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.
Session 23 - There Was a Party for Langston by Jason Reynolds, illustrated by Jerome and Jarrett Pumphrey and
Blue: A History of the Color as Deep as the Sea and as Wide as the Sky by Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond, illustrated by Daniel Minter
When: Nov 11 2025, 7pm Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Zoom Link: https://scbwi.zoom.us/j/99138318540?pwd=IpzWTDLHql9ZxzzPJ3qxXEbuaXa3no.1
Meeting ID: 991 3831 8540
Passcode: 886479
Session 24 - Merci Suárez Changes Gears by Meg Medina
When: Dec 2 2025, 7pm Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Zoom Link: https://scbwi.zoom.us/j/99624184569?pwd=RksIwYB3xniSfia1mHFMUjaku3JoXt.1
Meeting ID: 996 2418 4569
Passcode: 659747
Session 25 - Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin and illustrated by Daniel Salmieri and
The Book With No Pictures by B.J. Novak
Session 26 - Crispin & the Cross of Lead by Avi
Session 27 - Eyes that Kiss in the Corners - Joanna Ho & Dung Ho and
My Fade is Fresh - Shauntay Grant & Kitt Thomas
Session 28 - The tale of Desperaux by Kate DiCamillo
Session 29 - Journey / Quest / Return trilogy - Aaron Becker
Session 30 - Freewater by Amina Luqman-Dawson
Session 31 - Hello, Lighthouse by Sophie Blackall and
The Arrival by Shaun Tan
Session 32 - A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle