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Connecticut State Reading Lists

2024 Nutmeg Book Award Nominee

Abdul's Story

Illustrated by Tiffany Rose
This edition: Hardcover, 40 pages
Publication date: March 29, 2022
Ages: 4 - 8

A 2022 New York Public Library Best Book for Kids! A little boy who loves storytelling but struggles with writing learns that it’s okay to make mis...

The Accidental Apprentice

(Book #1 of Wilderlore)
This edition: Hardcover, 304 pages
Publication date: March 30, 2021
Ages: 8 - 12

A boy who accidentally bonds with a magical Beast must set off on an adventure in the mysterious Woods in this “wholesome, delightful” (Kirkus Revi...

It Fell from the Sky

Illustrated by Terry Fan and Eric Fan
This edition: Hardcover, 56 pages
Publication date: September 28, 2021
Ages: 4 - 8

From the creators of the critically acclaimed The Night Gardener and Ocean Meets Sky comes a whimsical and elegantly illustrated picture book about...

American as Paneer Pie

This edition: Trade Paperback, 336 pages
Publication date: May 18, 2021
Ages: 8 - 12

“[A] charming novel [that] explores the complexity of immigration and identity.” —Teen Vogue An Indian American girl navigates prejudice in her sma...

The Beast and the Bethany

Illustrated by Isabelle Follath
This edition: Hardcover, 240 pages
Publication date: December 08, 2020
Ages: 9 - 13

Lemony Snicket meets Roald Dahl in this “wickedly funny” (James Ponti, New York Times bestselling author), deliciously macabre, and highly illustra...

How Moon Fuentez Fell in Love with the Universe

This edition: Trade Paperback, 448 pages
Publication date: August 02, 2022
Ages: 14 - 99

“Breathlessly atmospheric…A gorgeous, hopeful book.” —Rachel Lynn Solomon, author of Today Tonight Tomorrow The Hating Game meets I Am Not Your Per...

Today Tonight Tomorrow

This edition: Trade Paperback, 400 pages
Publication date: June 01, 2021

“Brilliant, hilarious, and oh-so-romantic.” —BuzzFeed “Swoony, steamy.” —Entertainment Weekly The Hating Game meets Booksmart by way of Morgan Mats...

2023 Nutmeg Book Award Nominee

Look Both Ways

A Tale Told in Ten Blocks
Illustrated by Alexander Nabaum
This edition: Hardcover, 208 pages
Publication date: October 08, 2019
Ages: 10 - 14

A National Book Award Finalist Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book UK Carnegie Medal winner An NPR Favorite Book of 2019 A New York Times Best Chi...

Crossings

Extraordinary Structures for Extraordinary Animals
Illustrated by Mike Orodán
This edition: Hardcover, 48 pages
Publication date: October 13, 2020
Ages: 3 - 8

This powerful nonfiction picture book explores wildlife crossings around the world and how they are helping save thousands of animals every day.Aro...

2022 Nutmeg Book Award Nominee

Charlie Thorne and the Last Equation

(Part of Charlie Thorne)
This edition: Trade Paperback, 416 pages
Publication date: September 01, 2020
Ages: 10 - 99

“Fast-paced, smart, and action-packed...a real page-burner.” —Chris Grabenstein, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Mr. Lemoncello’s Libra...

Genesis Begins Again

This edition: Hardcover, 384 pages
Publication date: January 15, 2019
Ages: 9 - 13

A Newbery Honor Book Winner of the Correta Scott King - John Steptoe for New Talent Author Award A Morris Award Finalist An NPR Favorite Book of 2...

Charlie Thorne and the Last Equation

(Part of Charlie Thorne)
This edition: Hardcover, 400 pages
Publication date: September 17, 2019
Ages: 10 - 99

“Fast-paced, smart, and action-packed...a real page-burner.” —Chris Grabenstein, #1 New York Times bestelling author of the Mr. Lemoncello’s Librar...

Seeds Move!

Illustrated by Robin Page
This edition: Hardcover, 32 pages
Publication date: March 19, 2019
Ages: 3 - 8

Discover the fascinating and surprising ways that seeds move and find a place to grow in this gorgeous picture book from Caldecott Honoree Robin Pa...

2021 Nutmeg Book Award Nominee

Ida, Always

Illustrated by Charles Santoso
This edition: Hardcover, 40 pages
Publication date: February 23, 2016
Ages: 4 - 8

A beautiful, honest portrait of loss and deep friendship told through the story of two iconic polar bears.Gus lives in a big park in the middle of ...

The World Is Not a Rectangle

A Portrait of Architect Zaha Hadid
Illustrated by Jeanette Winter
This edition: Hardcover, 56 pages
Publication date: August 22, 2017
Ages: 7 - 9

A Washington Post Best Children’s Book of 2017 Parents’ Choice Recommended Get to know Zaha Hadid in this nonfiction picture book about the famed a...

Game Changers

The Story of Venus and Serena Williams
Illustrated by James E. Ransome
This edition: Fixed Layout eBook, 48 pages
Publication date: July 03, 2018
Ages: 4 - 8

An ALA Notable Book “Every page is splashed with vibrant color and eye-catching patterns, and the figures of the women themselves are full of energ...

The Nowhere Girls

This edition: Hardcover, 416 pages
Publication date: October 10, 2017
Ages: 14 - 99

“A call-to-action to everyone out there who wants to fight back.” —Bustle “Subversive anti-sexism—just try to put it down.” —Kirkus Reviews (starre...

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 ...

Framed!

(Book #1 of Framed!)
This edition: Hardcover, 304 pages
Publication date: August 23, 2016
Ages: 8 - 12

Get to know the only kid on the FBI Director’s speed dial and several international criminals’ most wanted lists all because of his Theory of All S...

The Peculiar Incident on Shady Street

This edition: Hardcover, 304 pages
Publication date: October 10, 2017
Ages: 8 - 12

A girl unravels a centuries-old mystery after moving into a haunted house in this deliciously suspenseful mystery.Tessa Woodward isn’t exactly thri...