Texas A&M University–Central Texas is once again collecting books to benefit young readers as part of this year’s convocation activities.
Sponsored by the Curriculum and Instruction Department of the College of Education and Human Development, faculty and staff are encouraged to drop books off in donation boxes located in Warrior Hall throughout the day on Thursday, Aug. 21.The department is hoping to collect 150 new books for readers ages kindergarten through 5th grade. The donations will benefit Pershing Park Elementary School in Killeen. Part of the Killeen Independent School District, Pershing Park serves more than 1,000 elementary students.
Barnes & Noble in Harker Heights is offering a 10% discount to anyone who mentions TAMUCT at checkout. Suggested books from the 2025 Award-Winning Books list are available at Barned & Noble as well as other book sellers.
Pershing Park Principal Jessica Taylor will be at convocation to accept the donation. Books may be dropped off at the Curriculum and Instruction Department through Friday.
Suggested books include:
2025 Caldecott Medal (Picture Books)
Winner:
Chooch Helped – Illustrated by Rebecca Lee Kunz, written by Andrea L. Rogers
Honors:
Home In a Lunchbox – Cherry Mo
My Daddy Is a Cowboy – Stephanie Seales, illustrated by C.G. Esperanza
Noodles on a Bicycle – Kyo Maclear, illustrated by Gracey Zhang
Up, Up, Ever Up! Junko Tabei – Anita Yasuda, illustrated by Yuko Shimizu
2025 Newbery Medal (Middle Grade Fiction)
Winner:
The First State of Being – Erin Entrada Kelly
Honors:
Across So Many Seas – Ruth Behar
Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All – Chanel Miller
One Big Open Sky – Lesa Cline-Ransome
The Wrong Way Home – Kate O’Shaughnessy
2025 Texas Bluebonnet Award Master List (Grades 3–6)
Dogtown – Katherine Applegate & Gennifer Choldenko
Doña Quixote: Rise of the Knight – Rey Terciero
Pedro’s Yo-Yos – Rob Peñas
The Girl Who Figured It Out – Minda Dentler
Invisible Isabel – Sally J. Pla
Volcanoes – Nell Cross Beckerman
Stuntboy, In-Between Time – Jason Reynolds
Ernö Rubik and His Magic Cube – Kerry Aradhya
Haiku, Ew! – Lynn Brunelle
Scare School Diaries – Jarrett Lerner
2025 Coretta Scott King Book Awards
Twenty-four Seconds From Now – Jason Reynolds (Author Winner)
My Daddy Is a Cowboy – Stephanie Seales (Illustrator Winner)
Jimmy’s Rhythm & Blues – Michelle Meadows (New Talent Illustrator)
2025 Pura Belpré Awards
Winners:
The Dream Catcher – Marcelo Verdad (Illustration)
Lola – Karla Valenti (Children’s Author)
Honors:
A Maleta Full of Treasures – Natalia Sylvester
Abuelo, the Sea, and Me – Ismée Williams
Cruzita and the Mariacheros – Ashley Jean Granillo
Ultraviolet – Aida Salazar
2025 Schneider Family Book Awards
A Little Like Magic – Sarah Kurpiel (Young Children)
Popcorn – Rob Harrell (Middle Grades)
Monster Hands – Karen Kane & Jonaz McMillan (Honor)
You’re So Amazing! – James & Lucy Catchpole (Honor)
Or from award-winning authors:
- Kwame Alexander
- Katherine Applegate
- Jan Brett
- Margaret Wise Brown
- Mac Brown
- Eric Carle
- Roald Dahl
- James Dean
- Kate DiCamillo
- Sharon M. Draper
- Alan Gratz
- Vashti Harrison
- Kevin Henkes
- Jory John
- Jeff Kinney
- Jon Klassen
- Gordon Korman
- Patricia MacLachlan
- Dav Pilkey
- Jerry Pinkney
- Peter Reynolds
- J.K. Rowling
- Dan Santat
- Brian Selznick
- Tui T. Sutherland
- Raina Telgemeier
- Mo Willems
- Jacqueline Woodson
- Kelly Yang
- Jane Yolen