The Idaho Center for the Book has chosen The Stories Behind the Stories by Danielle Higley (youth selection) and Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr (adult selection) as Idaho’s “Great Reads from Great Places” for the 2022 National Book Festival. Hosted by the Library of Congress, this year’s festival theme is “Books Bring Us Together” and will be held on Saturday, September 3rd in Washington, D.C.
Idahoan Anthony Doerr is the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of All the Light we Cannot See. His follow up work, Cloud Cuckoo Land, has also earned widespread acclaim including recognition as a 2021 National Book Award Finalist and a New York Times Notable Book of 2021.
Danielle Higley studied English literature at the College of Idaho and worked as an editor in children’s publishing before writing her first book, The Stories Behind the Stories: The Remarkable True Tales Behind Your Favorite Children’s Books. Higley’s debut, with artwork by David Miles, features short summaries about the inspiration behind 29 classic books for children and young readers. The Stories Behind the Stories has earned enthusiastic reviews from the Idaho Press, Goodreads, and the Baby Bookworm blog among others.
Watch the ICB website for announcements about upcoming “Great Reads” related events and programming.
Gwyn Hervochon, Associate Professor, Librarian, Archivist
Special Collections and Archives, Albertsons Library
State Coordinator, Idaho Center for the Book