• Among the many children's books published last year, 13 have been chosen by the Pennsylvania Center for the Book to form A Baker's Dozen: The Best Children's Books for Family Literacy for 2017. Winners include: "123 Dream" by Kim Krans; "ABCs on Wheels" by Ramon Olivera; "When Spring Comes" by Kevin Henkes, and more...

    2017 Baker's Dozen Winners

    Among the many children's books published last year, 13 have been chosen by the Pennsylvania Center for the Book to form A Baker's Dozen: The Best Children's Books for Family Literacy for 2017. Winners include: "123 Dream" by Kim Krans; "ABCs on Wheels" by Ramon Olivera; "When Spring Comes" by Kevin Henkes, and more...

    This year’s winner is One Last Word: Wisdom from the Harlem Renaissance written by Nikki Grimes (Bloomsbury, 2017). <a href="https://pabook.libraries.psu.edu/awards-contests/lee-bennett-hopkins-poetry-award">Read more about the 2018 Award</a>

    2018 Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award

    This year’s winner is One Last Word: Wisdom from the Harlem Renaissance written by Nikki Grimes (Bloomsbury, 2017). Read more about the 2018 Award

    Penn State’s University Libraries and the Pennsylvania Center for the Book are pleased to announce that "My Favorite Thing is Monsters” by Emil Ferris has won the 2018 Lynd Ward Prize for Graphic Novel of the Year. Penn State University Libraries sponsors the juried award and its administrator, the Pennsylvania Center for the Book.

    2018 Lynd Ward Graphic Novel Prize

    Penn State’s University Libraries and the Pennsylvania Center for the Book are pleased to announce that "My Favorite Thing is Monsters” by Emil Ferris has won the 2018 Lynd Ward Prize for Graphic Novel of the Year. Penn State University Libraries sponsors the juried award and its administrator, the Pennsylvania Center for the Book.

    What would you write in a letter to your favorite author? Just ask this year's winners: Owen A. Wagner, Claire Venanzi, and Ellen Poplavska. <a href="https://pabook.libraries.psu.edu/awards-contests/letters-about-literature">Read more about Letters About Literature.</a>

    2018 Letters About Literature Winners

    What would you write in a letter to your favorite author? Just ask this year's winners: Owen A. Wagner, Claire Venanzi, and Ellen Poplavska. Read more about Letters About Literature.

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…

Spotlight on Family Literacy Activities

Encourage children under a year old to retell a story after hearing one or offer scribbling as an activity to toddlers – these are just two of many tips for promoting childhood literacy provided in the Guides for Parents and Caregivers.

From Getting Started with young ones, to Stepping into Books with 1-to-3-year-olds, all the way to Growing into Books with 3-to-5-year-olds, these research-based Guides for Parents and Caregivers provide in-depth strategies for building solid literary skills that are crucial to childhood development and to achieving future success.

Find them under Curricula & Teaching Materials – Family Literacy Curriculum in the menu bar.