Mitchell Kaplan, founder of Books & Books, with stores in South Florida, and former Late Show host Stephen Colbert, have been named co-recipients of this year's Anti Censorship Award from the American Book Awards, which were created by the Before Columbus Foundation, a nonprofit organization in Oakland, Calif., that champions diversity in U.S. literature and culture, WLRN reported. 

Mitchell Kaplan

"To be at all in the same sentence with Stephen Colbert was an extremely humbling feeling," Kaplan said. "I recognize that booksellers all across this country have been fighting the good fight against censorship for many, many, many years. In accepting this award, I stand with all of them as well, as one bookseller who in essence is doing something that booksellers everywhere need to do, unfortunately, right now."

Books & Books posted on social media: "It is with gratitude and excitement that we congratulate Mitchell Kaplan on receiving the 2026 Anti-Censorship Award from the Before Columbus Foundation American Book Awards! This achievement is a celebration and acknowledgement of the work of Mitchell, booksellers, and our community to protect the right to read. He accepts the award along with host, Stephen Colbert. Congratulations and the work continues!"

The complete list of American Book Award winners is available here and includes longtime Grove/Atlantic publisher Morgan Entrekin, who was co-winner of the Editor/Publisher Award along with Roger Malina, executive editor of the academic journal Leonardo. The honorees will be formally recognized during a ceremony on September 26 in Berkeley, Calif.

The now-closed Hartfield Book Company will become Bookshop on the Square.

Following the closure of Hartfield Book Co. in Monticello, Ill., this spring, Bookshop on the Square will open in the same storefront this fall, the Journal-Republican reported.

Located at 110 W. Washington St., Bookshop on the Square will sell new and used titles, with a general-interest focus. Most of the bookselling team, including co-owner Dawn Stahl, previously worked at Hartfield Book Co., which closed in May. They intend to add some new "fun experiences" and "collaborations."

"It just really felt like Monticello wasn't done having a bookstore," Stahl told the Journal-Republican. "It's a super bookish community and it just seems like a town that should have a great, little indie book shop. So I clearly wasn't ready to let it go."

Stahl, who worked at Hartfield Book Co. for more than six years, co-owns Bookshop on the Square with her husband, Karl, and Kevin and Brooke Feeney, owners of Burgess and Cline Insurance. 

They hope to open the new store in October after some renovation work. In the meantime, Bookshop on the Square will make some pop-up appearances in the Monticello area. One appearance will be a visit to the Kirby Auxiliary Market on the Prairie on August 22. 

"We have been planning some renovations and we set our sights on a fall open date," said Stahl.

Schmendrick's Bookshop opened last month in Wilton, Conn., the News-Times reported. Located at 24 Cannon Rd., the 120-square-foot bookstore sells predominantly fiction titles. Owner Natalie Ponte, a lifelong reader who described opening a bookstore as a childhood dream, hosts a variety of events including author readings and silent book clubs.

"We're really excited that there seems to be a surge in interest in reading just for pleasure," Ponte told the News-Times. "I still have that feeling when you go into a bookstore--like it's a magical space."

Before opening Schmendrick's Bookshop, Ponte had a 20-year career working in advertising and business development for major technology companies. Roughly four years ago she left the tech world to get a master's degree in fiction writing from New York University, and her feelings of "frustration and disappointment" with the way tech companies have taken "our attention and our money and our time" eventually led her to open an independent bookstore.

She hopes Schmendrick's becomes a place where community members put down their phones and connect with each other over books.

Mildred Pitts Walter, "a Los Angeles schoolteacher who grew up in the Jim Crow South and wrote award-winning children's books focusing on Black characters, filling a void in her students' reading material," died on May 19, the New York Times reported. She was 103.

As a kindergarten teacher in the 1950s and '60s in South Central Los Angeles, Walter searched for books that had Black characters with whom her students could identify. One of the rare finds was the Caldecott Medal-winning 1962 picture book The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats. Knowing the federal government under President Lyndon B. Johnson had in 1968 allocated funds to encourage publishers to create more books for students like hers, Walter eventually challenged an executive at a local publishing company, Ward Ritchie Press, to fill that need, the Times noted.

" 'Well, write them,' he responded," she recalled in her autobiography, Something Inside So Strong: Life in Pursuit of Choice, Courage and Change (2019). "I felt he was passing the buck and told him so. But he insisted. I reluctantly agreed."

Over the next three decades, she wrote more than 20 books that "changed the course of children's literature," said Lin Oliver, a founder of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, which Walter also helped to found, wrote in a tribute.

In her first book, Lillie of Watts: A Birthday Discovery, illustrated by Leonora E. Prince (1969), Walter told the story of a shy girl in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles--four years after the riots there--who spends her 11th birthday searching for a lost cat. The Times noted that in the sequel, Lillie of Watts Takes a Giant Step, illustrated by Bonnie Helene Johnson (1971), "Lillie discovers a hero in Malcolm X, along with a new feeling of self-worth." Walter's other works include Ty's One-Man Band, illustrated by Margot Tomes (1980), and The Girl on the Outsides (1982). 

Her book Justin and the Best Biscuits in the World, illustrated by Catherine Stock (1986), won the American Library Association's Coretta Scott King Award. Walter was also finalist for the prize for Because We Are (1983), Trouble's Child (1985), and Mississippi Challenge (1992).

Pat Cummings, who illustrated four books with Walter, including My Mama Needs Me (1983), said, "She adamantly believed society was still plagued by pervasive racism, but her stories were never heavy-handed or tried to preach to kids."

Pitts was born at a logging camp in Sweetville, La. She graduated from high school in 1940, then enrolled at Southern University in Baton Rouge, where she earned a bachelor's degree in English. Walter moved to Los Angeles, working as a saleswoman at a laundry business and then a clerk for the L.A. Unified School District, after being rejected as a teacher. In 1947, she married Earl Walter, a social worker who would become the chairman of the Los Angeles chapter of the Congress of Racial Equality, or CORE. She was also active in CORE. He died in 1965.

After earning her teaching certificate from California State University, Los Angeles, Walter began teaching kindergarten in 1952, retiring in 1970, and relocating to Denver, where she worked as an educational consultant. She also helped start the Northeast Women's Center, to train and place women in jobs, and Colorado Black Women for Political Action, a nonprofit organization. In 1976, she earned her master's degree from an affiliate of Antioch College, and was inducted into the Colorado Women's Hall of Fame in 1996.

Despite rejections through those years, she continued to write. "She wasn't one of those people who were writing all the time since she was a teenager," Barbara Lalicki, who edited many of her books, said. "But she saw a need to fill and turned out to be good at it."

New Voices, New Rooms, the joint annual booksellers conference for the New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association and the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance, is taking place this week in Baltimore, Md. As the show kicked off, NAIBA executive director Eileen Dengler (standing, in yellow), SIBA executive director Linda-Marie Barrett (standing, in black jacket), and incoming NAIBA executive director Liz Hottel (seated, far r.) posed with staff members. This is Dengler's final show before her retirement later this year. (photo: S.P. Rankin)

"It's the dog days of summer. Come fetch yourself a book!" That was the heat-inspired message on the colorful sidewalk chalkboard in front of Solid State Books in Washington, D.C.

Booksellers at Saffron & Co. Bookstore in Kingman, Ariz., shared their solution "when our doctor says we need more greens."

At Sourcebooks:

Katie Stutz has been promoted to associate director of marketing.

Madison Nankervis has been promoted to associate director, author brand development.

Today:
Here & Now: Carol Gilligan, author of Solstice: A Novel (Random House, $28, 9781400061761).

Fresh Air: Micki McElya, author of Liberation Summer: The Moment That Changed the Women's Movement and the Future of American Politics (Avid Reader Press/S&S, $32, 9781982166762).

Tomorrow:
Good Morning America: Roger Rosenblatt, author of More Rules for Aging: Making the Most of Your Ridiculous, Wondrous Life (Turtle Point Press, $21.95, 9781969010033).

Also on GMA: Danielle Sepsy, author of The Scone Queen Bakes: 100 Recipes for Scones, Muffins, Cookies, and Cakes from the Founder of The Hungry Gnome (Knopf, $38, 9780593801642).

Today: Rachel Mansfield, author of More, Please!: Feel-Good Meals for Busy Families and Their Picky Eaters (S&S/Simon Element, $35, 9781668082126).

Kelly Clarkson Show repeat: Lauren Tarshis, author of the I Survived children's book series (Scholastic).

Matthew Macfadyen (Succession) and Claire Foy (All of Us Strangers) will star in You Are Here, a BBC and Starz adaptation of David Nicholls's bestselling novel. Deadline reported that Nicholls has written the eight-part series, which will be produced by Element Pictures. Lenny Abrahamson (Normal People) is the director. 

Set along the coast-to-coast walking trail from the Lake District to Robin Hood's Bay in North Yorkshire in England, You Are Here will be filmed in the Lake District and around Manchester. Deadline shared the synopsis: "When a mutual friend throws them together, Marnie and Michael unexpectedly find themselves setting off on an epic walk. Against the odds, they end up on the brink of a relationship that neither was looking for, but which might be exactly the one they both need."

"I'm so delighted to be working on You Are Here with Element, the BBC, Starz, and Lenny, whose work I've admired for many years," said Nicholls. "Matthew and Claire are both just dream casting, wonderful in comedy and drama, so detailed and thoughtful and sympathetic. The intention with the novel was to write a close-up study of a relationship, but set against this magnificent landscape, and that's our ambition here too; to make something both intimate and epic, funny and dramatic, a romantic comedy with real emotion. We can't wait to bring Marnie and Michael's journey to the screen."

The longlist has been selected for the $75,000 Cundill History Prize, administered by McGill University, and can be seen here. A shortlist will be released on September 2 and the finalists September 30. The winner will be named on October 23.

Organizers said that the titles on the longlist "introduce us to topics from across the globe, spanning continents and generations, from the history of the five partitions that shaped modern South Asia to the legacy of the Magdalene laundries in Ireland, from post-Second World War colonial Africa to the hidden story of Indigenous slavery in U.S. history."

LibraryReads, the nationwide library staff-picks list, offers the top 10 August titles public library staff across the country love:

Top Pick
Majestic Hills: A Novel by Dawn Turner (Scribner, $29, 9781668049310). "Dr. Blaque just wants to live somewhere quiet, and his wife Josephine--wary of the suburbs--agrees to move on a one-year trial basis. At first, their predominantly white neighbors seem like the picture-perfect, friendly community, but after an awful crime, prejudice starts showing up in full force. As the year deadline creeps closer, the couple wonders: can they make it, or is their marriage--and safety--about to blow up?" --Magan Szwarek, LibraryReads Ambassador, Ill.

Dreamland: A Novel by Olivie Blake (Tor, $29.99, 9781250368935). "Anya's an ambitious actress looking for her big break in L.A. At a Hollywood party, she catches the eye of famed Emmanuelle de Witt, who hires her as a personal assistant and invites her to the de Witt Villa. Anya quickly realizes the family's image hides something sinister. As Anya gets involved in the family drama, the question becomes whether or not she'll be able to survive it." --Rachel Gable, Milanof-Schock Library, Pa.

You'll Be Sorry by Lisa Gardner (Grand Central, $30, 9781538765142). "In a small town, a new couple is restoring an abandoned estate where a family of six mysteriously disappeared decades ago. They find a body in an abandoned well, witches, pirate treasure, and a police chief who is desperate to solve this cold case. This is a book readers won't be able to put down." --Judy G. Sebastian, Eastham Public Library, Mass.

When Lemons Give You Life: A Novel by Anna Johnston (Morrow, $30, 9780063397347). "In this tender, heartwarming read, a former chef, now in a nursing home, faces some hard truths while trying to make things sweeter for the other residents. This story acknowledges hard realities about Alzheimer's and senior care, lovingly blending the sweet and cozy with the serious and sour, much like a lemon tart." --Stephanie Larkins, Westmont Public Library, Ill.

Plant Lady by Kang Minyoung, trans. by Shanna Tan (Berkley, $28, 9798217187577). "This cozy, literary horror story, translated from the original Korean, is about a plant shop entrepreneur and former office worker. In addition to changing careers to something that makes her happiest, she helps change the lives of numerous female customers. This novella germinates quietly, blossoming into a garden of vengeance." --Maggie Hurle, Anythink Library-Rangeview District, Colo.

Time Travel for Beginners by Jaclyn Moriarty (Berkley, $30, 9780593820339). "When Anna is offered a job at The Time Travel Agency, she expects to be promoting a scam. Instead, she finds friendly colleagues and a rich life in many pasts, all for her choosing. This charming story about ordinary people features well-rounded characters, a touch of romantic tension, suspenseful danger, and a satisfying ending. The lessons about quantum physics are also surprisingly understandable." --Sally Leahey, McArthur Library (ret.), Me.

Back for Blood: Never Whistle at Night Part II, edited by Shane Hawk and Theodore C. Van Alst Jr. (Vintage, $20, 9798217007622). "This horror anthology delivers in spades. In fact, it's hard to decide whether to read just one story each night or binge the whole thing in one sitting. Featuring a mix of established horror authors and exciting new voices, this is an accomplished collection of creepy tales." --Jason Wells, Poquoson Library, Va.

You'll Love It Here: A Novel by Natalie Sue (Morrow, $28, 9780063320437). "Becoming a reluctant building super pulls Mona into a cast of eccentric neighbors. A warm, grown-up version of The Breakfast Club: funny, tender, and quietly affirming, with sharp humor and found-family vibes. Perfect for readers feeling stuck, burnt out, or who just need a reminder that sometimes belonging shows up in the messiest places." --Robin F., Librarian, Pa.

(Mostly) Human Resources: A Novel by Grace Viall (Alcove Press, $32.99, 9798892427746). "Alexys joins a corporation in the Appalachian Mountains that handles cryptic creatures, records sightings, and conducts missions to handle the most dangerous beings. This book starts out cozy with straight-from-folklore tales, and slowly introduces horror aspects that will grab the reader's attention." --Marlene Robles Ortiz, Placer County Library, Calif.

Kitten: A Novel by Stacey Yu (Random House, $29, 9798217155064). "Katie is floundering in adulthood--no friends, no job, estranged mother, and soon, no apartment. A vacation with her boyfriend sparks an obsession with his elderly cat, Silver. With Katie's obsession growing deeper and her life and relationships unraveling, will she be able to pull herself back together?" --Kari Bingham-Gutierrez, Olathe Public Library, Kan.

Accomplished storyteller Kristen Millares Young's communion with an ancient mother goddess and her quest to reconcile the incongruities of her "maddening matriarchs" provide an intriguing thematic framework for her first memoir-in-essays, Desire Lines. The Cuban American author's 15 essays traverse volcanic landscapes and oceanic depths, Spanish villages and Parisian museum archives, in pursuit of "unfettered" joyful mothering and "a version of femininity" she can believe in.

Young (Subduction) is a journalist and scholar with established roots in the Pacific Northwest, and its majestic, rugged beauty serves as a natural backdrop for contemplating how "vulnerability is a muscle that must be flexed to become strength." Desire lines, she explains, are "paths that emerge, eroded yet unforeseen, next to the routes that were planned for us." Raised in Florida by her abuela and abuelo while her mercurial mother, Carmen, supported the family, Young was expected to embrace Catholicism and remain silent about the abuse she suffered at the hands of her maternal grandfather, a pedophile. "Paternal indifference" and Carmen's refusal to confront what happened to her daughter affect the author "more deeply than the abuse itself." Rejecting "the cult of Mary," Young has turned instead to writing.

The essay "Of Meteorites and Matrimony" recounts Young's artistic and literary discovery of the Roman goddess Cybele, an "archetype of women's sexuality." Cybele's wielding of her ferocious power fascinates the author, because it stands in contrast to the women in her family who refused to assert their own powers to protect Young in childhood. In "She of Many Names," readers learn how Cybele was shorn of her pagan power by Emperor Constantine I and legitimized as mother to the "holy son." For both Young and Cybele, their power lies not in external labels but in their instinct for survival in treacherous times.

The freedom to "let herself go" is the seductive theme of "Our Lady of Perpetual Self-Loathing." Despite the remarkable parallels she unearths between her life and Cybele's mythical portrayal, the author, unlike Cybele, remains in control of her story. As she gazes through the clarifying lenses of midlife, motherhood, and a loving marriage to make peace with her past, Young provides an intellectually courageous road map for readers reconciling the cracks in their own family narratives.

Embedded with gems from other feminist icons, Desire Lines is the graceful work of a writer triumphantly exerting her right, "like a goddess," to bask in her "own radiance." --Shahina Piyarali

Shelf Talker: In this memoir-in-essays, a Cuban American journalist recounts learning of a ferocious and powerful ancient Roman mother goddess and the remarkable parallels between their life stories.