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Pennsylvania State Reading Lists

2022 A Baker's Dozen Title

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...

A Sled for Gabo

Illustrated by Ana Ramírez González
This edition: Hardcover, 40 pages
Publication date: January 05, 2021
Ages: 4 - 8

The Snowy Day meets Last Stop on Market Street in this heartwarming classic in the making about a young boy who is in a new town and doesn’t have m...

2021 A Baker's Dozen Title

How to Find a Bird

Illustrated by Diana Sudyka
This edition: Hardcover, 48 pages
Publication date: August 04, 2020
Ages: 4 - 8

A joyful and informative guide to birdwatching for budding young birders from an award-winning author-illustrator duo.How do you find a bird? There...

2020 A Baker's Dozen Title

The Fisherman & the Whale

Illustrated by Jessica Lanan
This edition: Hardcover, 48 pages
Publication date: May 14, 2019
Ages: 4 - 8

Jessica Lanan’s dreamy and dramatic watercolor paintings bring to life a wordless story about wonder in the natural world.A fisherman takes his son...

2022 - 2023 Pennsylvania Keystone to Reading Secondary Reading List

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...

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 Keystone to Reading Secondary Book Award List

Love from A to Z

This edition: Hardcover, 352 pages
Publication date: April 30, 2019
Ages: 14 - 99

A Today Show Read with Jenna Book Club Pick “The bighearted, wildly charming, painfully real love story I’ve been waiting for.” —Becky Albertalli, ...

2021 - 2022 Keystone to Reading Secondary Book Award

American as Paneer Pie

This edition: Hardcover, 320 pages
Publication date: June 09, 2020
Ages: 8 - 12

An Indian American girl navigates prejudice in her small town and learns the power of her own voice in this brilliant gem of a middle grade novel f...

2022 - 2023 Keystone to Reading Elementary Book Award List

Once Upon a Camel

Illustrated by Eric Rohmann
This edition: Hardcover, 336 pages
Publication date: September 07, 2021
Ages: 8 - 12

“A delight to the senses.” —Kirkus Reviews Perfect for fans of The One and Only Ivan, this exquisite middle grade novel from Newbery Honoree and Na...

Dr. Fauci

How a Boy from Brooklyn Became America's Doctor
Illustrated by Alexandra Bye
This edition: Hardcover, 48 pages
Publication date: June 29, 2021
Ages: 4 - 8

The definitive picture book biography of Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and one of th...

2022 - 2023 Keystone to Reading Book Award Reading List

Just You and Me

Remarkable Relationships in the Wild
Illustrated by Alexander Vidal
This edition: Hardcover, 32 pages
Publication date: September 14, 2021
Ages: 3 - 8

Celebrate perfect partnerships in nature with this fascinating rhyming picture book exploring symbiosis with vibrant illustrations and fun facts th...

2021 - 2022 Keystone to Reading Elementary Book Award Nominee

Being Frog

Illustrated by April Pulley Sayre
This edition: Hardcover, 32 pages
Publication date: February 04, 2020
Ages: 3 - 8

From award-winning author and photographer April Pulley Sayre comes a stunning photographic look at the fascinating lives of frogs.A frog is a bein...

Freedom Bird

A Tale of Hope and Courage
Illustrated by James E. Ransome
This edition: Hardcover, 32 pages
Publication date: January 14, 2020
Ages: 5 - 9

“Powerful storytelling and immersive art.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review) “Vibrant writing and magical realism lift this story to one of triumph....

Green on Green

Illustrated by Felicita Sala
This edition: Hardcover, 48 pages
Publication date: March 17, 2020

Discover the joys of nature, seasons, family—and the vibrant colors of them all—in this lyrical picture book from the author of the acclaimed Blue ...

Kamala Harris

Rooted in Justice
Illustrated by Laura Freeman
This edition: Hardcover, 40 pages
Publication date: August 25, 2020
Ages: 5 - 8

Discover the incredible story of a young daughter of immigrants who would grow up to be the first woman, first Black person, and first South Asian ...

Looking for Smile

Illustrated by Lauren Stringer
This edition: Hardcover, 48 pages
Publication date: September 29, 2020
Ages: 5 - 8

In this sweet and gentle picture book, Bear wakes one day to find his Smile gone and enlists his friends to help him find it.Bear and Smile are alw...

Our Favorite Day of the Year

(Part of Our Favorite)
Illustrated by Rahele Jomepour Bell
This edition: Hardcover, 40 pages
Publication date: June 30, 2020
Ages: 5 - 8

“Gorgeously inviting illustrations and a joyful theme…the consummate first day read.” —Shelf Awareness (starred review) A heartwarming picture book...

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...

2021 - 2022 Keystone to Reading Elementary Book Award

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 - 2023 Keystone to Reading Book Award Reading List

When Langston Dances

Illustrated by Keith Mallett
This edition: Hardcover, 40 pages
Publication date: September 07, 2021

A young Black boy dreams of dancing in this exuberant, buoyant picture book celebrating the beauty of dance, and the wonder of Black Boy Joy—perfec...

2021 - 2022 Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award Master List

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...

How the Cookie Crumbled

The True (and Not-So-True) Stories of the Invention of the Chocolate Chip Cookie
Illustrated by Gilbert Ford
This edition: Hardcover, 40 pages
Publication date: October 24, 2017
Ages: 4 - 8

In this unique and clever picture book, Gilbert Ford sheds a little light on everyone’s favorite sweet treat—the chocolate chip cookie—and reminds ...

Legendborn

This edition: Hardcover, 512 pages
Publication date: September 15, 2020
Ages: 14 - 99

An Instant New York Times Bestseller! Winner of the Coretta Scott King - John Steptoe for New Talent Author Award Filled with mystery and an intrig...

SLAY

This edition: Hardcover, 336 pages
Publication date: September 24, 2019
Ages: 12 - 99

A Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2019! “Gripping and timely.” —People “The YA debut we’re most excited for this year.” —Entertainment Weekly “A boo...

2021 - 2022 Keystone to Reading Secondary Book Award List

Roll with It

(Part of Roll with It)
This edition: Hardcover, 256 pages
Publication date: October 01, 2019
Ages: 10 - 99

A Kirkus Reviews Best Middle Grade Book of 2019 “A big-hearted story that’s as sweet as it is awesome.” —R.J. Palacio, author of Wonder In the trad...