2025-2026 Book Lists

About Our Book Lists

Each year, dedicated volunteer teachers and librarians from across New Mexico thoughtfully curate these book lists. They read extensively to ensure their selections represent a rich diversity of genres, experiences, and perspectives.

Our committees strive to choose age-appropriate titles that will engage and inspire young readers. However, given the breadth of perspectives represented, individual books may contain content that some families prefer to discuss before reading. That's why students can choose any 10 books from the list to compete in the state competition—allowing flexibility for each student's interests and readiness.

Supporting Your Students

As the local experts on your community and students, we encourage team sponsors to familiarize themselves with the books so they can have meaningful conversations with families. Here are two helpful resources:

• AR BookFinder – Offers reading levels, summaries, and content advisories

• Common Sense Media – Provides reviews and parent comments for many popular titles

These resources can support your decision-making, complementing your own professional judgment about what's best for your students.

This Year's Book Lists

25-26 Elementary School Book List

25-26 Middle School Book List