Pennsylvania Center for the Book
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Pennsylvania Center for the Book
@pacftb.bsky.social
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Celebrating all things literary in Pennsylvania!
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📚 Celebrate Nonfiction November with one of these memoirs written by a Pennsylvania author:

📖 Sink by Joseph Earl Thomas

📖 Sign, Gone by Phuc Tran

📖 The Shoemaker by Mark Saba

📖 Cinderland by Amy Jo Burns
Brown background with book spines in different colors visible on four shelves. The text "Nonfiction Reads from Pennsylvania" is included along with the white version of the Pennsylvania Center for the Book's logo. Brown background with book spines in different colors visible on four shelves. Two book covers, Sink by Joseph Earl Thomas and Sign, Gone by Phuc Tran, are featured with "Philadelphia, PA" under Thomas' book cover and "Carlisle, PA" under Tran's book cover. Brown background with book spines in different colors visible on four shelves. Two book covers, The Shoemaker by Mark Saba and Cinderland by Amy Jo Burns, are featured with "Pittsburgh, PA" under Saba's book cover and "Mercury, PA" under Burns' book cover.
November 29, 2025 at 8:21 PM
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🦃 We are celebrating Turkey Day by reading Two-List Thanksgiving by Christine Whan and illustrated by Sienna Youngsun Kim from @beamingbooksmn.bsky.social!

Happy Thanksgiving!
Photograph of a hand holding a copy of Two-List Thanksgiving by Christine Whan and illustrated by Sienna Youngsun Kim in front of blurry bookshelves.
November 27, 2025 at 4:34 PM
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🥺 Our Social Media Manager is currently away for Thanksgiving.

Please make her happy and read some Pennsylvania books!
Graphic with a white background and a poorly drawn outline of the state of Pennsylvania, glasses, and a book. The text on the graphic reads "Our Social Media Manger is away at a conference... Read PA Books PLZ."
November 26, 2025 at 9:12 PM
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📣 New book from Pennsylvania author Erin Frankel!

📖 Mary Oliver, Holding on to Wonder by Erin Frankel and illustrated by Jasu Hu

This lyrical picture book biography of poet Mary Oliver focuses on her love of nature and the sense of wonder that inspired her.
Graphic with a light blue background and the text "New from Pennsylvania Authors” at the top. The cover of Mary Oliver, Holding on to Wonder by Erin Frankel and illustrated by Jasu Hu is included with the book's publication information (book title, author, and publisher). The black Pennsylvania Center for the Book logo is included in the bottom right-hand corner.
November 25, 2025 at 7:47 PM
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📚 Casey Sennett, our Outreach and Social Media Coordinator, recently attended the Library Marketing and Communications Conference in St. Louis!

She attended sessions related to video production, establishing healthy relationships and boundaries with social media, and accessibility.
Photo of a red-headed woman posing in front of a white banner with the Library Marketing and Communications Conference logo. Photo of the exterior of a stone building with stairs and railing leading to the entrance. Photo of part of the ceiling and wall of a grand room with chandeliers, large arched windows, and detailed ceiling.
November 23, 2025 at 9:12 PM
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📚 Honor and celebrate Native American Heritage Month with one of these books by an indigenous author:

Nonfiction:
📕 Thunder Song by Sasha taqwšəblu LaPointe
📕 Whiskey Tender by Deborah Taffa

Fiction:
📕 We Can Never Leave by H.E. Edgmon
📕 The Devil Is a Southpaw by Brandon Hobson
Graphic with a light pink background and red poppies with the text, "Native American Heritage Month Book Recommendations." The white version of the Pennsylvania Center for the Book's logo is in the bottom right-hand corner. Graphic with a light pink background and red poppies with the text “Nonfiction" at the top. Two book covers, Thunder Song by Sasha taqwšəblu LaPointe and Whiskey Tender by Deborah Taffar, are featured. Graphic with a light pink background and red poppies with the text “Fiction" at the top. Two book covers, We Can Never Leave by H.E. Edgmon and The Devil Is a Southpaw by Brandon Hobson, are featured.
November 21, 2025 at 11:15 PM
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📚 To celebrate National Picture Book Month, we are highlighting a few picture books by Pennsylvania authors:

📙 Unstoppable by Michael G. Long

📙 Just Ducky by @berrietr.bsky.social

📙 Chomp! The Truth About Sharks by @annettewhipple.bsky.social

📙 Wonderful You by Lisa Graff
Graphic with a white background and blue and yellow birds, red lady bugs, green leaves, red and green butterflies, and yellow, pink, red, and blue flowers. The text "Picture Books from Pennsylvania Authors" is in white and yellow text on a solid pink rectangle in the center of the graphic. The Pennsylvania Center for the Book's logo in white is in the lower right-hand corner on a small pink rectangle. Graphic with a white background and blue and yellow birds, red lady bugs, green leaves, red and green butterflies, and yellow, pink, red, and blue flowers. The covers of Unstoppable: How Bayard Rustin Organized the 1963 March on Washington by Michael G. Long and illustrated by Bea Jackson, Just Ducky by Berrie Torgan-Randall, Chomp! The Truth About Sharks by Annette Whipple and illustrated by Juanbjuan Oliver, and Wonderful You by Lisa Graff and illustrated by Ramona Kaulitzki Illustration are on top of the background with thin pink frames around each cover.
November 20, 2025 at 11:25 PM
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📣 New book from Pennsylvania author @carolinecarlson.bsky.social!

📖 The Tinkerers

When two Tinkerers visit Stargazers Valley, Peter learns they have created a not-a-clock that can turn back time for a few minutes. Peter soon realizes that not everything that feels like a mistake actually is.
Graphic with a light blue background and "New from Pennsylvania Authors" in a white box at the top of the image. The cover of Caroline Carlson' The Tinkerers is included with a white box next to it with the book's publication information (book title, author, and publisher).
November 18, 2025 at 11:34 PM
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📖 We are currently searching for books to represent Pennsylvania in the Library of Congress' 2026 Great Reads from Great Places program!

The books must have some relevancy to Pennsylvania and be published in either 2024 or 2025.

Submit your nomination to [email protected] by Wednesday, December 31st!
Graphic with a light blue background with the text "Nominate a book for the Pennsylvania Great Reads 2026." Part of a single bookshelf is visible on the right-hand side with books spine of different colors. The logos of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, National Endowment for the Humanities, Chief Officers of State Library Agencies, and Pennsylvania Center for the Book are at the bottom.
November 15, 2025 at 7:50 PM
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🎉 Happy book birthday to Ravishing by @eshanisurya.bsky.social from @groveatlantic.bsky.social!

Eshani Surya's debut highlights the dark side of the beauty industry and how far will we go in exchange for beauty, love, and acceptance.
Graphic with a light blue background and "New from Pennsylvania Authors" in a white box at the top of the image. The cover of Eshani Surya' Ravishing is included with a white box next to it with the book's publication information (book title, author, and publisher).
November 11, 2025 at 10:25 PM
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📖 We recently hosted graphic novelist Beth Hetland, the 2025 Lynd Ward Prize winner, for an author talk at Penn State!

Her visit also included presenting at the Delta High School in State College and a first-year graphic design seminar at Penn State.

Thank you to Beth for such a wonderful visit!
Photo of two smiling men and a woman. One of the men and the woman are each holding part of a framed certificate. Photo of a smiling woman in a crown and sash handing a book to an out of frame person. Photo of a smiling woman sitting and holding up a copy of Tender by Beth Hetland. She is seated in front of a projection of a drawing of a woman's head with the words "Blah Blah Blah" around the face. Photo of five smiling people. The woman in the middle is wearing a sash and holding a framed certificate. The left most person is holding up a copy of Beth Hetland's Tender.
November 8, 2025 at 7:22 PM
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📚 Our Outreach and Social Media Coordinator, Casey Sennett, attended the Pennsylvania Library Association's Annual Conference last week in Erie!

She presented a poster about the PA Center for the Book and our various initiatives.

She also got a library card at the Erie County Public Library!
Photo of a woman smiling in front of a table with bookmarks, the picture book The Yellow Bus by Loren Long, and a blue and white poster board reading "Outreach, Awards and More: Getting to Know the Pennsylvania Center for the Book!” Photo of a red brick building along part of a paved road. The building has a large gray awning and large windows with white bird stickers on them. A green frog statue is visible in the lower left-hand corner, and three flags are visible in the upper right-hand corner. Photo of a hand with orange nail polish holding a white library card that reads "Erie County Public Library, ignite, excite, inspire" and the library's website. The background is a blurry dock with water and buildings in the distance.
November 6, 2025 at 8:32 PM
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🎉 Happy book birthday to Black-Owned by Char Adams!

Black-Owned celebrates the living history of Black bookstores. It documents Black political movements through the lens of Black-owned bookstores, which have served as centers for organizing since abolition.
Graphic with a light blue background and "New from Pennsylvania Authors" in a white box at the top of the image. The cover of Char Adams' Black-Owned is included with a white box next to it with the book's publication information (book title, author, and publisher).
November 4, 2025 at 10:23 PM
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🕯We are celebrating Día de Muertos with Ramón and Julieta by Alana Quintana Albertson!

Ramón Montez and Julieta Campos meet on Día de Muertos, but lose each other until Ramón acquires Julieta's closing taqueria.

Forced to work together, can they overcome their differences and divided families?
Photograph of a hand holding a paperback copy of Ramón and Julieta by Alana Albertson in front of blurry bookshelves.
November 1, 2025 at 6:46 PM
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👻 Happy Halloween!

The Center's friendly ghost is celebrating with our 2025 Lynd Ward Prize winner, Tender by Beth Hetland!

This body horror graphic novel follows a woman who is obsessed with curating a picture-perfect life.

What are you reading for Halloween?
Photo of a person sitting in a chair with a white sheet over them wearing sunglasses. The person is reading a copy of Beth Hetland's Tender and is seated in front of two bookshelves and a display case with books.
October 31, 2025 at 10:12 PM
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📚 Celebrate #TeenTober with one of these young adult novels from a Pennsylvania author:

📖 It's A Love/Skate Relationship by @icarli.bsky.social

📖 Kings of B'more by R. Eric Thomas

📖 They Bloom at Night by @nvtran.bsky.social

📖 The Life and Crimes of Hoodie Rosen by Isaac Blum
October 29, 2025 at 6:07 PM
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📣 New from Pennsylvania author Alison Green Myers!

📖This Way to Happy

After the death of Reilly's grandfather, the joy of operating her family's amusement park disappears. As the family struggles to keep the park open, Reilly discovers that even in the most challenging times, happiness is not far.
Graphic with a light blue background and "New from Pennsylvania Authors" in a white box at the top of the image. The cover of Alison Green Myers' This Way to Happy is included with a white box next to it with the book's publication information (book title, author, and publisher).
October 28, 2025 at 7:46 PM
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👻 Celebrate spooky season with one of these creepy books for young readers from Pennsylvania authors:

📙 Peril at Price Manor by @lauraparnum.bsky.social

📙 It Came from the Trees by Ally Russell

📙 Girl on the Run by @abigailjohnsonya.bsky.social

📙 She is a Haunting by @nvtran.bsky.social
Decorative purple background with black cats, spiders, ravens, and bats with the text "Spooky Reads from Pennsylvania Authors" and the Pennsylvania Center for the Book's logo Decorative purple background with black cats, spiders, ravens, and bats with the words "Middle Grade" at the top of the graphic. Two book covers, Peril at Price Manor by Laura Parnum and It Came from the Trees by Ally Russell, are featured Decorative purple background with black cats, spiders, ravens, and bats with the words "Young Adult" at the top of the graphic. Two book covers, Girl on the Run by Abigail Johnson and She is a Haunting by Trang Thanh Tran, are featured
October 25, 2025 at 11:10 PM
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✨ Light up your Diwali with the magic of reading!

We are celebrating the Festival of Lights with Sleepless in Dubai by @sajnipatelbooks.bsky.social!

Happy Diwali!
Photograph of a hand holding a hardcover copy of Sajni Patel's Sleepless in Dubai with bookshelves of picture books in the background.
October 20, 2025 at 10:27 PM
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📚 This Friday at 4:00pm, we are hosting author Beth Hetland, winner of the 2025 Lynd Ward Graphic Novel Prize, for a presentation and signing in Foster Auditorium at the Penn State University Libraries at University Park!

The event is free and open to the public!
Navy blue graphic with details about the 2025 Lynd Ward Prize Author Talk. It includes a photo of a smiling Beth Hetland and the cover of her book, Tender, as well as the Penn State University Libraries and the Pennsylvania Center for the Book logos.
October 19, 2025 at 10:15 PM
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📚 For National Bullying Prevention Month, we are reading Weirdo by Tony Weaver, Jr. and illustrated by Jes & Cin Wibowo!

Tony Weaver, Jr. loves comic books and anime, but his classmates think that makes him a weirdo. After a traumatic event, he begins a journey to become the hero of his own story.
Photograph of a hand holding Tony Weaver, Jr.'s book Weirdo with bookshelves of picture books in the background.
October 18, 2025 at 11:07 PM
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📚 Next week, we are traveling to Erie for the Pennsylvania Library Association's Annual Conference!

Join our poster session on Monday to learn more about the PA Center for the Book and to pick up some fun swag!

Will we see you in Erie?

#BookSky #PaLA2025 #Pennsylvania
October 16, 2025 at 10:32 PM
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🎉 Happy book birthday to Together We Are Sunshine by @authorjamilah.bsky.social and illustrated by Raissa Figueroa from @randomhousekids.bsky.social !

This heartwarming picture book celebrates sisterhood and the harmony between sisters of all ages.
October 14, 2025 at 11:07 PM
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📚 Celebrate Indigenous Peoples' Day with a book by an indigenous or First Nations author:

📖 Find Her by Ginger Reno

📖 Legendary Frybread Drive-In edited by @cynleitichsmith.bsky.social

📖 A Body More Tolerable by @jayesimpson.bsky.social

📖 Old School Indian by @aaronjohncurtis.bsky.social
October 13, 2025 at 9:50 PM
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📚 The Harrisburg Book Festival is happening this Wednesday through Sunday!

Attendees can meet authors, shop Midtown Scholar Bookstore's outdoor tent sale, attend Live Jazz Night, and so much more!

For more information and to view the full schedule of events: www.hbgbookfest.com
October 12, 2025 at 9:50 PM