19 Best Books About Texas: Texas Children's Books, Picture Books

The Ultimate List of Children’s Books about Texas

Disclaimer: This page of best children’s books about Texas contains affiliate links for which I may earn income at no cost to you. You may find these books at a local bookstore, library, or used re-seller online. The links are for your convenience.

Children’s Books about Texas – The Stories That Make Texas What It Is

Nacho’s Nachos, by Sandra Nickel and Oliver Dominguez

How did Nachos become a delicious dish? Ignacio, the chef of a restaurant, was the one who made nachos from his corn tortillas. This children’s book about Texas favorite, the nacho chip with toppings, is a true story about the origin of this crunchy favorite food.

The Adventures of Chupacabra Charlie, by Frederick Luis Aldama and Chris Escobar

A graphic novel about an alien (like E.T.), in a fantasy graphic novel story, that tells a story about people at the Texas border.

The Hero of Cinco de Mayo, by Jose Angel Gutierrez and Stephen Marchesi

This children’s book tells of the Battle of Puebla, when the Mexican army defeated the French army in 1862. The battle’s leader, Ignacio Zaragoza Seguín, was born in Goliad, Texas, in 1829. At his birth, Texas was a part of Mexico – it would later become its own nation, and then join into the United States. The Battle of Puebla became the reason for the Cinco de Mayo holiday.

René has two last names / René tiene dos apellidos, by Rene Colato Lainez

Based on the childhood of the author, who came to the United States from El Salvador. This book talks about how young Rene entered school and had his name written as Rene Colato. But that didn’t feel right, it wasn’t his whole name. He wrote Colato Lainez, and the book teaches about two-surname name traditions and about valuing a person’s full name.

Texas Books for Kids – The Journey to Equality

Hear My Voice/Escucha mi voz: The Testimonies of Children Detained at the Southern Border of the United States, compiled by Warren Binford

Discusses the humanitarian crisis from the words of children.

Soldier for Equality: José de la Luz Sáenz and the Great War, by Duncan Tonatiuh

This book has an AMAZING audiobook – one of the most engaging children’s audiobooks I have heard. The story is about José de la Luz Sáenz, a soldier for the US Military who faced discrimination in World War 1. The book shows great character traits throughout.

La Frontera: El Viaje Con Papa / My Journey with Papa, by Deborah Mills, Alfredo Alva, and illustrated by Claudia Navarro

Lucia the Luchadora, by Cynthia Leonor Garza and Alyssa Bermudez

Books about Texas: Families and Heritage

Yo Soy Muslim, by Mark Gonzales, illustrated by Mehrdokht Amini

Niño wrestles the world, by Yuyi Morales

Family Pictures / Cuadras de Familia, by Sandra Cisneros and Carmen Lomas Garza

This book about Mexican-American family traditions held in Texas. Daily life is shown in the beautiful portraits.

In My Family / En Mi Familia, by Sandra Cisneros and Carmen Lomas Garza

A continuation of Carmen Lomas Garza’s “Family Pictures,” this shows daily life and celebrations in Garza’s Mexican-American family in Texas. The paintings as illustrations could encourage a reader to write their own stories about daily life.

Famous Texans: Children’s Biographies

The United States v. Jackie Robinson, by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen, and illustrated by R. Gregory Christie

Jackie Robinson was once charged for crimes while at a Texas military base during World War 2. His crime? Riding on an integrated bus. See how Jackie Robinson was a legal trailblazer even before he entered into Major League Baseball with the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Courageous People from Texas Who Changed the World, by Heidi Poelman, illustrated by Kyle Kershner

Famous Texans covered: Stephen Austin, Sam Houston, Lyndon and Lady Bird Johnson, the Bush Family, Sandra Day O’Connor, Ann Richards, Buddy Holly, Barbara Jordan, Selena Quintanilla-Perez, Vickie Gutierrez, and J. J. Watt

What Do You Do with a Voice Like That?: The Story of Extraordinary Congresswoman Barbara Jordan, by Chris Barton, illustrated by Ekua Holmes

Barbara Jordan was the first African-American woman to be elected to the Texas State Senate. She then became a U.S. Congressmember for Texas, where she sat on the House Judiciary Committee during the impeachment hearings of Richard Nixon. Barbara Jordan’s long-lasting Congressional career for Texas paved the way for another generation of strong women with ‘voices like that’ to serve in government.

Queen of Tejano Music: Selena, by Silvia López, illustrated by Paola Escobar

Selena Quintanilla-Perez was the queen of Tejano music, a chart-topper in the 1990s. This book about Selena, beautifully illustrated, tells the story of the famous singer.

The Runaway Tortilla by Eric A. Kimmel

Hopefully the tortilla can escape the armadillo. This is a well rounded re-telling of the gingerbread man story in this book about Texas food staple – the tortilla.

Lots of rattlesnakes, donkeys, and horned toads in the story to capture the Texas landscape.

Dinosaur Hunt: Texas, by Karen Carr.

Visit the science in prehistoric Texas. This picture book about Texas discusses the day in the life of an Acrocanthosaurus, an animal similar to a T. Rex., as it lived in prehistoric Texas.

Children’s Books about Texas for Older Readers

Someone Like Me, by Julissa Arce

A children’s book about Texas for ages 10 and up, for 5th grade to middle schoo, or younger if read-aloud. Julissa was a Texas student who went through adversity. She shares her Texas childhood in this book.

Children’s Books about Texas and all 50 states. Which state will you read about next!

(districts, territories)

Washington, D.C.

Puerto Rico

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19 Best Books About Texas: Texas Children’s Books, Picture Books