The best way to get inspired to write is to read, and to read lots of different kinds of books! SCBWI PA West is launching a book club with a monthly online zoom meeting to discuss our reading. We would love to have you join us!
• We will be focusing on Newbery Award Winners (ages range mostly from early readers to teen) and picture books handpicked by the regional team.
• We will alternate each month between either 1 Newbery award winning book or 2 non-Newbery picture books.
• Learn more about the Newbery award here and find a list of all award winning books by year here.
• Book discussions will touch upon themes, character development, voice/tone/format, literary significance, social/political/domestic issues and the strengths (or weaknesses) of text, illustrations and book design.
• We recommend that you check books out at your local library or on library loan apps like Hoopla and Libby, where you can take out an ebook or audiobook with a valid library card and read or listen to it on your phone.
• Book club zoom sessions will be 1-2 hours. All links to meetings will be posted on this page.
March 10 7 pm EST - Session 27 - Eyes that Kiss in the Corners - Joanna Ho & Dung Ho and My Fade is Fresh - Shauntay Grant & Kitt Thomas
https://scbwi.zoom.us/j/95635583995?pwd=kEZlDsqCQ7IExHACjQPZd7LuvhfMxt.1
Meeting ID: 956 3558 3995
Passcode: 744033
Apr 14 7 pm EST - Session 28 - The tale of Desperaux by Kate DiCamillo
https://scbwi.zoom.us/j/93567559003?pwd=aWZBlvRDwg0rrapG8WENwsa5GRU0Xn.1
Meeting ID: 935 6755 9003
Passcode: 852445
May 12 7 pm EST - Session 29 - Journey / Quest / Return trilogy - Aaron Becker
https://scbwi.zoom.us/j/94051276369?pwd=WqETba7yN8srd8yz3y2SEoDlEnmQ27.1
Meeting ID: 940 5127 6369
Passcode: 970578
June 9 7 pm EST - Session 30 - Freewater by Amina Luqman-Dawson
https://scbwi.zoom.us/j/99523691554?pwd=ONbHqLJfJXqQNDbEg6QBdUuEcd7jIa.1
Meeting ID: 995 2369 1554
Passcode: 340318
July 7 7 pm EST - Session 31 - Hello, Lighthouse by Sophie Blackall and
The Arrival by Shaun Tan
https://scbwi.zoom.us/j/95715290331?pwd=nwdehKXjJ18LXf3Q96HD5caeYcj5dS.1
Meeting ID: 957 1529 0331
Passcode: 912131
Aug 11 7 PM EST - Session 32 - A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
https://scbwi.zoom.us/j/94357182355?pwd=PoQbSqeMFzNnWUBL59Lg7LJBdF0cjK.1
Meeting ID: 943 5718 2355
Passcode: 219203
Sept 8 7 PM EST - Session 33 - Watercress by Andrea Wang and Wolf in the Snow by Matthew Cordell
https://scbwi.zoom.us/j/91673150693?pwd=JO7xNpohG8ww5JAzwUvGPhZLaYZGb2.1
Meeting ID: 916 7315 0693
Passcode: 834389
Oct 13 7 PM - Session 34 - When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
https://scbwi.zoom.us/j/92309785440?pwd=Pm4GPD71jPOIChriqmB0COVsSrO2He.1
Meeting ID: 923 0978 5440
Passcode: 322495
Nov 10 7 pm EST - Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak and There's A Nightmare In My Closet by Mercer Mayer
https://scbwi.zoom.us/j/95698231148?pwd=goBHtbaI0wLi3a0JoE2jbWnuxu2Hcx.1
Meeting ID: 956 9823 1148
Passcode: 375881
NOTE: No Dec 2026 Virtual Book Club.