Delaware Libraries Celebrates National Book Festival with Local Events

DOVER, Del. — The Delaware Libraries today announced two local events in coordination with the 2026 Library of Congress National Book Festival in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, August 22, 2026.

These two free events are presented by the Delaware Center for the Book as part of the National Book Festival’s “Festival Near You” initiative.

The first event will take place tomorrow, Friday, August 14 at 6:30pm at the Kent County Public Library, and will feature Delaware illustrator Elizabeth Traynor.

The second event will be hosted at the Lewes Public Library on Sunday, September 13 at 5:00pm with Delaware author Josh Hitchens.

“Delaware Libraries are thrilled to bring the enthusiasm of the National Book Festival to the First State this year,” said Anne Hiller Clark, Acting Director of Delaware Libraries. “Libraries are proud to share curiosity, joy, and the love of reading year-round, but especially excited to share the incredible authors and illustrators from our state.”

Since 2002, each Affiliate Center for the Book has chosen a book for Young Readers that in some way represents the state’s or territory’s literary heritage. Beginning in 2022, each Affiliate Center for the Book was also asked to choose a book for Adult Readers, in addition to a book for Young Readers.

Each year, the Affiliate Centers come to Washington for the National Book Festival and participate in the Roadmap to Reading, a giant space at the Washington Convention Center where each state and territory’s booth features these “Great Reads” books and provides information about their states or territories. Last year, thousands of book lovers visited the tables of the Affiliates and learned about the “Great Reads from Great Places” list.

The 2026 Delaware Young Readers’ Selection is “F is for First State”, featuring Traynor’s illustrations and written by author Carol Crane. As the first state to ratify the United States Constitution, Delaware rightfully earned its nickname of the “First State.” Though small in size, it is a treasure trove of history, brought vividly to life through Traynor’s engaging and award-winning artwork.

The 2026 Delaware Adult Readers’ Selection is Haunted History of Delaware, written by author Josh Hitchens. The book explores the First State’s most famous ghost stories, haunted locations, and supernatural legends, blending folklore with historical research. It takes readers on a journey through Delaware’s eerie past, from haunted mansions and battlefields to mysterious local legends and unexplained phenomena.

The Delaware Libraries are celebrating their 125th anniversary and Delaware’s authors, illustrators, and literacy programs, at the National Book Festival in the nation’s capital. Free tickets are available through the Library of Congress. To attend, you must register in advance.

The Delaware Center for the Book also supports the Summer Library Reading Program promotes reading during the summer months to Delaware’s children and all ages.

For a full listing of programs and special events at Delaware Libraries visit DelawareLibraries.org/calendar

Additional information on the illustrator, author and the Delaware Center for the Book:

Elizabeth Traynor is an award-winning illustrator and graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design who has been creating illustrations professionally since 1981. She loves illustrating birds, animals, and children and has also enjoyed teaching at Delaware College of Art & Design. Originally from Guntersville, Alabama, Elizabeth returned to her hometown in 2014, where she enjoys the mountains, lakes, wildlife, and warmer weather. She shares her home with her cat, Skeeter, and two small dogs, Sammie and Bink.

Josh Hitchens is a Sussex County, Delaware, native, storyteller for the Ghost Tour of Philadelphia since 2007, and a theater director, actor, playwright, and teaching artist known as “Philadelphia’s foremost purveyor of the macabre.” He is the author of Haunted History of Delaware, Haunted History of Philadelphia, and Eerie Delaware: Chilling Tales from the First State, and has created two podcasts exploring hauntings, unsolved mysteries, weird history, and horror films. Josh has also written for Philadelphia Weekly and Broad Street Review, including a feature on acclaimed director David Lynch, and hosts the monthly live horror film show Monday Macabre. He lives in West Philadelphia with his partner and their cat, Mina.

The Delaware Center for the Book, established in 2003, is a state affiliate of the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress. Today, there are 56 Affiliate Centers for the Book—the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and Northern Mariana Islands. These affiliates carry out the national mission in their local areas, sponsor programs that highlight their area’s literary heritage and call attention to the importance of books, reading, literacy, and libraries.

September is Library Card Sign-up Month!

Delaware Libraries offer specialty library cards for every age group, including a My First Delaware Library Card for birth to age 5, a Super Library Card for children ages 6–12; a Teen Delaware Library Card for ages 13-17 and Delaware Library cards for everyone.

Instructions in Spanish are also available. (En el sitio web de las bibliotecas de Delaware se pueden encontrar instrucciones en español para obtener una tarjeta de biblioteca gratuita de Delaware)

Programming celebrating the Delaware Libraries’ 125th anniversary will continue throughout the year.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Emily Hershman

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