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Texas Great Read 2025

 

We’re so excited for you to read these books. The Texas Center for the Book at the Texas State Library and Archives Commission has chosen Matagorda Magic: The Hidden Life of a Texas Bay, written by Kimberly Ridley and illustrated by Rebekah Raye, as the 2025 Texas Great Read Youth Selection. Viva Texas Rivers! Adventures, Misadventures, and Glimpses of Nirvana along Our Storied Waterways, edited by Steven L. Davis and Sam L. Pfiester, is the 2025 Texas Great Read Adult Selection.

Every year, the Library of Congress asks each state Center for the Book to select titles that represent the state’s literary landscape to highlight at the National Book Festival, an event showcasing the importance of books and reading. This year’s festival will be held September 6 in Washington, DC, and online. Check out the Library of Congress website for details.

We also plan to have a Texas Great Reads #TXBookChat LIVE event in October, at the Lorenzo de Zavala State Archives and Library Building at 1201 Brazos Street in Austin. There will be an in-person author talk and an opportunity to purchase the books and have them signed; stay tuned for more details.


Reading the Books

Many libraries across Texas carry copies of Matagorda Magic and Viva Texas Rivers!; we encourage you to check them out! Viva Texas Rivers! is also available through E-Read Texas, TSLAC’s statewide program that provides e-books to small and medium-sized public libraries statewide. If your local library is part of this network, you can access the books this way. Both titles are also available in bookstores and from Texas A&M University Press.
 

2024

Cover of the book "The Mystery of the Monarchs" by Barb Rosenstock, Illustrated by Erika Meza

The Mystery of the Monarchs 

Barb Rosenstock, illustrated by Erika Meza

2024

Cover of the book "The Which Way Tree" by Elizabeth Crook

The Which Way
Tree

Elizabeth Crook

2023

Cover of the book "Nell Plants a Tree" by Anne Wynter, illustrated by Daniel Miyares, showing a girl up in a large tree branch reading a book with a two story house in the background

Nell Plants a Tree

Anne Wynter,
illustrated by Daniel Miyares

2023

Cover of the book "West with Giraffes" by Lynda Rutledge, showing the back of a man wearing over all walking towards a large map of the western United States

West with Giraffes

Lynda Rutledge

2022

Cover of the book "Indelible Ann: The Larger-Than-Life Story of Governor Ann Richards" by Meghan P. Browne, illustrated by Carlynn Whitt 

Indelible Ann: The Larger-Than-Life Story of Governor Ann Richards

Meghan P. Browne, illustrated by Carlynn Whitt

2021

Cover of the book Marfa for the Perplexed

Marfa for the Perplexed

Lonn Taylor

2020

Cover of the book "Butterfly Yellow"

Butterfly Yellow

Thanhhà Lại

2019

Cover of the book "What Do You Do with a Voice Like That? The Story of Extraordinary Congresswoman Barbara Jordan"

What Do You
Do with a Voice
Like That? The Story of Extraordinary
Congresswoman
Barbara Jordan

Chris Barton, illustrated
by Ekua Holmes

2018

Cover of the book "Shame the Stars"

Shame the Stars

Guadalupe 
García
McCall

2017

Cover of the book "News of the World"

News of the World 

Paulette Jiles

2016

Cover of the book Wish Girl

Wish Girl

Nikki Loftin

2015

Cover of the book Family Pictures/Cuadros de Familia

Family Pictures/
Cuadros de Familia

Carmen Lomas Garza

2014

Cover of the book With His Pistol In His Hand: A Border Ballad and Its Hero

With His Pistol In His
Hand: A Border Ballad
and Its Hero

Americo Paredes

2013

Cover of the book The Time It Never Rained

The Time
It Never
Rained

Elmer Kelton

2012

Cover of the book Old Yeller

Old Yeller

Fred Gipson

 

 

2024 Texas Great Read  |  2023 Texas Great Read  |  2022 Texas Great Read  |  2021 Texas Great Read  |  2020 Texas Great Read  |  2019 Texas Great Read  |  2018 Texas Great Read  |  2017 Texas Great Read  |   2016 Texas Great Read



Page last modified: July 7, 2025