Two books written by Nevada authors selected for Library of Congress's 'Great Reads from Great Places'
Submitted by Carson Now Reader on Sat, 06/24/2023 - 10:00am
Nevada Center for the Book (a Library of Congress Affiliate) is a program of Nevada Humanities dedicated to promoting literature and literacy throughout the Silver State. Two books by Nevada authors have been selected to represent Nevada at the National Book Festival–Nudi Gill by Bonnie Kelso and Chasing Giants by Zeb Hogan and Stefan Lovgren.
Nevada Humanities and its Nevada Center for the Book have selected two books written by Nevada authors to represent Nevada at the 2023 Library of Congress National Book Festival as a part of the Great Reads from Great Places program.
Every year, a list of books representing the literary heritage of the 50 states and the six U.S. territories is distributed by the Library of Congress’s Center for the Book during the National Book Festival. Books may be written by authors from the state, take place in the state, or celebrate the state’s culture and heritage.
This year's Great Reads from Nevada celebrate the smallest creatures of the sea to the grandest fish of our lakes and rivers: Nudi Gill: Poison Powerhouse of the Sea by author and illustrator Bonnie Kelso, and Chasing Giants: In Search of the World's Largest Freshwater Fish by Zeb Hogan and Stefan Lovgren.
“This year, we are delighted to have two books representing our state at the 2023 National Book Festival that spark imagination and curiosity about the creatures big and small who live in our aquatic ecosystems,” says Christina Barr, executive director of Nevada Humanities. “Living in the American West, we are especially conscious of the condition of our watersheds both in times of drought and times of plenty. These books heighten our awareness of the importance and interconnected nature of all of our water systems across the world.”
Books Representing Nevada at the 2023 National Book Festival
Nudi Gill: Poison Powerhouse of the Sea by Bonnie Kelso
Meet Gill, a flashy nudibranch (noo-de-brank) living a fierce and fascinating life in the ocean without a shell and completely…NAKED! When a curious young snorkeler stumbles upon Gill, she learns there is more than meets the eye when it comes to her sassy new friend. This soft-bodied mollusk is anything but vulnerable, turning a diet of dangerous ocean creatures into a poisonous sting of its own. Found in unique shapes and colors in every ocean throughout the world, Gill and his diverse family of nudibranchs serve as a reminder that being small doesn’t mean you can’t have it all. With illustrations as striking and colorful as Gill himself, this is an underwater adventure like no other where young readers can see for themselves what makes Gill and his fabulous family of nudibranchs tiny, but mighty poison powerhouses of the sea.
Chasing Giants: In Search of the World's Largest Freshwater Fish by Zeb Hogan and Stefan Lovgren
Chasing Giants: In Search of the World’s Largest Freshwater Fish combines science, adventure, and wonder to provide insights into the key role the massive fish of our lakes and rivers play in our past, present, and future. Zeb Hogan and Stefan Lovgren take you for a journey around the world in search of the world's largest freshwater fish. This exciting read takes the reader to the Amazon, Mongolia, Southeast Asia, and beyond over their 20-year quest.
To learn more about these books and their authors, visit nevadahumanities.org/nevada-center-for-the-book.
Southern Nevada Events Featuring Author Bonnie Kelso
Nevada Humanities presents a series of programs in Nevada for young people featuring author Bonnie Kelso who will read her book Nudi Gill and offer an activity for young Nevada readers and their families. Programs are recommended for ages 5-10. Visit nevadahumanities.org for event information.
July 18, 2023
Boulder City Library, 701 Adams Blvd., Boulder City, Nevada, 89005, 11:30 am - 12:15 pm
July 29, 2023
Blue Diamond Library, 16A Cottonwood Drive, Blue Diamond, Nevada 89004, Time 9:30 am – 10:15 am
August 4, 2023
Clark County Library, 1401 E Flamingo Road, Las Vegas, Nevada 89119, 4:00 - 4:45 pm
August 9, 2023
North Las Vegas Library, 2250 Las Vegas Blvd. N, North Las Vegas, Nevada 89030, Time TBD
During this year’s National Book Festival, on Saturday, August 12, 2023, at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC, representatives from the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and Northern Marianas will promote their book selections and other literary works reflective of their unique locations.
The Nevada Center for the Book, a program of Nevada Humanities, is one of 56 affiliates of the Library of Congress and its Center for the Book, which was established by Congress in 1977 to stimulate public interest in books and reading; it remains a national force for reading and literacy promotion.
Nevada Humanities is one of 56 independent, nonprofit state and territorial humanities councils that partner with the National Endowment for the Humanities. With offices in Reno and Las Vegas, Nevada Humanities creates public cultural programs and supports public cultural projects statewide that define the Nevada experience and facilitate the exploration of issues that matter to the people of Nevada and their communities. For more information about Nevada Humanities visit nevadahumanities.org.
