Thursday, April 22nd

10:15-11:15 AM CT
Tackling Tough Topics in Middle Grade – Author Panel
Speaker: Barbara O’Connor (Halfway to Harmony)

1:45 – 2:45pm CT
Black Caucus Round Table Author Session – Keynote
Speakers: Tiffany D. Jackson and Ilyasah Shabazz (The Awakening of Malcolm X)

3:00 – 4:00pm CT
Read with Pride: LGBTQ+ YA Lit – Author Panel
Speakers: Aiden Thomas (Cemetery Boys), Mike Curato (Flamer)

4:15 – 5:15pm CT
The Creative Pen: YA Authors Who Chat About the Craft – Author Panel
Speaker: Marissa Meyer (Instant Karma)

Friday, April 23rd

10:15 – 11:15am CT
Coming Soon to a Shelf Near You: Star-studded Middle Grade Fiction – Author Panel
Speakers: Kimberly Willis Holt (The Ambassador of Nowhere, Texas), Angela Dominguez (Stella Díaz Dreams Big)

12:00 – 1:00pm CT
LIbrary Friends, Trustees, and Advocates (LiFTA) Author Session – Keynote
Speaker: Gary Paulsen (Gone to the Woods)

1:45 – 2:45pm CT
Lone Star Reading List – Author Panel
Speakers: Steve Sheinkin (Fallout), April Henry (Eyes of the Forest)

1:45 – 2:45pm CT
The Suspense is Killing Me – Author Panel
Speakers: Angeline Boulley (Firekeeper’s Daughter), June Hur (The Forest of Stolen Girls)

3:00 – 4:00pm CT
Through Space & Time: YA Sci-Fi – Author Panel
Speaker: Joan He (The Ones We’re Meant to Find)

3:00 – 4:00pm CT
YA Lit: Speaking Truth to Power – Author Panel
Speakers: Tiffany D. Jackson and Ilyasah Shabazz (The Awakening of Malcolm X)

4:00 – 5:00pm CT
Go, Graphic Novels, Go! – Author Panel
Speakers: Johnathan Stutzman and Heather Fox (Fitz and Cleo)

4:00 – 5:00pm CT
Sometimes, You Just Gotta Laugh: Humor – Author Panel
Speakers: Aaron Reynolds (Fart Quest), Vera Brosgol (Memory Jars)

4:00 – 5:00pm CT
This is My Story: #OwnVoices for Children – Author Panel 
Speakers: Nidhi Chanani (Jukebox and Pashmina)

Saturday, April 24th

10:15 – 11:15am CT
Move Over Dick and Jane: Connecting Beginning Readers to Fun Reads – Author Panel
Speaker: Katherine Applegate (Doggo and Pupper)

10:15 – 11:15am CT
A Beautiful Darkness (YA Dark Fantasy) – Author Panel
Speakers: Leigh Bardugo (Rule of Wolves), A.M. Strickland (In the Ravenous Dark)

1:45 – 2:45pm CT
Thrills & Chills for Kids – Author Panel
Speaker: Christian McKay Heidicker (Ghosts of Weirdwood and Scary Stories for Young Foxes: The City)

1:45 – 2:45pm CT
A Tale as Old as Time: Fairy Tale Retellings
Speakers: Anna-Marie McLemore (The Mirror Season), L.L. McKinney (A Crown So Cursed)

This Very Tree by Sean Rubin
On Sale May 11, 2021
A deeply moving story about community and resilience, from the point-of-view of the Callery pear tree that survived the attacks on September 11, from Eisner Award-nominated author-illustrator Sean Rubin.
Read This Very Tree on Issuu here.

Memory Jars by Vera Brosgol
On Sale May 18, 2021
A young girl finds a clever way to keep her favorite things–and people–close to her forever in Memory Jars, from Caldecott Honoree Vera Brosgol.
Read Memory Jars on Issuu.

I Wish You Knew by Jackie Azúa Kramer; illustrated by Magdalena Mora
On Sale May 18, 2021
A story about deportation, divided families, and the importance of community in the midst of uncertainty. “Kramer’s homage to the ‘I Wish My Teacher Knew’ movement draws attention to the many hardships children experience at home while still trying to succeed in school. The examples given are particularly poignant. Mora’s soft, mixed-media illustrations reflect a diverse and dynamic classroom and sympathetically portray many of the challenges faced by children. For success in school, the importance of empathy and compassion can’t be overstated.”—Kirkus Reviews 
Read I Wish You Knew on Issuu.
Read Ojalá supieras (I Wish You Knew Spanish Edition) on Issuu here.

Dear Librarian by Lydia Sigwarth, illustrated by Romina Galotta, foreword by Ira Glass
On Sale June 1, 2021
Paired with warm art by newcomer Romina Galotta and a foreword by Ira Glass, Dear Librarian is a “thank you” to anyone who has offered a child love and support during a difficult time.
Read Dear Librarian on Issuu.

Frankenslime by Joy Keller; illustrated by Ashley Belote
On Sale July 13, 2021
A young slime scientist is surprised when her latest creation comes to life in Frankenslime, a funny and clever picture book twist on Frankenstein.
Read Frankenslime on Issuu.

Small Knight and the Anxiety Monster by Manka Kasha
On Sale August 10, 2021
An adorable, heartfelt picture book debut from Manka Kasha, Small Knight and the Anxiety Monster follows the magical quest of a knight finding the courage to confront an ever growing monster.
Read Small Knight and the Anxiety Monster on Issuu.

Be Strong by Pat Zietlow Miller; illustrated by Jen Hill
On Sale August 10, 2021
A picture book about finding strength in unlikely places from the team behind the hugely popular New York Times bestseller Be Kind.
Read Be Strong on Issuu.

Brains! Not Just A Zombie Snack by Stacy McAnulty; illustrations by Matthew Rivera
On Sale August 31, 2021
From Stacy McAnulty, author of the funny STEM picture book Earth! My First 4.54 Billion Years and Our Universe series, comes the beginning of an exciting new picture book series focused on the science of the body.
Read Brains! Not Just A Zombie Snack on Issuu.

Niki Nakayama: A Chef’s Tale in 13 Bites by Debbi Michiko Florence and Jamie Michalak; illustrated by Yuko Jones
On Sale September 14, 2021
Niki Nakayama: A Chef’s Tale in 13 Bites is a picture book biography that tells the story of the powerhouse female Japanese-American chef and her rise to fame.
Read Niki Nakayama on Issuu here.

Rosie the Riveter: The Legacy of an American Icon by Sarah Dvojack
On Sale September 21, 2021
This gorgeous picture book highlights how an iconic image of a working woman evolved into an inspirational symbol of hope and strength for all girls and women.
Read Rosie the Riveter on Issuu.

Texas Bluebonnet Award 2021-2022 Master List

Scary Stories for Young Foxes by Christian McKay Heidicker, illustrated by Junyi Wu

The goal of the TBA program is to encourage reading for pleasure. The titles are chosen for both quality and appeal to children. In order to vote, children must read at least five titles on the list throughout 2021. In January 2022, students will vote for their favorite title on the list, thus using critical thinking skills in selecting their choice. The winner will be announced in February 2022 and the award will be presented at the 2022 Texas Library Association (TLA) Annual Conference. Close to 180,000 students vote each year. View the full master list here.

2021 Maverick Graphic Novel Reading List

The Phantom Twin by Lisa Brown
One Year at Ellsmere by Faith Erin Hicks   
*Snapdragon by Kat Leyh
*Go With the Flow by Lily Williams and Karen Schneemann, illustrated by Lily Williams
*Dragon Hoops by Gene Luen Yang  
The Daughters of Ys by M.T. Anderson, illustrated by Jo Rioux
Open Borders by Bryan Caplan and Zach Weinersmith
*Flamer by Mike Curato
*Truckus Maximus by Scott Peterson; illustrated by José García

The Texas Maverick Graphic Novels Reading List  is a recommended reading list developed by public and school librarians. The purpose of the list is to encourage students in grades 6-12 to explore a variety of current graphic novels. The full list can be found here. 
*Titles received a unanimous vote from the selection committee   

2021 Little Maverick Graphic Novel List   

Astronauts: Women on the Final Frontier by Jim Ottaviani & Maris Wicks  
History Comics: The Great Chicago Fire by Kate Hannigan & Alex Graudins
History Comics: The Roanoke Colony by Chris Schweizer 
InvestiGators by John Patrick Green
Kitten Construction Company: A Bridge Too Fur by John Patrick Green 
My Pencil and Me by Sara Varon
Nico Bravo and the Cellar Dwellers by Mike Cavallaro 
*One Year at Ellsmere by Faith Erin Hicks 
Peter and Ernesto: Sloths in the Night by Graham Annable 
Science Comics: Wild Weather by MK Reed & Jonathan Hill 

The Little Maverick Graphic Novel Reading List is a recommended reading list designed for children in grades K-5. The purpose of the list is to encourage students to explore a variety of current graphic novels. The full list can be found here.
*Titles received a unanimous vote from the selection committee   

2021 Texas Topaz Nonfiction Reading List 

*All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson
Brave Ballerina by Michelle Meadows, illustrated by Ebony Glenn
*Jane Against the World by Karen Blumenthal
Torpedoed by Deborah Heiligman 

The purpose of the Texas Topaz Reading List is to provide children and adults with recommended nonfiction titles that stimulate reading for pleasure and personal learning. The full list can be found here.
*Titles received a unanimous vote from the selection committee   

2021 TAYSHAS List

Six Angry Girls by Adrienne Kisner
The Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller
Warrior of the Wild by Tricia Levenseller
Bloom by Kevin Panetta, illustrated by Savanna Ganucheau
The Kingdom by Jess Rothenberg
Dragon Hoops by Gene Luen Yang  

The goal of the TAYSHAS reading list is to motivate young adults to become lifelong readers. Students in grades 9 – 12 are encouraged to read books for pleasure from the list which includes fiction and nonfiction titles. The full list can be found here.