It’s sort of a strange title: “Banned Books Week”—it could easily be misinterpreted to mean that it represents support for banned books. That’s not what it means, of course. The title draws attention to books that have been banned in […]

Did you know that 73 books for adult readers were published (or will be published) by Connecticut authors in 2018? And another 89 books for younger readers? And those are only the ones we know about in August 2018! Those […]

What is Mini-BookCon 2018? Mini-BookCon 2018 is an opportunity for publishers, agents, editors, writing program providers, MFA programs, and others to show their stuff to current and future writers. This event is tied to the Writers Conference, day three (October 14) of […]

When visitors come to Connecticut’s booth at the Parade of States at the National Book Festival in Washington DC on September 1st, they will find Ada’s Violin by Connecticut author Susan Hood as the 2018 selection. This story, suitable for […]

The deadline has passed for submission to the 2018 Connecticut Book Awards and we are excited to report that the quantity and caliber of submissions are outstanding. Judging will take place during the summer with finalists announced in the fall. […]

Connecticut Center for the Book is pleased to support Connecticut Public in this summer’s PBS Kids Writers Contest. This Contest is designed to promote the advancement of children’s literacy skills through hands-on, active learning. The Contest, running in partnership with […]

Designed to spark a national conversation about reading, literacy and the books that have inspired, moved and shaped us, THE GREAT AMERICAN READ is an eight-part PBS series and nationwide competition that explores the joy of books and the power […]

April is National Poetry Month and the Academy of American Poets offer lots of suggestions to celebrate, such as: The Dear Poet Project Poem-a-Day April 26: National Poem in Your Pocket Day There are also tools to help teach poetry […]

Over 100 Connecticut libraries are participating in Passport to Connecticut Libraries in 2018! Based on Connecticut’s Wine Trail Passport Program the Library Passport Program highlights Connecticut libraries throughout the month of April. Each library has its own unique characteristics but […]

Connecticut Center for the Book is very excited to partner with the Center for Contemporary Printmaking and Creative Arts Workshop at the April 21, 2018 Makers Faire in Westport! This year’s theme for the event is #WeAreConnecticut and will highlight the […]

The amazing collections of the Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum illustrate the vital role of women in American […]

Lisa Lucas, Director of the National Book Foundation, will speak at Fairfield University on the topic of “The Need for Literature in Politically Challenging Times.” This is a free and public event; venue is wheelchair accessible with nearby parking in back […]

This contest is for students in grades 4-12 who live or attend school in Hartford. There’s even a $500 grand prize! Students may select from two topics: Hartford through my eyes What makes Hartford special to me Submissions may be […]

Saturday, February 3, 2018 is Take Your Child to the Library Day. This does not prevent you from taking a child any day, of course, but this specific day celebrates with family-friendly activities and helps people learn about early literacy […]

Once upon a time a books were cherished, kept forever and day, and catalogued at home with beautiful printed bookplates (or ex libris) printed with the owner’s name and a fanciful image of some sort which were pasted to the […]

The National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation have partnered with the Connecticut Office of the Arts to support 2018 Poetry Out Loud, a free high school program which encourages the nation’s youth to learn about great poetry […]

Great opportunity for Connecticut Authors! “READ Local” is a Local Connecticut Author Fair which will be held at the Welles-Turner Memorial Library March 24, 2018. Published authors are invited will be afforded the opportunity to meet potential readers and share their talent […]

September marks the 30th anniversary of Library Card Sign-up Month—a time when the American Library Association (ALA) joins public libraries nationwide to highlight the value of a library card. Since 1987, Library Card Sign-up Month has been held each September to […]

The Windham-Campbell Prizes has published the full schedule for its fifth annual festival (September 13-15). Karl Ove Knausgård, whose newest book, Autumn (August 22, Penguin Press) begins a new autobiographical quartet based on seasons, will deliver the Windham-Campbell Lecture at […]

Books! Authors! Costumed characters! It was all that and much more at the 17th Library of Congress National Book Festival. Connecticut Center for the Book, a program of Connecticut Humanities and the state affiliate of the Library of Congress Center for the Book, had […]

Actually, there is a little something for everyone in these six selections. Mystery? Check. Memoir? You bet. Coming of age story? Yup. History? Um-hmm. So enjoy a good beach, or even a backyard, read.  

The Connecticut Authors Trail is back for its tenth year! Twenty-five libraries will host twenty-five authors starting July 10 in Franklin and will wrap up September 20 at Mohegan Sun. Passports are available free at participating libraries throughout the summer as […]

It has been 100 years since the United States entered “The Great War” or the “War to End All Wars” and Connecticut played a role in the war effort with her residents serving in the armed forces and with Connecticut’s […]

Elephant Rock Books is accepting manuscripts for full-length YA novels for its Helen Sheehan Book Prize. The deadline is June 30, 2017, so if you have something suitable, now is the time! The 2018 Sheehan YA Book Prize is a […]

Historically broadsides were large sheets of paper printed on one side only announcing events or proclamations – like the Declaration of Independence – or simply advertisements. Today, broadside printing is done by many smaller printers and publishers as a fine art variant, […]

Reading well takes practice, practice, practice — especially for children! Summer is when reading loss often occurs. Other things are going on – sleep away summer camp, vacation with family or friends, cook outs, day camps for swim, soccer, computer, […]

In just a few more days we’ll be in our new headquarters off of Main Street in Middletown. We are sad to leave our old location, but excited to be closer to the restaurant scene downtown! (We’re all a bit […]

The Connecticut Book Awards – on hiatus since 2011 – are back because the need for them exists! So Zen. Or something. But through what other avenue can we recognize outstanding Connecticut-based authors? Nowhere. There is a void in the […]

This is soooo cool. Danbury Public Library has developed a brand-new recording studio called Studio 170 with the support of the Friends of the Danbury Library. What could you do with it? Record your own podcast Record a music or […]

‘Tis the season – the season to apply or register for writers’ conferences that is… The Yale Writers’ Conference kicks it off – applications opened on January 19, 2017 and will close on April 30, 2017. The message here is: […]

Did you know that if you use Chrome as your browser, you can add an extension that will help you find books in your local library? Well, if you didn’t, now you do! Naturally, any library patron can go to […]

New Haven Reads is seeking volunteers to help tutor children in New Haven. Can you help? There are over 120 below grade-level readers on their waiting list, so they could really use the assistance. Here is why: Literacy tutoring helps […]

Wesleyan University’s bookstore, as probably anyone from Middletown knows, is moving downtown this year and will be managed by R. J. Julia of Madison. In the event you are one of the few book purchasers who doesn’t know, R. J. […]

Fiction Colson Whitehead The Underground Railroad Non-Fiction Ibram X. Kendi Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in Amerca Poetry Daniel Borzutzky The Performance of Becoming Human Young People’s Literature John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, Nate Powell March: […]

Are you an unpublished writer or illustrator of children’s books? Have you dreamed of a chance to have your writing or portfolios reviewed by a literary agent or book publisher? Shoreline Arts Alliance is presenting the seventeenth annual New Voices […]

Letters about Literature is a wonderful opportunity for students to read a piece of literature and tell us what it means to him or her. It’s a competitive process so there are prize opportunities, too! This contest is offered by […]

It’s not all Herman Melville and Moby Dick or Hemingway’s Old Man and the Sea, you know. Tons of other maritime material has been written and there is a website devoted to works by North American authors, including fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and […]

The Library of Congress announced today that Stephen King will open the Main Stage of the 2016 Library of Congress National Book Festival with a presentation and recognition by the Library of his lifelong work promoting literacy. Tickets will be […]