California State Reading Lists
Award Lists
Eureka! Excellence in Nonfiction Gold Award
California Book Award (Commonwealth of CA)
Eureka! Excellence in Nonfiction Award Honor Title
2019 - 2020 California Young Rearder Medal
Scythe
Two teens must learn the “art of killing” in this Printz Honor–winning book, the first in a chilling new series from Neal Shusterman, author of the New...
2020 - 2021 California Young Reader Medal Finalist
Long Way Down
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...
2019 Eureka! Excellence in Nonfiction Gold Award
What Miss Mitchell Saw
Discover the amazing true story of Maria Mitchell, America’s first professional female astronomer.Every evening, from the time she was a child, Maria...
2020 California Book Award (Commonwealth of CA)
A Place to Belong
A Kirkus Reviews Best Middle Grade Book of 2019 A Japanese-American family, reeling from their ill treatment in the Japanese internment camps, gives up...
2020 Eureka! Excellence in Nonfiction Award Honor Title
WildLives
50 Extraordinary Animals that Made History
From the illustrator of Herstory (a Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2018) comes a fascinating and touching book about fifty extraordinary animals that...
Born Curious
20 Girls Who Grew Up to Be Awesome Scientists
“An inspiring look at women who realized curiosity plus tenacity equals success.” —Kirkus Reviews “[A] captivating compendium.” —Publishers Weekly...
Gridiron
Stories from 100 Years of the National Football League
This accessible, informative, and beautifully illustrated book celebrates the 100th anniversary of the NFL and is the perfect keepsake for football...
Equality's Call
The Story of Voting Rights in America
Learn all about the history of voting rights in the United States—from our nation’s founding to the present day—in this powerful picture book from the...
Feel the Fog
Discover the wonder and science behind fog in this stunning and immersive nonfiction picture book from award-winning author and photographer April...
Harlem Grown
How One Big Idea Transformed a Neighborhood
“Hartland’s joyful folk-art illustrations bop from the gray-toned jazzy vibrancy of a bustling city neighborhood to the colorful harvest of a lush...
How to Find a Bird
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 are...
Joey
The Story of Joe Biden
“(Jill) Biden’s anecdotal portrait of her spouse’s early years spotlights his competitiveness and risk-taking…his role as a peacemaker, devoted...
Lift as You Climb
The Story of Ella Baker
Learn about the civil rights activist Ella Baker in this inspiring picture book from Sibert Honor winner Patricia Hruby Powell and Caldecott Honor...
Marjory Saves the Everglades
The Story of Marjory Stoneman Douglas
“Vibrant…an ideal starting point for further learning.” —School Library Journal “A lively portrayal of Douglas as a remarkable individual and a...
The Only Woman in the Photo
Frances Perkins & Her New Deal for America
Discover the incredible life of Frances Perkins, the first woman to serve in a presidential cabinet and the mastermind behind Franklin D. Roosevelt’s...
RESPECT
Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul
Winner of the Coretta Scott King Illustration Award! From a New York Times bestselling author and an acclaimed illustrator comes this vibrant portrait...
Oil
Mother-son team Jonah Winter and Jeanette Winter tell the story of the Exxon Valdez oil spill and its devastating and lingering effects in this poetic...
2020 Eureka! Excellence in Nonfiction Gold Award
Even More Fantastic Failures
True Stories of People Who Changed the World by Falling Down First
Even the most well-known people have struggled to succeed! This follow-up to Fantastic Failures offers up a second dose of fascinating stories...
Crossings
Extraordinary Structures for Extraordinary Animals
This powerful nonfiction picture book explores wildlife crossings around the world and how they are helping save thousands of animals every day.Around...
Fred's Big Feelings
The Life and Legacy of Mister Rogers
An inspiring picture book biography about the inimitable Fred Rogers, beloved creator and star of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.Fred Rogers was a quiet...
Kamala Harris
Rooted in Justice
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...
Our Dogs, Ourselves -- Young Readers Edition
How We Live with Dogs
This middle grade adaptation of Our Dogs, Ourselves is an eye-opening, entertaining, and beautifully illustrated look about humans’ complicated and...
2020 Westchester Fiction Award
SLAY
A Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2019! “Gripping and timely.” —People “The YA debut we’re most excited for this year.” —Entertainment Weekly “A book...
2020 Westchester Fiction Award Honorable Mention
The Perfect Candidate
From debut author Peter Stone comes a heart-stopping, pulse-pounding political thriller that’s perfect for fans of Ally Carter and House of Cards. When...
Love from A to Z
A Today Show Read with Jenna Book Club Pick A School Library Journal Best Young Adult Book of 2019 A YALSA 2020 Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult...
2020 Westchester Fiction Book Award
How We Became Wicked
When an insect-borne plague begins to envelop the world, three sixteen-year-olds struggle to survive amongst the healthy “trues” and the infected...