Great Lakes Reads 2026
The second Great Lakes, Great Read Program for Great Lakes States and Provinces announced its titles in February 2026. Read about our picks here, and keep up with the latest news on our GLGR homepage.
Cover Image: Another World by Ellie Harold
A region-wide year-long reading program!
In partnership with library associations, education groups, Sea Grant programs, and universities throughout the eight Great Lakes states and two Canadian provinces, the Library of the Great Lakes is excited to announce the books selected for the 2026 basin-wide shared-reading experience, Great Lakes, Great Read.
Great Lakes, Great Read is based on the One Book, One Community model where reading programs choose one book for libraries, community groups, and the public to read and enjoy together over the course of a year.
“The Great Lakes, Great Read 2026 selections are engaging true stories that are masterfully told,” said Inger Schultz, president and co-founder of the Library of the Great Lakes. “Libraries, schools, and organizations throughout the Great Lakes will be able to enjoy and share in reading and discussing the books of GLGR 2026.“
The titles for the Great Lakes, Great Read 2026 are…
Picture Book
Sport:
Ship Dog of the Great Lakes
by Pamela Cameron
SPORT: Ship Dog of the Great Lakes by Pamela Cameron is true story of a puppy rescued during a storm by a sailor working on a Great Lakes tender (a
boat that brings supplies to the various lighthouse keepers in the lakes). A delightful tale with
wonderful illustrations, Cameron introduces us to Sport and his human companions as they
deliver essentials to keep the lights on and ships safe in Lake Michigan.
Middle Grade
Saving Our Sturgeon:
Protecting Wisconsin’s Ancient Fish
by Rebecca Hogue Wojahn
SAVING OUR STURGEON: Protecting Wisconsin’s Ancient Fish introduces middle-grade readers to a very peculiar fish and the successful efforts that led to its continuing survival. Concerted efforts by children, indigenous communities, community scientists, and government organizations contributed to the return of the threatened species. With terrific illustrations and maps, we can all learn from this book.
Adult Read
The Gales of November:
The Untold Story of the Edmund Fitzgerald
by John U. Bacon
THE GALES OF NOVEMBER: The Untold Story of the Edmund Fitzgerald, is our adult selection and is the definitive account of America’s most haunting maritime disaster. Bacon also provides a fascinating look at the history of Great Lakes shipping, the sailors and their families who dedicated their lives to the lakes, based on more than 100 interviews with the families, friends, and former crewmates of those lost.
“It is a great honor to have my book picked by the Library of the Great Lakes as one of its Great Lakes, Great Read selections – a wonderful way to reach those who love the Great Lakes as I do.” – John U. Bacon
The Great Lakes Great Read website offers further details on the authors, their books, a toolkit, and other resources.
Look for future announcements of region-wide webinars with each of the authors.
Several organizations, including the Library of the Great Lakes, the Gail Borden Public Library, Saginaw District Library, Swim Drink Fish, Biinaagami Project, Great Lakes Odyssey, and the Wisconsin Water Library at UW-Madison, partnered in 2024 to create and carry out the Great Lakes, Great Read program. In-kind support was provided by the staff with the Wisconsin Water Library and Wisconsin Sea Grant.
The Library of the Great Lakes is based on the geologic formation of Lakes Michigan, Erie, Superior, Huron and Ontario, transcending borders and boundaries; a library without walls. The mission of the Library of the Great Lakes is to inspire and launch exploration of the science, history, literature, arts, and cultures of the Great Lakes.
