Episode 26: America 250, Picture Books, and Popular Reads

This episode highlights CADL’s America 250 Reading Challenge, a round up of great picture books, and a mix of extremely popular and under the radar picks. Cheryl’s Books: Bottom of the Pyramid: A Memoir of Persevering, Dancing for Myself, and Starring in My Own Life by Nia Sioux Loved and Missed by Susie Boyt If We Were Dogs by Sophie Blackall Mentioned: Books written and/or illustrated by Julie Morstad Lessons from Plants by Beronda L. Montgomery covered in Reader's Roundtable Episode 40: Summer Wrap-Up Dead and Alive: Essays by Zadie Smith Books written and/or illustrated by Sophie Blackall Jessica’s Books: Game Changer and Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid (book one and two of the Game Changer series) When Trees Testify: Science, Wisdom, History, and America's Black Botanical Legacy by Beronda L. Montgomery Harriet Tubman: Demon Slayer. Vol. 1 by David Crownson Mentioned: The Correspondent by Virgina Evans Theo of Golden by Levi Allen Cooking Gene: A Journey Through African American Culinary History in the Old South by Michael Twitty South to America: A Journey Below the Mason-Dixon to Understand the Soul of a Nation by Imani Perry All that She Carried: The Journey of Ashley's Sack, a Black Family Keepsake by Tiya Miles Mari’s Books: Zero! The Number That Almost Wasn’t by Sarah Albee, illustrated by Chris Hsu This is Orange: A Field Trip Through Color by Rachel Poliquin, illustrated by Julie Morstad The Nine Moons of Han Yu and Luli by Karina Yan Glaser Our Gorgeous Baby by Smriti Prasadam-Halls, illustrated by Eve Coy Floor It! by Bex Tobin Fine, illustrated by Federico Fabiani Mentioned: 2026 Newbery Awards CADL’s America 250 landing page including the Reading Challenge and decade reading lists:

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Episode 26: America 250, Picture Books, and Popular Reads is an episode from CADLcast Podcast by Capital Area District Libraries .

This episode is 41:35 long.

This episode was published on Feb 9, 2026.

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