• Move through the complexities of familial and intimate relations with this year's winner: "Stone Fruit" by Lee Lai (Fantagraphics) - <a href="https://www.pabook.libraries.psu.edu/awards-contests/lynd-ward-graphic-novel-prize">read more here</a>, and about honor books, “How to Pick a Fight” by Lara Kaminoff (Nobrow) and “No One Else” by R. Kikuo Johnson (Fantagraphics)!

    2022 Lynd Ward Graphic Novel Prize

    Move through the complexities of familial and intimate relations with this year's winner: "Stone Fruit" by Lee Lai (Fantagraphics) - read more here, and about honor books, “How to Pick a Fight” by Lara Kaminoff (Nobrow) and “No One Else” by R. Kikuo Johnson (Fantagraphics)!

    This year’s winner is <a href="https://www.pabook.libraries.psu.edu/awards-contests/lee-bennett-hopkins-poetry-award">“The 1619 Project: Born on the Water,”</a> an historical narrative told in a series of lyrical poems, by Nikole Hannah-Jones and Renée Watson, illustrated by Nikkolas Smith (Kokila, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers Group)!

    2022 Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award

    This year’s winner is “The 1619 Project: Born on the Water,” an historical narrative told in a series of lyrical poems, by Nikole Hannah-Jones and Renée Watson, illustrated by Nikkolas Smith (Kokila, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers Group)!

    Tune in to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCve4tLb8bIVFvdcg1pQI49Q/featured" > our YouTube page</a> for video highlights of our awards & programs, including A Baker’s Dozen storytimes, Public Poetry Project presentations, Poems from Life readings, & more! (Image by chiplanay from Pixabay)

    Visit us on YouTube!

    Tune in to our YouTube page for video highlights of our awards & programs, including A Baker’s Dozen storytimes, Public Poetry Project presentations, Poems from Life readings, & more! (Image by chiplanay from Pixabay)

    We honor and celebrate the life of <a href="https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/readingeagle/name/steven-herb-obituary?id=31994075">Steven Herb</a>, Founding Director Emeritus of the Pennsylvania Center for the Book. His generosity of spirit, scholarly mind, storytelling, humor, and leadership inspired joy and collective flourishing in his field and within individuals.

    Remembering Steven Herb

    We honor and celebrate the life of Steven Herb, Founding Director Emeritus of the Pennsylvania Center for the Book. His generosity of spirit, scholarly mind, storytelling, humor, and leadership inspired joy and collective flourishing in his field and within individuals.

    Youth title, "Night Creatures: Animals That Swoop, Crawl, and Creep while You Sleep" by Rebecca E. Hirsch, illustrated by Sonia Possentini (Millbrook Press, 2021) and adult title, "In the Dream House: A Memoir" by Carmen Maria Machado (Greywolf Press, 2019) represent PA at the <a href="https://www.loc.gov/events/2022-national-book-festival/">2022 National Book Fest!</a>

    Great Reads from PA at National Book Fest

    Youth title, "Night Creatures: Animals That Swoop, Crawl, and Creep while You Sleep" by Rebecca E. Hirsch, illustrated by Sonia Possentini (Millbrook Press, 2021) and adult title, "In the Dream House: A Memoir" by Carmen Maria Machado (Greywolf Press, 2019) represent PA at the 2022 National Book Fest!

Welcome

With a mission to study, honor, celebrate, and promote books, reading, libraries, and literacy in Pennsylvania (PA), the PA Center for the Book sponsors several literary awards and events, and develops a wide range of educational content across multiple media to connect with its broad audience and to celebrate PA’s continued contributions to culture and literature.

Explore this site to learn more about the Center’s Literary & Cultural Heritage Map of PA, the Lee Bennett Hopkins Award for Children’s Poetry, Baker’s Dozen List of Best Children’s Books for Family Literacy, and so much more!

Read more about the Center’s background here…

Events!

Library of Congress National Book Festival
Walter E. Washington Convention Center
Washington, D.C.
Free & open to the public, +livestreams & videos
Sat, Sept. 3
Library of Congress Facebook

Lynd Ward Graphic Novel Prize
Ceremony & Presentation
Lee Lai, author of Stone Fruit
Wed, Nov. 16 @7pm EST
Foster Auditorium
102 Paterno Library
University Park, PA 16802

What's New?

The 2022 Route 1 Reads title is Wonder Boys by Michael Chabon

Lee Lai's Stone Fruit wins 2022 Lynd Ward Graphic Novel Prize

Winner of the 2022 Wordstruck Micro Essay contest is announced

The 2022 Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award goes to The 1619 Project: Born on the Water' by Nikole Hannah-Jones and Renée Watson, illustrated by Nikkolas Smith

Remembering Steven Herb, Pennsylvania Center for the Book's Beloved Founding Director