Austin SCBWI is excited to introduce a fun and bookish opportunity for librarians, parents and children — including PRIZES!
Why You Should Join In:
• Promotes literacy
• Introduces readers to local authors
• Participating libraries get 10% off one author visit with each participating author
• Libraries and readers can win prizes!
How It Works:
• Check out the list below of 20 books, including picture books, middle grade and young adult. (Click here to download a printable poster with all the books. Want to request a printed poster? Click here to email coordinator Meredith Davis.)
• Each book will have a question
• Read each book to find the answers and submit them in the form at the bottom of this page
• Each reader gets 1 point for each correctly answered question
• Read all the books in one category or read them all! (note appropriate age groups)
• Libraries will get 1 point for each reader entry that names them (Librarians, tell your readers to submit your library on their entry form!)
• Prizes will be given for the readers with the most books read for each age group
• A prize will be given to the library with the most overall readers
• Contest submissions will end Dec. 1, 2019
The 2019 Great Texas Readathon Book List
Jump to: PICTURE BOOKS – MIDDLE GRADE – YOUNG ADULT
ALABAMA SPITFIRE: THE STORY OF HARPER LEE AND TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
Written by Bethany Hegedus, HarperCollins
The inspiring true story of Harper Lee, the girl who grew up to write To Kill a Mockingbird, America’s favorite novel.
Meet the author at BethanyHegedus.com
Read and find the answer to this question: What was the name of Nelle’s best friend and what did they like to do together as kids?
BEARS MAKE THE BEST READING BUDDIES
Written by Carmen Oliver, Capstone Young Readers
Adelaide tries to persuade her teacher that her reading buddy choice isn’t scary, and his bear-like qualities make him perfectly equipped for the job.
Meet the author at CarmenOliver.com/appearances
Read and find the answer to this question: Who is Adelaide’s Favorite Reading Buddy?
THIS BOOK IS SPINELESS
Written by Lindsay Leslie, Page Street Kids
With suspense and humor, this wary and unadventurous book uses the five senses to try and figure out what kind of story might be on its pages.
Meet the author at lindsayleslie.com/
Read and find the answer to this question: What does the book enjoy about the open ocean?
THE BOOK THAT JAKE BORROWED
Written and illustrated by Susan Kralovansky, Pelican Publishing Company
Jake and his library book are in a sticky situation in this cumulative tale, an original adaptation of the classic The House That Jack Built.
Meet the author/illustrator at SusanKralovansky.com
Read and find the answer to this question: What dripped on Jake’s library book?
BUT I DON’T EAT ANTS
Written by Dan Marvin, POW! Kids Books
This story is about an anteater who enjoys all kinds of food. But not ants.
Meet the author at Facebook.com/ByDanMarvin/
Read and find the answer to this question: What animal eats anteaters, but isn’t called an anteater-eater?
LUCY AND THE STRING
Written and illustrated by Vanessa Roeder, Dial Books for Young Readers
A sweet and silly tale of unexpected friendship between a girl and the bear she finds at the end of a string.
Meet the author/illustrator at VanessaRoeder.com
Read and find the answer to this question: What did Lucy knit to fix Hank’s problem?
REMARKABLY YOU
Illustrated by Patrice Barton, Harper/HarperCollins Publishers
This is a bold and uplifting love letter to all the things-big or small-that make us who we are.
Meet the illustrator at PatriceBarton.com
Read and find the answer to this question: The children “find what needs fixing.” What did they fix?
THE TEXAS NUTCRACKER
Written by Jennifer Coleman, Pelican Publishing
A Texas-themed retelling of the classic Nutcracker story where the Rattlesnake King attacks and the Bluebonnet Fairy invites the hero to a fabulous celebration.
Meet the author at JCOBooks.com
Read and find the answer to this question: What did Centennia use to kill the Rattlesnake King?
WHAT THIS STORY NEEDS IS A VROOM AND A ZOOM
Written and illustrated by Emma J. Virán, HarperCollins
What this story needs is a pig in a wig, rushing to her car, dashing into place, ready to start the cross-country race!
Meet the author/illustrator at TheBookingBiz.com
Read and find the answer to this question: Which character helps pig in a wig by removing mud from her racing goggles?
WHOBERT WHOVER, OWL DETECTIVE
Written by Jason Gallaher, Margaret K. McElderry Books/Simon & Schuster
Help Whobert Whover, Owl Detective find out just what happened to Perry the Possum in this hilarious who-who-dun-it!
Meet the author at JasonGallaher.com
Read and find the answer to this question: What does Becky the beaver say when Whobert accuses her of doing something to Perry?
THE YOUNGEST MARCHER: THE STORY OF AUDREY FAYE HENDRICKS, A YOUNG CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST
Written by Cynthia Levinson, Atheneum/Simon & Schuster
Nine-year-old Audrey intended to go places and do things like everyone else. To do that, she had to go to jail.
Meet the author at CynthiaLevinson.com
Read and find the answer to this question: Why did a nine-year-old have to go to jail?
THE BOY, THE BOAT, AND THE BEAST
Written by Samantha M Clark, Paula Wiseman Books/Simon & Schuster
A boy wakes up on a seemingly haunted beach with no memory, just a bully in his head and a beast taunting him. To get home, he must face his biggest fears.
Meet the author at SamanthaMClark.com
Read and find the answer to this question: What does the boy rescue in the tide and then take with him on his journey?
THE CAMELOT CODE: THE ONCE AND FUTURE GEEK
Written by Mari Mancusi, Disney Hyperion
The Sword in the Stone meets Ready Player One in this new epic twist on Arthurian legend, perfect for Percy Jackson fans.
Meet the author at MariMancusi.com
Read and find the answer to this question: What did Stu and Sophie have to do to beat the Camelot’s Honor video game?
THE GREAT HIBERNATION
Written by Tara Dairman, Wendy Lamb Books/Random House
When all of the adults in town mysteriously fall asleep, the kids are left in charge and have to figure out what happened and what they should do about it.
Meet the author at TaraDairman.com
Read and find the answer to this question: Which character ended up getting thrown in jail and put on trial by Magnus?
UNCERTAIN SUMMER
Written by Jessica Lee Anderson, CBAY
Everdil Jackson is determined to prove that Bigfoot lives in the woods of East Texas to win a million dollars, but tracking a monster is trickier than expected!
Meet the author at JessicaLeeAnderson.com
Read and find the answer to this question: How does Everdil plan on proving Bigfoot is real?
BORROWED
Written by Lucia DiStefano, Elephant Rock Books
When the lives of a girl with a broken heart and a girl with a “borrowed” heart collide, each needs to rely on the other – first for hope, and then survival.
Meet the author at LuciaDiStefano.com
Read and find the answer to this question: What is the special event that Linnea is hired to cater at the end of the novel?
EVIDENCE OF THINGS NOT SEEN
Written by Lindsey Lane, Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers
When high school junior Tommy Smythe goes missing, everyone has a theory about what happened to him.
Meet the author at LindseyLane.net
Read and find the answer to this question: Who was the girl that rode on the back of Tommy’s motorbike?
HEARTS UNBROKEN
Written by Cynthia Leitich Smith, Candlewick Press
A Native American teen journalist in the middle-class suburbs covers the controversy around the diverse and inclusive casting of her high school musical.
Meet the author at CynthiaLeitichSmith.com
Read and find the answer to this question: Does the protagonist’s little brother perform the role of The Tin Man?
THE LOVE LETTERS OF ABELARD AND LILY
Written by Laura Creedle, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
When Lily ditches her ADHD meds and lands in detention with Abelard, who is autistic, they connect. But is it enough to bridge their differences in person?
Meet the author at www.LauraCreedle.com
Read and find the answer to this question: What is Abelard’s hobby?
SELECT
Written by Marit Weisenberg, Charlesbridge
Modern-day Romeo and Juliet with a supernatural twist, Julia searches for identity and love outside her exclusive, secretive circle of highly-evolved humans.
Meet the author at MaritWeisenberg.com
Read and find the answer to this question: Where does Julia Jaynes first reveal her abilities in public?
Click here to download a printable poster with all the books. Want to request a printed poster? Click here to email coordinator Meredith Davis.
Thank you to Austin illustrator Kyle McBride for designing Austin SCBWI’s 2019 Great Texas Readathon poster.