Are you a true Texan? Or do you claim to be one? Either way, if you and your family live in this great state, you know everything seems to be bigger in Texas, and like everything else, the selection of Texas-themed books is just as big. We have compiled a list of some of the best Texas-themed books for you to enjoy with the kids starting from infants and ending with some great young adult books.
I Love Texas: An ABC Adventure
Get your little one this cute ABC book with everything you love about your home state! Children and parents alike will be delighted by seeing their favorite Texas landmarks and landscapes take shape in this adorable Texas baby book!
Good Night Texas
Good Night Texas is written by Adam Gamble and explores Galveston Island, the Alamo, Big Bend National Park, and many more unique locations. Readers will take an adventure and learn about all the fantastic sceneries, and historical landmarks Texas has to offer. So Saddle up, Partner, it’s time to go on an adventure!
Armadillo Rodeo
Author Jan Brett takes readers on a crazy journey with a young armadillo named Bo that has recently wandered off. Bo is always looking for new adventures, and today he has found a new “friend,” leaving his mom and three brothers looking for him. Get ready for a two-stepping, bronco-bucking adventure.
W Is for Weird: An Austin Alphabet
Explore what makes Austin unlike anywhere else in the world. This fun and weird book written by Lori Otto Samocha is an alphabetical guide that highlights some of the very best things that make Austin weird and wonderful.
The Legend of the Bluebonnet
If you have ever wondered how the beautiful bluebonnets came to be Texas’s state flower, then this book is for you. In The Legend of the Bluebonnet, author Tomie dePaola retells the folktale of a native American girl named She-Who-Is and how she sacrificed her most prized possession to end the drought and how the Great Spirits sent the bluebonnets because of that sacrifice.
Miss Lady Bird’s Wildflowers: How a First Lady Changed America
In this warm, engaging book, Kathi Appelt tells the story behind Lady Bird Johnson’s environmental vision and gives readers a look at the life of a lonely child in the Piney Woods of East Texas that grew up to become a great First Lady. You get a glimpse of her exciting life in the White House and her love for wildflowers.
Texas State Bird Pageant
Have you ever heard of a bird pageant? In this story, Todd Michael tells Molly Mockingbird’s story, who enters into a bird pageant where all the other birds are not too friendly. You’ll get to follow Molly’s journey and learn how she discovers her true voice and finds the courage to sing her original song.
Friday Night Lights
Dive into the book that inspired and made the top-rated show happen! Author H.G. Bissinger takes readers to Odessa, Texas, to follow a football team through their inspiring and challenging lives. An excellent read for young adults with a passion for football.
All the Pretty Horses
This national bestseller tells the tale of 16-year-old John Grady Cole, who finds himself at the end of a long line of Texas ranchers and cut off from the only life he ever knew. Go on this journey with him and two companies as they set off across Texas to Mexico.
Holes
In Holes, you follow Stanley Yelnats, who has recently been sent to a Texas juvenile detention center in the desert after being falsely accused of theft. As a punishment, all the kids are made to dig holes, which they think is a pointless punishment until they discover the real reasons behind the hole digging.
From learning what makes Austin weird to how Texas got their beautiful bluebonnets, we hope you enjoyed this list of Texas-themed books.