National Summer Learning Association’s Book Award: Spreading Library Joy through Literacy

As many youth services librarians know, planning for summer learning is a labor of love and hard work. It is a year-long process for some, including the National Summer Learning Association’s Public Library cohort, one of many Professional Learning Communities (PLC) within NSLA. The Library PLC is a community dedicated to peer learning and sharing, with an emphasis on how public library-led summer reading and learning programs can enhance our efforts and improve outcomes for all youth.

The seed for a book award related to summer and the joys of learning began at the 2024 ALA annual conference in San Diego when Christy Estovitz, Assistant Chief of Branches at San Francisco Public Library, and Liz McChesney, NSLA’s Field Consultant and former Director of Children’s Services at Chicago Public Libraries, attended the Caldecott Newbery Legacy Banquet with Dr. Sheryl Davis, formerly with the San Francisco Human Rights Commission and Brodrick Clarke, NSLA’s Vice President. Inspired by this annual book awards celebration, discussion and presentation of winners, the wheels were quickly set into motion to recreate the joy of reading in the NSLA community.

Using ALSC’s procedures, the Library PLC went to work on creating a structure for the book award process, including eligibility criteria and selection process and scoring using a rubric and reflection form. Nominating books must meet the following criteria for NSLA’s Book Award:

• Middle grade chapter or graphic novel or applicable for readers of all ages including older youth
• Published within 4 years and in print
• Scoring rubric evaluated on literary quality, relevance to NSLA themes (summer setting, resilience, joy of learning), originality, social awareness, cultural sensitivity, reader engagement and professional reviews.

The Library PLC hunkered down with a pile of books to read and critique as the best book on summer learning for middle grade readers, with an appeal to all ages. There were many good contenders, featuring summer learning in all its iterations and locations, both realistic fiction and world building. However, there was one book that repeatedly was the topic of conversation: Chanel Miller’s Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All. Although this is Miller’s first work of children’s fiction, she is no stranger to writing. Miller is best known for her memoir Know My Name, which recounts her experience as a survivor of a highly publicized sexual assault case in 2015.

Jenny Song, former youth services program coordinator and current Technology Project Manager for St. Louis Public Library was an advocate for the book’s nomination as the NSLA Book Awards inaugural winner. Song states, “Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All embodies the adventure of summer and the magic of community. The main character, Magnolia, is quirky, curious, courageous, and utterly endearing. The sock mystery is a fun and clever way to explore Magnolia’s community but it is the depiction of the immigrant family and the subtle, and not-so-subtle, experiences with anti-Asian racism that really hit home. It is authentic, impactful, and important to share these experiences and I think Chanel nailed it.”

It was clear Miller’s book hit a chord with the members of the Library PLC, as the book is culturally-affirming, focusing on friendships and community, all while centered around a sock mystery. Magnolia Wu is portrayed as a curious and determined protagonist with a rich inner world. We knew we weren’t the only ones wondering where disappearing socks go.

McChesney, head of the Library PLC reports, “Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All not only met all our criteria as a book that is an exceptionally written book for children, but it also upholds the values of NSLA: promoting curiosity and interest-driven learning, reflect, and always: inclusion and equity and set in the summertime.”

“We are thrilled that Chanel Miller’s Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All was our inaugural book selection. The Library and Literacy PLC took this idea very quickly brought it into fruition. This Award is just one more way in which NSLA is deepening what we offer to programs for robust summer learning, and this Award helps us to bring quality literature to other summer service providers  beyond librarians,” states Aaron Dworkin, CEO of National Summer Learning Association.

The members of Public Library PLC most likely squealed in unison when reading the announcement that Miller would attend the NSLA Summit, to accept the award in-person. Miller was gracious and kind as she learned about NSLA’s mission and how librarians play a role in summer learning and creating community. The librarians were (and still are) enamored with Miller, gifting her homemade socks (we see you, knitter and librarian Becca Boland) and fancy socks (thanks to Sock Candy) while offering praise for her first middle grade book. In her acceptance speech, Chanel Miller said “Here at NSLA being surrounded by educators and these librarians has fueled me to keep writing. I have witnessed their unwavering focus and clarity of purpose when it comes to opening the hearts and minds of children. Thank you for this honor and for showing me the warmest side of humanity.”

While this isn’t the last book we’ll be reading by Miller, we know that Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All is a special book that will resonate with youth and their families. Not to mention it earned a 2025 Newbery Honor Award.

For those interested in a forum to discuss summer learning at your library with a community of librarians dedicated to joy and learning for youth and participating in future NLSA Book Awards, consider joining us. Reach out to Liz McChesney at Lmcchesney@summerlearning.org for more information. Here’s to more learning, joy, curiosity and exploration over the summer (while also reuniting lonely socks).

Today’s guest contributor is Jen Woo (she/her/hers). Jen is the Family Engagement Coordinator at San Francisco Public Library. She is an active member of National Summer Learning Association’s Public Library PLC, APALA and CALA. This is her first ALSC blog post contribution. She is perpetually in search of missing socks.

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 As many youth services librarians know, planning for summer learning is a labor of love and hard work. It is a year-long process for some, including the National Summer Learning Association’s Public Library cohort, one of many Professional Learning Communities (PLC) within NSLA. The Library PLC is a community dedicated to peer learning and sharing, with an emphasis on how public library-led summer reading and learning programs can enhance our efforts and improve outcomes for all youth. The seed for a book award related to summer and the joys of learning began at the 2024 ALA annual conference in San Diego when Christy Estovitz, Assistant Chief of Branches at San Francisco Public Library, and Liz McChesney, NSLA’s Field Consultant and former Director of Children’s Services at Chicago Public Libraries, attended the Caldecott Newbery Legacy Banquet with Dr. Sheryl Davis, formerly with the San Francisco Human Rights Commission and Brodrick Clarke,…
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