Book Notes New Hampshire

Book of the Week (4/13/2026)

noreply@blogger.com (Felicia Martin) — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 10:00:00 +0000

Perfect Wives, Perfect Lies: A Novel by Jennifer Anne Gordon (Podium Publishing, 2026)

In the wake of losing her son, Becca also lost her marriage and her moorings. Now, work and time spent with her best friend, Lynn, are what gets her through the day. But it’s a private group of moms on social media that gets her through the long nights.
Run by Karen, the holy grail of perfect wives, Mommy Wine Time is a place where women share stories, perfectly airbrushed photos, and advice disguised as humble brags. And it’s where Becca pretends to be Lucy, with the help of a stock photo account. Lucy’s an ideal wife and mother living a dahlia-filled life in Seattle, enjoying all the things that Becca is certain she’ll never have again.
But the line between Becca’s truths and Lucy’s lies starts to blur when a series of bad deeds, daring games, and too many bottles of cheap chardonnay reveals something darker. Soon, what began as mere petty crimes escalates to kidnapping, assault, revenge, and murder. Still, the more Becca pretends, the more alive she feels . . .
This psychological thriller from the author of Pretty/Ugly takes the wine moms from Big Little Lies and Desperate Housewives, puts them in an online space where it’s easier to hide their true identities, and then gives them even darker obsessions. Cheers. --Publisher's blurb

About the author:

Jennifer Anne Gordon is an award-winning Gothic horror author and podcast host. Her debut novel, Beautiful, Frightening, and Silent, won the 2020 Kindle Book Award for Best Horror/Suspense, and her novel Pretty/Ugly won the 2022 Helicon Award for Best Horror as well as the Kindle Book Award for Best Novel of the Year (Reader’s Choice). Gordon’s essays have been featured in Miniskirt Magazine, Tangled Locks Journal, Lumina Journal, and Flash Glass. She lives in rural New Hampshire.

2026 Dublin Award Shortlist

noreply@blogger.com (Felicia Martin) — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 17:11:00 +0000

The shortlist for the 2026 Dublin Literary Award was announced today!

The shortlisted titles are as follows:

Gliff by Ali Smith (British), published by Hamish Hamilton, Penguin Random House UK. Nominated by Katona József Könyvtár, Hungary

In Late Summer by Madalena Blažević (Bosnian), translated from the Croatian by Anđelka Raguž, published by Linden Editions. Nominated by University Library of Bern, Switzerland.

Live Fast by Brigitte Giraud (French), translated from the French by Cory Stockwell, published by Ecco/HarperCollins Publishers. Nominated by Bibliothèque municipale de Lyon, France.

Perspectives by Laurent Binet (French), translated from the French by Sam Taylor, published by Harvill, Vintage, Penguin Random House UK. Nominated by Bibliothèques Municipales de Genève, Switzerland.

The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong (American), published by Jonathan Cape (Vintage, PRH) UK; Penguin Press (US). Nominated by Hartford Public Library, USA.

What I Know About You by Éric Chacour (Canadian), translated from the French by Pablo Strauss, published by Coach House Books; Gallic Books (Pushkin). Nominated by Bibliothèque de Québec and Toronto Public Library, Canada.

The winner will be announced on May 21, 2026 at the International Literature Festival Dublin.

Book of the Week (4/6/2026)

noreply@blogger.com (Felicia Martin) — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 10:00:00 +0000

Every Precious and Fragile Thing: A Novel by Barbara Davis (Lake Union Publishing, 2025)

For social worker Mallory Ward, working with at-risk youth is a calling. But when one of her clients is tragically killed, she finds herself at a crossroads. Despite long-held resentments toward her distant mother, Mallory retreats to her childhood home on the Rhode Island coast to contemplate her future. Instead, she’s confronted by her past, not only in the renewed tensions with her mother but in the unexpected appearance of a familiar face―and the wrenching losses that drove her away a decade ago.

Helen Ward’s home is filled with precious keepsakes from her patients, a testament to decades spent caring for the terminally ill. Her work has always come first, though, leaving little time to connect with her daughter. Over the years, the rift between them has become a chasm, so when Mallory appears unannounced, Helen sees it as an opportunity to repair their broken relationship. --Publisher's blurb

About the author:

After twelve years in the jewelry business, Barbara Davis left the corporate world in order to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a writer. She was born in Fair Lawn, New Jersey, but grew up and attended school in Florida. Eventually, work led her north, where she lived in Charleston for two years, and in Raleigh for fourteen, before eventually making her home in Dover, New Hampshire.

3 on a Theme: Sports

noreply@blogger.com (Felicia Martin) — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 07:33:00 +0000

Between the Lines: How Ernie Barnes Went From the Football Field to the Art Gallery by Sandra Neil Wallace

Her Fearless Run: Kathrine Switzer’s Historic Boston Marathon by Kim Chaffee

Heartland: A Forgotten Place, an Impossible Dream, and the Miracle of Larry Bird by Keith O'Brien

Book of the Week (3/30/2026)

noreply@blogger.com (Felicia Martin) — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 10:00:00 +0000

Building Community: Twenty Influential Women of Hampton, New Hampshire by Karen Raynes & Mary Ann Nelligan (Independently published, 2024)

Since Europeans first landed in Hampton, New Hampshire in 1638, women have played an integral role in building their community. Chronicles of their husbands, fathers, and brothers abound, but little was known about the women who helped create this vibrant seacoast town over the centuries.
Until two local historians set out to change that.
In Building Community, Karen Raynes and Mary Ann Nelligan share the lives of twenty women who history had overlooked but whose impact was great. Veterans and accused witches. Educators and innkeepers. The enslaved and the wealthy.
These are their stories. --Publisher's blurb

Ladybug Finalists for 2026

noreply@blogger.com (Felicia Martin) — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 15:29:00 +0000

Based on two rounds of voting by New Hampshire's library community, we have chosen The Ladybug Picture Book Award finalists for the 2026 Ladybug Picture Book Award. New Hampshire children, from preschool to fourth grade, will select the winning picture book when they vote in November 2026. The deadline for sending in votes will be Sunday, December 20, 2026 at 11:30 pm. Voting materials will be posted on the Ladybug web page in June and a voting guide will be released around Labor Day.

The 2026 nominees for the Ladybug Picture Book Award are:

Aggie and the Ghost by Matthew Forsythe
Broken by X. Fang
Cranky, Crabby Crow (Saves the World) by Corey R. Tabor
The Day the Books Disappeared by Joanna Ho, Caroline Kusin Pritchard and Dan Santat
Don't Trust Fish by Neil Sharpson and Dan Santat
If I Built a Town by Chris Van Dusen
The Man Who Didn't Like Animals by Deborah Underwood and LeUyen Pham
Stalactite & Stalagmite: A Big Tale From a Little Cave by Drew Beckmeyer
The Wild Robot on the Island by Peter Brown

Book of the Week (3/23/2026)

noreply@blogger.com (Felicia Martin) — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 10:00:00 +0000

Heartland: A Forgotten Place, an Impossible Dream, and the Miracle of Larry Bird by Keith O'Brien (Atria Books, 2026)

In the fall 1974, Larry Bird—one of the greatest players to ever pick up a basketball—was lost, and in danger of slipping away.
He had dropped out of Indiana University, spurning legendary Hoosiers head coach Bobby Knight. He returned home to French Lick, a tiny town in the second poorest county in Indiana, and he got a job hauling trash.
It could have ended right there for Bird, were it not for two men: Bob King, an old coach with bad knees, and Bill Hodges, a man who knew what it was like to be poor and overlooked. In the spring of 1975, during one of the darkest chapters of Bird’s life, King and Hodges convinced Bird to leave French Lick and play basketball at Indiana State University, a college that couldn’t even fill its arena, much less compete with Bobby Knight. Then, while no one was watching, King and Hodges built a team of players around Bird who were just like him: they were castoffs and leftovers, ready to work.
Four years later, in March 1979, this unheralded team would put together one of the greatest seasons in American sports history. By the time it was over, more than 50 million people would tune in to watch the Indiana State Sycamores play in the NCAA finals against Magic Johnson and Michigan State.
What happened that night would change college basketball and the NBA. Perhaps more importantly, it would change the members of this hardscrabble team, binding them together forever. In some ways, their one shining moment would never end.
Drawing on exclusive, in-depth interviews with players, coaches, and staffers, New York Times bestselling author and PEN American award–winning biographer Keith O’Brien offers a stirring account of the mighty Indiana State Sycamores. With its unforgettable ensemble cast, Heartland is more than just a sports book. It’s the story of a group of young men who achieved the greatest feat of all: immortality. --Publisher's blurb

About the author:

Keith has written five books, won the PEN America award for best biography, and has contributed to multiple publications over the years.

Keith's work has appeared in the New York Times Magazine, the Atlantic, Rolling Stone, the Wall Street Journal, and on National Public Radio. His radio stories have aired on All Things Considered, Morning Edition, and Weekend Edition, as well as Marketplace and This American Life.

A midwesterner by birth, O'Brien grew up in Cincinnati and graduated from Northwestern University. He now lives in New Hampshire with his wife, two children, two dogs, and two cats.

Join Keith at Gibson's Bookstore on Thu., March 26, 2026 at 6:30 pm where he will present his latest book!

Book of the Week (3/16/2026)

noreply@blogger.com (Felicia Martin) — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 10:00:00 +0000

The Jig Is Up (An Irish Bed & Breakfast Mystery #1) by Lisa Q. Mathews (Crooked Lane Books, 2024)

Irish step dance takes a deadly turn in this Celtic cozy series debut, perfect for fans of Carlene O’Connor and Paige Shelton.
Single-mom and police chief’s daughter Kate Buckley is all about family. After she receives an urgent text from her younger sister Colleen, she puts her life on hold and rushes to her Irish-themed hometown of Shamrock, Massachusetts, where her family owns and operates a bed and breakfast. With her two daughters in tow, she’s ready to fight if it means she can help her charming but hapless sibling.
When they arrive, Colleen claims it was all a misunderstanding. But everything changes in an Irish minute when Colleen’s best friend, Deirdre, a dance show star, is found dead in the parish hall. With the discovery of a possible witness, a chilling motive, and a wee bit of incriminating evidence, Colleen quickly becomes a person of interest in Deirdre’s murder. Convinced her sister isn't a killer, Kate is determined to clear Colleen’s name.
As Kate investigates, Colleen takes charge of Shamrock’s popular Irish dance show in honor of her late friend—with disastrous results. With the St. Patrick’s Week festivities in full swing, Kate must catch the killer before the celebrations are ruined and her sister’s Irish luck runs out. --Publisher's blurb

About the author:

Lisa Q. Mathews began her publishing career as a Nancy Drew book editor. She wrote for other popular kids’ series, including Mary-Kate and Ashley, Sweet Dreams, and the Lizzie McGuire Mysteries. After many years in New York, she returned home to New England, where she now writes cozy mysteries for adults, including the Irish Bed & Breakfast series and the Ladies Smythe & Westin series. Her short story “Fly Me to the Morgue” was an Agatha Award finalist. A member of the mighty Quinn clan (also Nolan, Stinson, and Keady), Lisa lives in New Hampshire with her family, including a crazy golden retriever and a lucky black cat from her old Brooklyn neighborhood.

Book of the Week (3/9/2026)

noreply@blogger.com (Felicia Martin) — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 10:00:00 +0000

Spirits of Amoskeag: The Wounded Heroes of the Manchester Mills by Lois Hermann (Light Publishing, 2016)

This enthralling book was the answer to a promise made many years ago, a commitment given to a group of spirits who caused accidents to get attention. They agreed to stop their activity and go into the light if we would publish their story. This spiritual mystery shares their heart-wrenching stories woven through the journey of the book itself. This is the fascinating story communicated by the Spirits of Amoskeag, The Wounded Heroes of the Manchester Mills.
This story is both compelling and important. In the mid-1800s, Manchester, New Hampshire boasted the longest continuous millyard in the world, producing incredible amounts of cloth daily. The information revealed in this book is part of the fabric that makes up local history. Many people suffered greatly in the name of big business, and their stories deserve to be told. This is the story of the children who worked in the mills and the crimes that were committed upon the children by those in charge. Everyone was affected by what was known as the “Great Unspeakable.” This intense story was guided by Guardian Spirits, told by the spirits of the children and others from the time of the great Amoskeag mills, and includes the story of those placed on our path to create this book. Having been safely guided into the light, many spirits have returned to express deep gratitude for our assistance. They want to be remembered for the hard-working, dedicated young people they were. May we be inspired to take care of our children, that we may better ensure a healthy society. This is not just a ghost story…this is a rescue mission! --Publisher's blurb

About the author:

Born in Yokohama, Japan, a military daughter who traveled the world, she settled in New Hampshire to raise her children. With a successful career as a multi-registered medical professional, corporate trainer, clinical director, and pioneer in the field of diagnostic imaging, Lois is now a success coach and clinical hypnotist. Lois helps children and adults to achieve their goals. Her extensive training in advanced hypnosis techniques includes the Spirit Releasement Therapy that is demonstrated in this book. Involved with integrative medicine since the early ’90s, Lois blends her traditional medical background with her corporate expertise into client sessions and presentations.

3 on a Theme: New England 2

noreply@blogger.com (Felicia Martin) — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 08:33:00 +0000

New England Shipbuilding: Vessels That Made History by Glenn A. Knoblock

Floor Burns: A Wild Journey Across the Forgotten Backroads of NAIA Basketball in New England by Mike Whaley

New England Fairies: A History of the Little People of the Hills and Forests by Andrew Warburton

Book of the Week (3/2/2026)

noreply@blogger.com (Felicia Martin) — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 11:00:00 +0000

Where the Water Meets the Sky: A Novel by Diane Les Becquets (Simon & Schuster, 2026)

On a night in January, on the Garden Peninsula of Michigan, a farmhouse burns to the ground. A young child makes it out and flees into the woods with a book of matches in her hand.
Ten years later, Abby, a lover of birds and the natural world, returns to Garden, to the woods and lakes and farms and fisheries of her childhood, to assist her uncle on an environmental study of trees. Her best friend, Brew, invites her to a party where she meets a troubled girl named Seda, on the run from her abusive ex. Abby sets out to protect Seda and introduces her to an abandoned cabin that becomes a sanctuary for them both. Here, Abby begins to process her unrequited feelings for Brew while also discovering the person she is becoming. She wants more for her life, a hunger both spiritual and physical, and seeks to understand the trauma of her childhood that took her mother from her. Abby cares deeply for the people and flora and fauna around her and identifies with the wounds of the environment. She is desperate to remember what happened the night of the fire and as the summer of 1996 unfolds, Abby will be forced to reckon with the truth.
Perfect for fans of the lush and tender nature writing of Helen Macdonald and Richard Powers, Where the Water Meets the Sky is a coming-of-age novel that expertly delves into the connection between our perception of ourselves and our natural environs. It is a paean to the vast and beautiful wildscape around us and to the power of community and the wisdom of love. --Publisher's blurb

About the author:

Diane Les Becquets is most at home writing about strong characters whose lives are physically and emotionally connected to their natural environments. She has worked alongside archaeologists, wildlife biologists, conservation canine handlers, and foresters, and spends much of her free time exploring remote landscapes and wilderness areas. Ingrained in all of this is her love of story and her attention to the individual lives of those who inhabit those settings. She also enjoys snowshoeing, archery, swimming, kayaking still waters, and backpacking. She lives in the northern woods of New Hampshire and serves as a professor of English and program director at Southern New Hampshire University.

Ladybug 2026 Shortlist

noreply@blogger.com (Felicia Martin) — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 19:04:00 +0000

The first round of Ladybug Picture Book Award voting closed earlier this week and we are ready to move on to round 2.

Eighty-five people weighed in on the long list of nominees and we have eliminated from consideration any title that did not get at least 7 votes. This left us with a shortlist of 18 titles from which NH librarians are invited to vote for the 9 titles that they think should be nominated for the 2026 Ladybug Picture Book Award.

The Final Round 2026 Ladybug Nomination Survey is now open and will remain open until Sunday, 3/22/2026.

PLEASE NOTE that you can only vote once from your device (phone, computer, whatever you use to browse the web) so don't preview the survey, as you will not be able to go back again to vote.

To help make sure as many people as possible in the NH library community have an opportunity to check out these books before voting for the final nominees, we have linked each of the titles below to a video of the book being read. We did not create any of these videos; they are from a variety of sources. Where there was a version available read by the author, we chose that, otherwise we chose the best depiction of the book that we could find.

2026 Ladybug Picture Book Award Shortlist:

Aggie and the Ghost by Matthew Forsythe
The Bakery Dragon and the Fairy Cake by Devin Elle Kurtz
Bear and the Three Goldilocks by Patrick Horn and Dan Yaccarino
Broken by X. Fang
Cat Nap by Brian Lies
Cranky, crabby crow (saves the world) by Corey R. Tabor
The Day the Books Disappeared by Joanna Ho, Caroline Kusin Pritchard and Dan Santat
Don't Trust Fish by Neil Sharpson and Dan Santat
The Humble Pie by Jory John and Pete Oswald
If I Built a Town by Chris Van Dusen
If We Were Dogs by Sophie Blackall
The Man Who Didn't Like Animals by Deborah Underwood and LeUyen Pham
Never Give a Baby a Library Card by Erin Sandberg and Tom Booth
Old Blue is My Home by Lita Judge
Pop! Goes the Nursery Rhyme by Betsy Bird and Andrea Tsurumi
Stalactite & Stalagmite: A Big Tale From a Little Cave by Drew Beckmeyer
The Wild Robot on the Island by Peter Brown
Zip Zap Wickety Wack: A Story About Sharing by Matthew Diffee

Book of the Week (2/23/2026)

noreply@blogger.com (Felicia Martin) — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 11:00:00 +0000

Beatrix and the Unicorn by Lita Judge (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2026)

Inspired by the famous Unicorn Tapestries, acclaimed author-illustrator Lita Judge weaves together a beautiful picture book about a servant girl searching for a real unicorn—and with it, the promise of friendship.
Long ago and far away, a girl named Beatrix wakes each day to her chores in the castle. She serves the meals and scrubs the floors. And when no one is looking, she gazes at the tapestry of the unicorn in a garden. The unicorn is the most beautiful thing she’s ever seen, but it’s only made from thread. Beatrix knows if she could find the real unicorn, she would never feel lonely again, so late one evening, she gathers what she needs for a long journey and slips out into the night… --Publisher's blurb

About the author:

Lita Judge is the award winning author and illustrator of 30 fiction and nonfiction books including The Wisdom of Trees. Her other picture books include Born in the Wild, Red Sled, Hoot and Peep, and One Thousand Tracings, winner of the International Reading Association Award and an ALA Notable Book. Her book, Flight School, was adapted into an off-Broadway musical and is currently running in New York and China. She lives in Peterborough, NH.

2026 Dublin Award Longlist announced!

noreply@blogger.com (Felicia Martin) — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 16:26:00 +0000

The Dublin Literary Award 2026 longlist has been announced!

Twenty novels have been selected for the 2026 Dublin Literary Award longlist, including the NH State Library's selection, "The Antidote" by Karen Russell.

The shortlist will be announced on April 7, 2026 and the winning book on May 21, 2026.

Book of the Week (2/16/2026)

noreply@blogger.com (Felicia Martin) — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 11:00:00 +0000

Silos, Secrets, and Silence: Forgiving My Family's Alcoholism by Mary Anne Totten (Independently published, 2025)

Totten chronicles her journey through a childhood shaped by alcoholism, family dysfunction, and emotional isolation, exploring the winding road of forgiveness she finds herself on as an older adult. The narrative spans decades, tackling her struggles with parental abandonment, her mother’s alcoholism, and the silos of silence that defined her family’s communication. Totten’s path to becoming a physician, her relationships, and her quest for self-acceptance and reconciliation form the backbone of this deeply personal story, as, through moments of trauma, resilience, and eventual healing, she reflects on the complexities of family dynamics and the lifelong impact of unresolved pain.
Themes of alcoholism, generational silence, and the search for identity resonate deeply, making the memoir relatable and poignant. Totten’s ability to confront painful truths while seeking understanding and closure is inspiring, and her emotional honesty reverberates throughout. From a young age, she acknowledges that her “need for acceptance overrode everything else”—an admission that echoes both a loss of innocence and an important step in her healing journey. This testament to resilience is ideal for readers interested in family dynamics, addiction recovery, and personal growth. --Publisher's blurb

About the author:

Mary Anne Totten, MD, is a retired physician who practiced primary care, endocrinology, and geriatrics in Boston, Massachusetts; Parkersburg, West Virginia; and Manchester, New Hampshire. After she retired from the practice of medicine in 2015, she was ordained as an interfaith spiritual minister by the Chaplaincy Institute of Maine (ChIME). She currently volunteers in the Spiritual Care Department in her retirement community in Concord, New Hampshire. She has traveled around the world twice, has lived in eight different states, and visited forty-six of the fifty US states.

Join Mary Anne at Gibson's Bookstore on Thu., March 5, 2026 at 6:30 pm where she will present her new memoir.

2026 Poetry Out Loud semi-finals

noreply@blogger.com (Felicia Martin) — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 16:06:00 +0000

Mid-February may bring Valentine hearts and cupids to mind for most people, but for two dozen New Hampshire high schoolers, it’s time to show their love of poetry – and skill at reciting it – at the statewide Poetry Out Loud semifinals.

The N.H. State Council on the Arts, which administers the program in the Granite State, today announced that two semi-finals will take place in the coming weeks: at Plymouth State University Silver Center for the Arts on Feb. 17 (snow date: Feb. 18) and at the Derry Opera House on Feb. 19 (snow date: Feb. 20). Each event begins at 6 p.m.

Since 2005, high school students from across the country have participated in Poetry Out Loud, a poetry recitation competition designed to improve public speaking skills, help build confidence, and teach literary history. This year, approximately 3,000 students from New Hampshire high schools and high school groups participated.

In recognition of America’s 250th anniversary in 2026, the 2025-2026 Poetry Out Loud program focuses on poems that celebrate American history and culture. All of the poems for this year’s competition are in the public domain.

Contestants’ recitations are evaluated by trained judges who evaluate physical presence, voice and articulation, evidence of understanding, interpretation, accuracy and overall performance.

Poetry Out Loud school champions advance to semi-finals, then top semi-final finishers move on to the New Hampshire state championship, scheduled to take place in Representatives Hall at the State House on Friday, March 6 (snow date: March 9) beginning at 5 p.m.

New Hampshire’s state champion will have the opportunity to join with champions from other states and territories at the Poetry Out Loud National Finals, scheduled to take place April 27-29, 2026 in Washington, D.C., coinciding with National Poetry Month.

Managed at the national level by the National Endowment for the Arts and in New Hampshire by the State Council on the Arts, Poetry Out Loud provides free lesson plans and other educational materials to teachers and organizers, curates the online poem anthology, funds and produces the national championship and provides monetary awards to champions at the state and national level.

In addition to funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, additional support in New Hampshire comes from Brightspot Consultants; the Currier Museum of Art; Derry Public Arts Committee; the Frost Place; New Hampshire Writers’ Project; North Country Education Services; the Putnam Foundation, a donor-advised fund of the N.H. Charitable Foundation and Slam Free or Die.

To learn more about 2026 New Hampshire Poetry Out Loud, visit nharts.dncr.nh.gov/programs/poetry-out-loud. For additional information, contact Allison Hawkins, New Hampshire State Council on the Arts at 603-271-0791, allison.hawkins@dncr.nh.gov. -- NH Department of Natural & Cultural Resources press release

Book of the Week (2/9/2026)

noreply@blogger.com (Felicia Martin) — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 11:00:00 +0000

How to Be Good by David Banach (Bee Monk Press, 2025)

“What is goodness?” David Banach asks in his compelling new collection. The poems of How to Be Good journey through the political, the historical, and the personal, examining the theatrical masculinity of the town dump, nicknaming the inflatable figure in front of car dealerships the “Sisyphus of advertising,” and blasting anger like a broken jar of salsa.
Banach recalls for us “all the difficulties of/loving in this wind-swept world where kindness/is lighter than air” through work that considers profanity and philosophy, theology and gender. How to Be Good rings with Whitman and Blake and declares empathy “an ache in places I never knew/I had places.” Banach is a rare poet of the pure heart, and his poems soothe like a balm for a contemporary age where heaven might require a two-factor authentication for entrance as a way of keeping out those who have ignored sunsets or kissed without passion. --Jennifer Militello, Poet Laureate of New Hampshire

About the author:

David Banach is a philosopher and a poet, though often not in that order. He has taught for many years at Saint Anselm College and lives in Goffstown, NH, where he tends chickens, keeps bees, and watches for lessons in the sky. He has published over 70 poems in various journals, and is editor of Touchstone, the journal of the Poetry Society of New Hampshire. He is a Pushcart, Best of the Net, and Forward Prize nominee, and is a past president of the Northern New England Philosophical Association.

Join David at The Toadstool Bookshop in Peterborough, NH on Sunday, April 12, 2026 at 11 am where he will read from & discuss his newest book of poetry.

Ladybug Longlist: Transportation

noreply@blogger.com (Felicia Martin) — Thu, 05 Feb 2026 11:00:00 +0000

Big Boy 4014 and the Steam Team: The World's Largest Steam Engine Roars Back to Life! by Marsha Diane Arnold

"A wonderful non-fiction book with widespread appeal and captivating illustrations. Inspiring in the face of a difficult challenge." -- nominator

Good Luck, Ice Cream Truck! by Sorche Fairbank

"A top circulating book for our kids this year!" -- nominator

Old Blue is My Home by Lita Judge

"A gorgeous, respectful window into housing insecurity from a New Hampshire-based author-illustrator. The story is sure to raise many questions from readers, but, also, hopefully, a more nuanced worldview." -- nominator

This post is one of a series of 14 "bite-sized" pieces into which we have divided the 2026 Ladybug Picture Book Award Long List to help NH librarians consider all the potential nominees. Please review the full list (or wait until we have covered all the titles) before you cast your vote as you can only vote once.

Ladybug Longlist: Swimming Creatures

noreply@blogger.com (Felicia Martin) — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 11:00:00 +0000

The Den That Octopus Built by Randi Sonenshine

"Beautifully illustrated circle story that encompasses the life cycle of an octopus. Lots of fun facts in the back including author's notes. " -- nominator

Don't Trust Fish by Neil Sharpson

"Hilarious mildly informational book that presents facts in a fun way while jokingly telling you to be suspicious of fish. Tickles the funny bone. This book is a perfect blend of educational and humor. It's a great book to read aloud and the kids respond to it very well! I read this at story-time and my group was all giggles. It's the perfect book for making learning fun." -- nominators

A Friend for Eddy by Ann Kim Ha

"An unlikely friendship - does it spell danger? Attractive pictures showing an interesting perspective. And how first impressions are not always correct, but someone may also surprise you." -- nominator

Parrotfish Has a Superpower by Jill Esbaum

"A wildly enthusiastic presentation of a somewhat niche fact (that parrotfish generate much of the world's beach sand), followed by a fun true-false quiz to extend/reinforce the learning." -- nominator

The Search for Carmella by Chloe Savage

"Creative look at science and exploration - while also showing through illustrations that we sometimes miss things when we are focused on something else." -- nominator

Ladybug Longlist: Nature

noreply@blogger.com (Felicia Martin) — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 11:00:00 +0000

The Everything Trail by Meg Fleming

"Beautiful illustrations that are not traditional make you feel like you are in the redwood forest with the characters." -- nominator

How the Forest Feels by Wendi Silvano

"Get our kids outdoors - we have a nature play group that meets weekly in town - this is the perfect read aloud before they go walking down a trail!" -- nominator

I Hear the Snow, I Smell the Sea by Janice Milusich

"Creative textured illustrations help guide the text through the seasons in a very relatable way for children of NH." -- nominator

Mighty: The Story of an Oak Tree Ecosystem by Henry Cole

"Beautifully illustrated book that shows the growth of an oak tree over 100's of years. Stunning illustrations with descriptive words." -- nominator

Stalactite & Stalagmite: A Big Tale From a Little Cave by Drew Beckmeyer

"This book is educational as well as entertaining. It goes through the life of a stalactite and a stalagmite from the beginning of time through the future when they finally become a column. It brings in other creatures that have entered their cave; such as a trilobite, a dinosaur, a bat, and people." -- nominator

The Wild Robot on the Island by Peter Brown

"This is a sweet adaption of the novel that is especially beautifully illustrated." -- nominator

3 on a Theme: Kings & Queens

noreply@blogger.com (Felicia Martin) — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 08:33:00 +0000

King Sorrow: A Novel by Joe Hill

The King of Books by Gina Perry

Queen Esther: A Novel by John Irving

Ladybug Longlist: Imagination & Creativity

noreply@blogger.com (Felicia Martin) — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Built to Last by Minh Lê

"A story of helping and what to do when things fall apart. Is a friendship really worth saving?" -- nominator

How to Write a Poem by Kwame Alexander

"The simple, lyrical text is less of a "how-to" lesson and more an exploration of what moves us to read, write, and love poetry. Colorful, collage-style illustrations are an inspiration in themselves, with lots to look at on each page. " -- nominator

If I Built a Town by Chris Van Dusen

"Fabulous illustrations and rhyming text appeal to all ages." -- nominator

Look by Gabi Snyder

"Visually interesting book with creative illustrations. Patterns to be found on every page, therefore engaging." -- nominator

Nothing: John Cage and 4'33" by Nicholas Day

"Charming, funny, and full of heart, this is a great introduction to the ideas and experiences to be found in art that might seem weird or pointless at first glance. Raschka's quirky illustration style is the perfect match to this creatively-told story about musical innovation." -- nominator

A Pocket Full of Rocks by Kristin Mahoney

"I think children will see themselves in the protagonist's small adventures and creativity with the things they find throughout the year. Could be a great jumping-off point for nature crafts or talking about collections." -- nominator

Book of the Week (2/2/2026)

noreply@blogger.com (Felicia Martin) — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 11:00:00 +0000

A Wonderful Stroke of Luck: A Novel by Ann Beattie (Viking, 2019)

At a boarding school in New Hampshire, Ben joins the honor society led by Pierre LaVerdere, an enigmatic, brilliant, yet perverse, teacher who instructs his students not only about how to reason, but how to prevaricate. As the years go by, LaVerdere's covert and overt instruction lingers in his students' lives as they seek some sense of purpose or meaning. When Ben feels the pace of his life accelerating and views his intimate relationships as less and less fulfilling, there seems to be a subtext he's not able to access. And what, really, did Bailey Academy teach him?
While relationships with his stepmother and sister improve, and a move to upstate New York offers respite from his anxiety about love and work, LaVerdere's reappearance in his life disturbs his equilibrium. Everything he once thought he knew about his teacher--and himself--is called into question. Written by one of our most iconic writers, known for casting a cold eye on her generation's ambivalence and sometimes mistaken ambition, A Wonderful Stroke of Luck is a keenly observed psychological study of a man who alternates between careful driving and hazardous risk taking, as he struggles to incorporate his past into the vertiginous present. --Publisher's blurb

Ladybug Longlist: Grabbag

noreply@blogger.com (Felicia Martin) — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 11:00:00 +0000

All at Once Upon a Time by Mara Rockliff

"Fracturing and reassembling fairy tales at a frantic pace, this frenetic re-mix of old favorites will have kids reacting on every spread as their expectations are teed up...and then diverted, tweaked, or downright smashed." -- nominator

Ellie Has a Secret by Amelia Bothe

"The illustrations in this cautionary tale are so evocative that it could almost work as a wordless story. The creature that emerges unbidden from the shell that the protagonist pilfers from the classroom is the perfect visual metaphor that expands exponentially until she finally atones for her 'crime'". -- nominator

Not Just the Driver! by Sara Holly Ackerman

"Great rhyming story that talks about the people that often get overlooked in making our world run." -- nominator

Pop! Goes the Nursery Rhyme by Betsy Bird

"Fun and interactive, this book melds traditional rhymes into the action of a silly character." -- nominator

Ladybug Longlist: Friendship & Cooperation

noreply@blogger.com (Felicia Martin) — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 11:00:00 +0000

Aggie and the Ghost by Matthew Forsythe

"Beautiful, subtle illustrations with creative storytelling about how we often have thoughts about what we want, and those ideas do not always mesh with those around us. Shows kids how things don't always work out how we thought." -- nominator

The Big Squeeze by Molly Harris

"A fun, but thoughtful story of resilience, friendship and self care with bright illustrations. " -- nominator

Toto by Hyewon Yum

"Touching story with simple but expressive illustrations that celebrates visual uniqueness. It also shows how sometimes it takes someone else to remind us how special we are." -- nominator