Celebrating America 250 and Maryland’s heritage through storytelling
(Baltimore, MD) – Each year, Maryland Humanities, as the Maryland Center for the Book Affiliate to the Library of Congress, selects two titles, one Adult and one Youth, as a representation of the state’s literary heritage or talent.
We are thrilled to announce our “Great Reads from Great Places” selections for the 2026 National Book Festival:
Adult Selection
Claire McCardell: The Designer Who Set Women Free by Elizabeth Evitts Dickinson
Youth Selection
Miles of Style: Eunice W. Johnson and the EBONY Fashion Fair by Lisa D. Brathwaite
In 2026, with the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, events and celebrations will be looking back at our nation’s history. Part of the Library’ of Congress’s celebration of America 250: It’s Your Story, this year’s festival is an invitation to further appreciate the country’s history. Claire McCardell’s story, as a woman challenging gender norms and as an American making her mark in the European-centric fashion world, provides insight into social attitudes towards women in domestic and international contexts. Eunice W. Johnson’s work with the EBONY Fashion Fair is one that showcases change and transformation through challenging racial attitudes both in the U.S. and abroad, offering valuable context to how we view this history as both national and personal.
Elizabeth Evitts Dickinson is the author of the critically acclaimed book Claire McCardell: The Designer Who Set Women Free, which was named one of the New York Times’ 100 Notable Books of 2025 and was hailed as a best book of the year by NPR, Time, The Washington Post, Kirkus, and The New York Post, among many others.
“I feel inordinately lucky to be a writer living and working in Maryland, and to have had the opportunity to write about a fellow Marylander, a woman who was among our country’s foremost designers. This book exists because of the staunch support of the arts and humanities here and I am thrilled that the Maryland Humanities Council chose it as a “Great Reads” selection for the National Book Festival in August,” says Dickinson.
Her writing career encompasses cultural criticism, narrative nonfiction, investigative journalism, short fiction, and memoir. She’s been widely published in places like The New Yorker, The New York Times, Harper’s, The Washington Post Magazine, and The Southern Review, among others. Her nonfiction has earned recognition in The Best American Essays anthology and she’s a two-time recipient of the Independent Artist Award for fiction from The Maryland State Arts Council. She’s been a National Endowment for the Arts Creative Writing Fellow, and in 2023, Elizabeth became the first literary artist to win Maryland’s prestigious Mary Sawyers Imboden Prize, given in recognition of artists who demonstrate excellence in mastery of craft, depth of artistic exploration, and unique vision.
Lisa D. Brathwaite is a purveyor of creative self-expression, biographer, author, and public library advocate whose work is rooted in a simple belief: Reading never goes out of style. Her award–winning book, Miles of Style: Eunice W. Johnson and the EBONY Fashion Fair (Lee & Low Books, 2024), celebrates the visionary founder of the EBONY Fashion Fair, weaving together African American fashion, art, and identity in a story designed to spark joy and affirm self-esteem in young and nostalgic readers. She studied family and community development at the University of Maryland at College Park, graduating with a degree in Community Studies and a concentration in public policy and the Black community.
“As a proud University of Maryland alum, I’m thrilled about Miles of Style being chosen as Maryland’s Youth Selection for “Great Reads from Great Places”, and look forward to representing the state at this year’s National Book Festival,” says Brathwaite.
“It’s going to be delightful, meeting book-loving attendees young and old, and celebrating Eunice W. Johnson’s legacy. Along with Elizabeth Evitts Dickinson, my fellow author and the Adult Selection honoree, I’m excited to share the joy of stories that show just how far style, community, and imagination can travel. So folks, do stop by for some Maryland merriment!”
The Center for the Book in the Library of Congress in Washington works with its fifty-six Affiliate Centers for the Book – the fifty states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam and Northern Marianas – to fulfill the Center’s mission of promoting our nation’s diverse literary heritage through books, reading, libraries, and literacy initiatives.
Center affiliates will attend the National Book Festival and host tables in the Roadmap to Reading, where attendees can visit each state and territory to learn about their literature, including their “Great Reads” selections. This year, Elizabeth Evitts Dickinson and Lisa D. Brathwaite will be in attendance at this year’s festival at Maryland’s table in the Roadmap to Reading.
Copies of each book will be sold at the festival, and the Library will make their “Great Reads” lists available as part of the National Book Festival.
Join Maryland Humanities for this year’s National Book Festival, taking place at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, August 22, 2026. Doors open at 8:30 am. Festivalgoers can enjoy many of America’s most beloved writers in conversations, interactive programs, book signings and family-friendly activities for attendees of all ages, while exploring the Library’s collections, services and resources.
The festival is free and open to the public. Free tickets are required for festival entry. Register for a ticket to the National Book Festival.
About the National Book Festival
The National Book Festival is made possible by the generous support of private- and public-sector sponsors who share the Library’s commitment to reading and literacy, led by National Book Festival Co-Chair David M. Rubenstein. Sponsors include James Madison Council, General Motors, Institute of Museum and Library Services, Friends of the Library of Congress, the John W. Kluge Center, Joseph and Lynn Deutsch, the Library of Congress Federal Credit Union and the Junior League of Washington.
About the Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the world’s largest library, offering access to the creative record of the United States – and extensive materials from around the world – both on-site and online. It is the main research arm of the U.S. Congress and the home of the U.S. Copyright Office. Explore collections, reference services and other programs and plan a visit at loc.gov; access the official site for U.S. federal legislative information at congress.gov; and register creative works of authorship at copyright.gov.
About Maryland Humanities
Maryland Humanities creates and supports bold experiences that explore and elevate our shared stories to connect people, enhance lives, and enrich communities. Maryland Humanities is generously supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities, the State of Maryland, private foundations, corporations, small businesses, and individual donors. Connect with Maryland Humanities on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, LinkedIn, and YouTube.