2025 Festival Awards
One Book One Nebraska
2026 Shortlist
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| The Antidote: A Novel by Karen Russell |
Nebraska: Under a Big Red Sky by Joel Sartore |
Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf |
The One Book One Nebraska program, which began in 2005, encourages
Nebraskans to read and discuss a selected book each year. The book is
either written by a Nebraska author or has a Nebraska theme or setting.
A committee from the Nebraska Center for the Book chooses the book from
nominations submitted by Nebraskans. Libraries across the state organize
book discussions, activities, and events to foster community engagement
with literature. This initiative celebrates Nebraska’s literary heritage
and promotes reading and dialogue among residents. One Book One Nebraska
is sponsored by Nebraska Center for the Book, Humanities Nebraska, and
Nebraska Library Commission.
Learn more...
Jane Geske Award
The Jane Geske Award recognizes a Nebraska association, organization, business, library, school, academic institution, or other group that has made an exceptional, long-term contribution to one or more of these fields in Nebraska: Literacy, Reading, Bookselling, Books, Libraries, and Writing. The award is supported by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress. Learn more...
Delivering Infinite Bookshelves
Delivering Infinite Bookshelves stands out with its use of data, its effectiveness in schools where students have often struggled, and its presence in Nebraska beyond Omaha. The development of the new model of supporting young readers by sending a book home from school each night provides an additional support of efforts by school and public libraries.
Mildred Bennett Award
The Mildred Bennett Award recognizes an individual who has made a significant contribution to the fostering of the literary tradition in Nebraska. Its purpose is to remind us all of the literary and intellectual traditions that enrich our lives and mold our world. Learn more...
Ashley Olson
Ashley Olson is the Executive Director of the Willa Cather Foundation. She represents the Foundation and the legacy of Willa Cather effectively in a variety of settings, and her work is marked by collaboration with others. She was instrumental in the placement of Littleton Alston's statue of Willa Cather in Statuary Hall in Washington DC., and has drawn highly-regarded authors to discuss literature in Red Cloud. She has overseen successful capital campaigns resulting in top-notch facilities, including the Garber Hotel, which supports the local economy while creating an excellent place for visiting scholars. She has used technology to expand the reach of the organization beyond Red Cloud, even as her work has created an enduring literary landmark.
President's Awards
Christine Walsh
Christine served as Nebraska Center for the Book president several terms, providing stable leadership as well as innovation during the pandemic. She stepped up to participate in the National Center for the Book strategic planning process in 2024, ensuring that planning on a national level reflected the needs and talents of local affiliates. Her work with the Nebraska Center for the book highlights her diligence, kindness, and respect for Nebraska's literary community.
Tessa Timperley
Tessa has provided behind-the-scenes staff support for the Nebraska Center for the Book for years. Because she so thoroughly and competently completes her duties, the volunteers who work with the Nebraska Center for the Book can complete their assignments efficiently and effectively. Her work with the Nebraska Center for the Book, which is one among many of her responsibilities, shows clearly her competence, humor, and collaboration within Nebraska's literary community.
Nebraska Book Awards
The Nebraska Book Awards program, sponsored by the Nebraska Center for the Book (NCB), recognizes and honors books that are written by Nebraska authors, published by Nebraska publishers, set in Nebraska, or concerning Nebraska. Learn more...
Award Recipients
2025 (26th annual) for books published in 2024
Teen Novel
Quagmire Tiarello Couldn’t Be Better by Mylisa Larsen
Publisher: Clarion Books
Cover/Illustration
Animal Climate Heroes Alison Pearce Stevens
Illustration: Jason Ford
Publisher: Godwin Books
Cover/Illustration Honor
Do You Know the Value of You? by Isabelle Hall
Illustration: Megan Earley
Publisher: Joyful Page Press
Design
Creative Genius: The Art of the Nebraska Capitol by Susanne Shore, Kevin Moser,
and Drew Davies
Publisher: Bison Books
Design Honor
Rodeo Clown by Quentin Fortney
Publisher: 777 Press
Fiction
Isamu’s American Dream by D. D. Davenport
Publisher: Donald D. Davenport
Fiction Honor
Sacrificial Animals: A Novel by Kailee Pedersen
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Nonfiction Biography
Most Honorable Son: A Forgotten Hero’s Fight Against Fascism and Hate During World War II
by Gregg Jones
Publisher: Citadel Press
Nonfiction Conservation
Into Whooperland: A Photographer’s Journey with Whooping Cranes by Michael Forsberg
Publisher: Michael Forsberg Photography
Nonfiction History
Journey to Freedom: Uncovering the Grayson Sisters’ Escape from Nebraska Territory
by Gail Shaffer Blankenau
Publisher: University of Nebraska Press
Nonfiction Memoir
Running Naked: Surviving the Legacy of Family in Rural Nebraska by Colby Coash
Publisher: Cahoy & Crook
Nonfiction Nebraska as Place
The Nebraska Sandhills edited by Monica M. Norby, Judy Diamond, Aaron Sutherlen,
Sherilyn C. Fritz, Kim Hachiya, Douglas A. Norby, and Michael Forsberg
Publisher: Bison Books
Poetry
The Watching Sky by Judy Brackett Crowe
Publisher: Cornerstone Press
Poetry Honor
Those We Can No Longer See: New and Selected Poems by Bob Ross
Publisher: Stephen F. Austin University Press
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