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<p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f">
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</v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_4" o:spid="_x0000_s1027" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="Logo, company name
Description automatically generated" href="https://library.ohio.gov/libraries/library-programs-and-development/ctro/ctro" style='position:absolute;margin-left:164.95pt;margin-top:-24.75pt;width:216.15pt;height:114.45pt;z-index:-251657216;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square;mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-wrap-distance-left:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-top:0;mso-wrap-distance-right:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-bottom:0;mso-position-horizontal:right;mso-position-horizontal-relative:text;mso-position-vertical:absolute;mso-position-vertical-relative:text;mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-width-relative:page;mso-height-relative:margin' o:button="t">
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</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><a href="https://library.ohio.gov/libraries/library-programs-and-development/ctro/ctro"><img border="0" width="288" height="153" style="width:3.0in;height:1.5885in" src="cid:image006.jpg@01DB3A9B.38E38BA0" align="right" hspace="12" alt="Logo, company name
Description automatically generated" title="" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_4"></a><![endif]><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif">The
State Library of Ohio and the Ohioana Library Association, with the Ohio Center for the Book and the Choose to Read Ohio Advisory Council, are pleased to announce the
<b>2025 Choose to Read Ohio (CTRO) booklist</b>. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif">CTRO spotlights books by exciting, talented creators who, collectively, write across genres, explore a wide array of topics, and appeal to all age groups. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif">Each CTRO booklist features 20 representative titles for all ages by creators born in, residing in, or associated with Ohio. The titles are selected by Ohio teachers, librarians, and
other advocates for readers and reading. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif">Starting with the new 2025 booklist, CTRO has changed from a biennial to an annual cycle, so there will now be a new CTRO booklist every year. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_3" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="2025 CTRO poster featuring book jacket images from the 20 books on the 2025 CTRO booklist" style='position:absolute;margin-left:175.35pt;margin-top:148.65pt;width:226.55pt;height:302.25pt;z-index:251658240;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square;mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-wrap-distance-left:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-top:0;mso-wrap-distance-right:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-bottom:0;mso-position-horizontal:right;mso-position-horizontal-relative:text;mso-position-vertical:absolute;mso-position-vertical-relative:text;mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-width-relative:page;mso-height-relative:page'>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><img width="302" height="403" style="width:3.1458in;height:4.1979in" src="cid:image007.jpg@01DB3A9B.38E38BA0" align="right" hspace="12" alt="2025 CTRO poster featuring book jacket images from the 20 books on the 2025 CTRO booklist" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_3"><![endif]><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif">Previous CTRO booklists have spotlighted titles by Ohio authors and illustrators including Toni Morrison, Susan Orlean, Wil Haygood, Mindy McGinnis, Margaret Peterson Haddix, Drew Daywalt,
Louise Borden, Denise Fleming, Angela Johnson, Paula McLain, J. Patrick Lewis, Oge Mora, Andrea Wang, Daniel Kirk, Dav Pilkey, Katrina Kittle, and many others. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif">2025 Choose to Read Ohio booklist</span></u></b><u><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif">Books for Adults</span></b><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif">Hanif Abdurraqib,
<b><i>A Little Devil in America: Notes in Praise of Black Performance </i></b> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif">Kelcey Ervick,
<b><i>The Keeper: Soccer, Me, and the Law That Changed Women's Lives </i></b> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif">John Scalzi,
<b><i>Starter Villain</i></b> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif">Maggie Smith,
<b><i>You Could Make This Place Beautiful</i></b> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif">Thao Thai,
<b><i>Banyan Moon</i></b> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif">Books for Teens</span></b><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif">Jorge Aguirre*,
<b><i>Call Me Iggy</i></b>, illustrated by Rafael Rosado* <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif">Kristy Boyce,
<b><i>Dungeons and Drama</i></b> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif">Luma Mufleh,
<b><i>From Here: A Memoir</i></b> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif">Ashley Hope Pérez,
<b><i>Out of Darkness</i></b> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif">Natalie D. Richards,
<b><i>Four Found Dead</i></b> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif">Books for Tweens/Middle Grades</span></b><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif">Richard Adams,
<b><i>Watership Down: The Graphic Novel</i></b>, illustrated by Joe Sutphin*, adapted by James Sturm <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif">Elisa Stone Leahy,
<b><i>Tethered to Other Stars </i></b> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif">Jasmine Warga,
<b><i>A Rover’s Story </i></b> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif">Misty Wilson*,
<b><i>Play Like a Girl: A Graphic Memoir</i></b>, illustrated by David Wilson* <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif">Jacqueline Woodson,
<b><i>Remember Us</i></b> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif">Books for Young Children</span></b><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif">Lindsay Bonilla*,
<b><i>The Storyteller</i></b>, illustrated by Noar Lee Naggan <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif">Keila V. Dawson*,
<b><i>Opening the Road: Victor Hugo Green and His Green Book</i></b>, illustrated by Alleanna Harris <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif">Julia Kuo,
<b><i>Luminous: Living Things That Light Up the Night</i></b> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif">Chiquita Mullins Lee* and Carmella Van Vleet*,
<b><i>You Gotta Meet Mr. Pierce! The Storied Life of Folk Artist Elijah Pierce</i></b>, illustrated by Jennifer Mack-Watkins <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif">Connie Schultz*,
<b><i>Lola and the Troll</i></b>, illustrated by Sandy Rodríguez <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif">*Asterisk denotes Ohio creator of co-created book. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif;color:#0070C0"><a href="https://dam.assets.ohio.gov/image/upload/v1731693059/library.ohio.gov/ctro-files/2025/CTRO_2025_booklist_flyer.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="color:#0070C0">Download
the new 2025 CTRO booklist</span></a> </span><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif">formatted for printing and sharing. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif">Teachers, librarians, and other experts graciously offered their time, support, and expertise as CTRO 2025 booklist electors. CTRO electors evaluate the nominated books for one or more
age groups and vote for those they consider best suited to CTRO. The CTRO Advisory Council and the CTRO partner organizations are indebted to these individuals for their generous participation.
<a href="https://library.ohio.gov/about/committees-and-councils/committees-councils">
<span style="color:#0070C0">See the State Library website for a complete list of 2025 electors.</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans Pro",sans-serif;color:#0070C0"><a href="https://library.ohio.gov/ctro"><span style="color:#0070C0">CTRO</span></a>
</span><span style="font-family:"Source Sans Pro",sans-serif">is a project of the State Library of Ohio, the Ohioana Library Association, and the Ohio Center for the Book, in collaboration with Ohio’s libraries.
</span><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif"> ###<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0E3F75"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><img border="0" width="269" height="80" style="width:2.802in;height:.8333in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image005.png@01DB3A8B.D31D2790" alt="A picture containing text
Description automatically generated"></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0E3F75">Marsha McDevitt-Stredney<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#5A5A5A">Director, Marketing & Communications<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#5A5A5A">State Library of Ohio<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#5A5A5A">274 E. 1<sup>st</sup> Avenue<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#5A5A5A">Columbus, OH 43201<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#5A5A5A">Tel: 614.644.6875<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0070C0"><a href="mailto:marshams@library.ohio.gov"><span style="color:#0070C0">marshams@library.ohio.gov</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0070C0"><a href="https://library.ohio.gov/"><span style="color:#0070C0">library.ohio.gov</span></a><u><o:p></o:p></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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