Awards

“Evensong” by Stewart O’Nan is a moving and deeply observant novel set in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, that captures the quiet complexities of marriage, memory, faith, and aging. Pittsburgh’s Humpty Dumpty Club, an organization of elderly women who support one another and their spouses through their golden years, finds itself in shambles after their leader, Joan, injures herself and can no longer manage the group. Determined to keep the organization running, Joan appoints Kitzi as the group’s new leader.

“Lilac and the Switchback” by Cordelia Jensen is a poignant middle grade novel about identity, belonging, and family. After losing her mother, Lilac moves in with relatives, but when she learns her aunt is pregnant, she fears there may no longer be room for her. While feeling lonely and slowly drifting apart from her best friend, Lilac discovers a mysterious check from her estranged father. Lilac views a relationship with her biological father as a possible path to finding the family she longs for, ultimately risking everything to discover who she is and where she truly fits in.

Set in the Appalachian landscape of western Pennsylvania, “Sidle Creek” is a striking debut short story collection that captures the raw beauty and quiet struggles of rural life in Pennsylvania. With poetic precision and deep compassion, author Jolene McIlwain explores themes of class, work, trauma, and personal connection in a close-knit rural community simultaneously shaped and impacted by the forces of industry and natural resources. 

In Eric Smith’s “With or Without You,” a fresh and engaging young adult romantic comedy set on the streets of South Philadelphia, rival teen food truck employees Jordan Plazas and Cindy Ortiz are internet-famous for their explosive feud—and secretly in love. What started as a staged rivalry to boost the respective family cheesesteak businesses suddenly goes national when a reality TV crew offers them a shot at fame. But as their fake feud grows bigger than ever, Jordan and Cindy must choose between chasing their dreams or risking it all for the truth—and each other.

An Unspeakable Hope chronicles the journey of Pittsburgh native Leon Ford from his adolescent experiences in the drug trade, to the life-changing moment when he was shot by a police officer and the aftermath of those experiences. Through reading both Ford’s raw portrayals of the violence, traumas and anger he experienced, and the wisdom he gleaned from his family, mentors, hard work and soul-searching, Ford shares valuable insights on masculinity, poverty, mental health, social activism, and many other topics. 

The Ty’s Travels series is part of HarperCollins’ I Can Read Comics series and is intended for beginning readers, ages 4 to 6 years old. Camp Out! shows Ty and his family when bad weather seems to quash their plans for a camping trip. Ty’s imagination saves the day and family fun is shared in this high interest, vibrantly illustrated comic narrative for beginning readers.

A Poem Grows Inside You celebrates the journey of creativity. It compares the development of an idea to a seed waiting for rain to awaken it and courage it to bloom. This beautifully illustrated picture book encourages young readers to nurture their talents and share them boldly with the world.

Images of America: Bellefonte records the history of Bellefonte, a town nestled in Pennsylvania’s Nittany Valley. Founded in 1795 by James Dunlop and James Harris, Bellefonte was once a thriving hub of iron-making and political prominence. It produced five Pennsylvania governors and a governor of California and Kansas. Known for its picturesque Victorian architecture, with 11 properties on the National Register of Historic Places, Bellefonte’s prosperity waned after the founding of the nearby Pennsylvania State University in 1855.

Carmen Maria Machado’s In the Dream House is a powerful memoir of her tumultuous relationship with a volatile partner. Using inventive narrative tropes like the haunted house and bildungsroman, Machado examines her experiences, explores the myth of utopian lesbian relationships, and delves into the history and reality of abuse in queer relationships.

In Night Creatures, a parent and child camp out in their backyard. As night falls, they observe fireflies, bats, and rabbits all within their yard! Lyrical text and atmospheric illustrations bring the nocturnal world to life in this captivating picture book.

 In Your Name is a Song, a young girl, frustrated by the mispronunciation of her name at school, learns from her mother about the musicality and beauty of diverse names. Empowered by this lesson, she returns to school ready to share the magic of names with her class. This uplifting story celebrates the history and uniqueness of names.

Feed Your Mind tells the story of August Wilson (1945–2005), a two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright celebrated for capturing the voices of African Americans. Despite leaving school due to prejudice, Wilson educated himself through relentless reading, believing he could learn anything through books. Told in two acts, this biography explores his journey to becoming one of America’s most influential playwrights.

 As a child in the late 1800s, Horace Pippin loved to draw. He created art for family members and classmates and even depicted his life as a soldier during WWI. After being wounded and losing the use of his arm, he slowly relearned to paint through determination and practice. His unique style eventually gained recognition, with his work displayed in galleries nationwide. This inspiring story by Jen Bryant and Melissa Sweet celebrates a self-taught artist who overcame great challenges to follow his passion.

“Painting is poetry that is seen rather than felt, and poetry is painting that is felt rather than seen.” - Leonardo da Vinci. Inspired by this idea, 18 poets, including Marilyn Singer and Carole Boston Weatherford, created poems based on iconic works from The Metropolitan Museum’s collection. This book, edited by Lee Bennett Hopkins, includes artwork, poems, and poet and artist biographies, blending art and poetry together in a unique celebration of artist expression.

When the Bunny family adopts a wolf, their daughter Dot is convinced he might eat them! While her parents dismiss her fears, Dot faces a twist when Wolfie needs her help. Can she save the day and embrace her new brother?

When Benjamin Franklin arrives in Paris, he encounters Dr. Mesmer, who claims to control a magical force that cures illness and influences thoughts. Using observation and testing, Franklin investigates Mesmer’s tricks. This lively, illustrated story explores a pivotal moment in history and the power of the scientific method.

Sam is the best race-car driver—until his friend Maggie shows her own talent and beats him. Can Sam learn what it really means to be a winner? Greg Pizzoli’s upbeat story about sportsmanship is perfect for read-alouds.

Nilson and Amelia do everything together, but Nilson’s gorilla-sized tantrums can shake the house! Amelia calms him with promises like banana ice cream—until she needs calming, too. Inspired by Ohora’s parenting, No Fits, Nilson! is a hilarious pick for preschoolers and parents navigating tantrums.

Bernard loves napping, but his loud snores disturb the other otters. Told to move, he tries sleeping in different spots, but his snoring keeps causing trouble. Bernard just wants to hear two simple words: “Goodnight, Bernard!”

Bernard loves napping, but his loud snores disturb the other otters. Told to move, he tries sleeping in different spots, but his snoring keeps causing trouble. Bernard just wants to hear two simple words: “Goodnight, Bernard!”