Front covers of eight popular children's books.

Excel by Eight was initially established as the Arkansas Campaign for Grade-Level Reading in 2011 to ensure all children read at grade level by the end of third grade. In honor of Read a Book Day, we asked our team to share their favorite children’s books. Check out our top eight favorite recommendations!

The E8 Team’s Eight Favorite Children’s Books
  1. “Little Blue Truck” by Alice Schertle
    Angela Duran, E8 Executive Director

  2. “The Snowy Day” by Ezra Jack Keats
    La Shawn Grimes, E8 Project Consultant

  3. “Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes” by Eric Litwin, James Dean, and Kimberly Dean
    Tori Scott, E8 Communities Manager

  4. “Little House on the Prairie” by Laura Ingalls Wilder
    Anna Strong, Executive Director, Arkansas Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics

  5. “The Kissing Hand” by Audrey Penn
    Beth Tody, E8 Regional Coordinator

  6. “Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon” by Patty Lovell
    Jamie Ward, President, Arkansas Association for Infant Mental Health

  7. “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie” by Laura Joffe Numeroff
    Adena White, E8 Communications Director

  8. “The Little Engine That Could” by Watty Piper
    Alison Williams, E8 Coalitions Director

To stay updated about our continued efforts to create a reliable resource grid – one in which all families and communities are plugged in to ensure that all children have what they need to thrive – sign up for our email list or follow our social media accounts at @Excelby8.