The 2 X 2 Reading Program is a project of the Children's Round Table, a unit of the Texas Library Association. The 2 X 2 Committee's charge is to produce a list of 20 recommended books for children, age two to grade two. These titles are meant to be read aloud by parents to their children. Parents will sign an enrollment form and return a signed roster with each book.

The Texas Bluebonnet Award (TBA) reading program was established in 1979 to encourage Texas children to read more books, explore a variety of current books, develop powers of discrimination, and identify their favotite books. Our program is aimed at students in grades 3-5. Participating students must read a minimum of five books from the current master list before they may vote for their favorite title. Teachers and parents are encouraged to read some of the books aloud. The author of the book receiving the most votes statewide is declared the winner of the Texas Bluebonnet Award.

The Texas Lone Star Program is a recommended reading list developed by public and school librarians from the Young Adult Round Table. The purpose of the list is to enourage students in grades 6, 7, or 8 to explore a variety of current books. Each book on the list has been favorably reviewed for grades 6,7, or 8 in a professional review source.

The Tayshas High School Program is a reading incentive program designed for young adults in Texas, grades 9-12, who are encouraged to read books for pleasure from a selected reading list prepared by the Tayshas Committee.

Students are required to read 15 books from the 2 X 2 and Bluebonnet lists to complete the programs. Students participating in the Lone Star and Tayshas programs must read a minimum of 13 books. Students who meet the requirements are rewarded at the end of the year. All programs end in early April.

TAYSHAS READING LISTS

The objective of the Tayshas project is to motivate young adults to become life-long readers and to participate in the community of readers in Texas.

"TAYSHAS' takes its name from the Caddo Indian word meaning "friends or allies." Written texas, texios, tejas, teyas or tayshas, the word was applied to the Caddos by the Spanish in eastern Texas, who regarded them as friends and allies against the Apaches. (Newcomb, W. W., Jr. The Indians from Texas: Prehistoric to Modern Times. University of Texas Press, 1961)