, 2022
Ages: 4 - 8

Jim the crocodile finds the courage to face his fear of swimming in this funny and charming debut picture book from Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor–winn...

2022 Colorado Book Award Finalist

Born Curious

20 Girls Who Grew Up to Be Awesome Scientists
Illustrated by Katy Wu
This edition: Hardcover, 128 pages
Publication date: February 18, 2020
Ages: 7 - 12

“An inspiring look at women who realized curiosity plus tenacity equals success.” —Kirkus Reviews “[A] captivating compendium.” —Publishers Weekly ...

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...

Noah McNichol and the Backstage Ghost

This edition: Hardcover, 272 pages
Publication date: January 26, 2021
Ages: 8 - 12

“Will make a theater lover of any young reader.” —Booklist​​ Perfect for fans of The Wednesday Wars, this raucous and delightful middle grade myste...

2022 Colorado Book Award

10 Things I Hate about Pinky

This edition: Hardcover, 368 pages
Publication date: July 21, 2020
Ages: 12 - 99

The delightful follow-up to When Dimple Met Rishi and There’s Something about Sweetie, which follows Ashish’s friends Pinky and Samir as they prete...

2021 Colorado Book Award 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...

Born Curious

20 Girls Who Grew Up to Be Awesome Scientists
Illustrated by Katy Wu
This edition: Hardcover, 128 pages
Publication date: February 18, 2020
Ages: 7 - 12

“An inspiring look at women who realized curiosity plus tenacity equals success.” —Kirkus Reviews “[A] captivating compendium.” —Publishers Weekly ...

Turtle under Ice

This edition: Hardcover, 272 pages
Publication date: February 11, 2020
Ages: 12 - 99

A teen navigates questions of grief, identity, and guilt in the wake of her sister’s mysterious disappearance in this breathtaking novel-in-verse f...

I Will Dance

Illustrated by Julianna Swaney
This edition: Hardcover, 48 pages
Publication date: May 26, 2020
Ages: 4 - 8

This poetic and uplifting picture book illustrated by the #1 New York Times bestselling illustrator of We Are the Gardeners by Joanna Gaines follow...