Apr 24, 2025 - Education

The most popular books in Texas by grade level

Megan Stringer

Illustration of kids playing on a book like a slide. — Illustration: Allie Carl/Axios

The most popular books for Texas students are often classics, a new report shows.

Why it matters: When kids read for 15 minutes a day, they gain a host of benefits in vocabulary and literacy, according to the 2025 "What Kids are Reading" report from Renaissance, an educational software company.

How it works: Renaissance compiled the data based on its internal sources that track children's reading and comprehension. It claims to be the largest annual study of K-12 student reading habits.

The big picture: Here are the most popular books in Texas by grade level, per the report:

First: "A Big Guy Took My Ball!" by Mo Willems
Second: "Clark the Shark" by Bruce Hale
Third: "Scaredy Squirrel" by Mélanie Watt
Fourth: "Because of Winn-Dixie" by Kate DiCamillo
Fifth: "Diary of a Wimpy Kid: No Brainer" by Jeff Kinney
Sixth: "Hatchet" by Gary Paulsen
Seventh: "Refugee" by Alan Gratz
Eighth: "The Outsiders" by S.E. Hinton
Ninth: "The Most Dangerous Game" by Richard Connell
Tenth: "Macbeth" by William Shakespeare
Eleventh: "Hatchet" by Gary Paulsen
Twelfth: "Frankenstein (Unabridged)" by Mary Shelley

What's next: Independent Bookstore Day is Saturday — a great time to stop by some San Antonio shops and pick up summer reads for both parents and children.

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The most popular books in Texas by grade level

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