Literati Book Fair Awards 2026
As a school librarian and book fair host, you are the reason a child is going to fall in love with reading this year. You are the reason a teacher has a new book on their shelf. You are the one who turns a school library into the only bookstore experience some of your students will ever have growing up.
At the TLA Conference in Houston in March 2026, Literati Book Fairs took time to say thank you officially. The first-ever Literati Book Fair Awards recognized school librarians and book fair coordinators across the country who went above and beyond for their communities. National Award Winners received $1,000 in Literati credits toward new books and resources, and Texas Award Winners received $500.
Literati Pagemaster Award
For the schools that put the most books directly into students’ hands
This award goes to the coordinators who are truly moving the needle on literacy, the ones who measure success in books per child.
🏆 National Winner (Fall & Spring 2025): Heather Jones at Mason Elementary & Intermediate School in Mason, Ohio, who put over 3,700 books into students’ hands through Literati Book Fairs this year.
⭐ Fall 2025 Texas Winner: Mandy Andrews at Barbers Hill Elementary North in Mont Belvieu, Texas, who put over 3,000 books into students’ hands in a single week.
⭐ Spring 2025 Texas Winner: Angela Gregory at Woods Elementary in Tyler, Texas with an astounding 3,412 books sent home with her community.
Literati Familiar Face Award
For schools that have grown with Literati since the very beginning
This award celebrates the coordinators who took a chance on Literati when they were the ‘new kids on the block’ and helped shape what this amazing book fair program is today. These nominees are partnering with Literati to write the future of book fairs together.
🏆 2025 National & Texas Winner: Jennifer Chen at Cora Spencer Elementary in Grand Prairie, Texas who has now hosted nine book fairs with Literati, with two more already on the calendar for 2026 and 2027. That’s a partnership built to last.
Literati Online Superhero Award
For schools that made sure every family could shop anytime, anywhere
These coordinators didn’t wait for the book fair doors to open to start building excitement. By promoting both online and in-person shopping, they made the fair accessible to every student, no matter their family’s schedule.
🏆 Fall 2025 National Winner: Katie Steele at Redwood Day School in Oakland, California with over $2,200 in online sales.
⭐ Fall 2025 Texas Winner: Kirsten Funderburk at St. Michael’s Catholic Prep School with $876 in online sales, proving a focused effort can make a real difference.
🏆 Spring 2025 National Winner: Liz Hinker at Minster Elementary in Minster, Ohio with a staggering $6,103 in online sales alone. When you give families a digital front door, they show up.
⭐ Spring 2025 Texas Winner: Avery Preston at St. Michael Catholic School in Houston, Texas with nearly $1,300 in online sales.
Literati Gift Card Champions
For schools leading the way in the safest book fair shopping
⭐ Fall 2025 Texas Winner: Amy Freedman at Hidden Forest Elementary in San Antonio had $9,137 in gift card redemptions, making the fair accessible to every reader.
We’ve all seen it: the heartbroken first grader who lost their five-dollar bill somewhere between the bus and the library. Gift cards solve that. The money stays safe, checkout moves faster, and every student gets to participate. The money that parents send to school goes directly toward books, while making the checkout process faster and easier for every volunteer in the room. These schools leaned into that model, and their communities responded.
🏆 Fall 2025 National Winner: Deanna Martin at American Heritage School in Palm Beach, Florida with an incredible $20,607 in gift card engagement.
🏆 Spring 2025 National Winner: Luann Newbanks at Franklin Academy Pembroke Pines K–8 in Florida saw $11,644 in gift card engagement.
⭐ Spring 2025 Texas Winner: Sara Smith at Roosevelt Alexander Elementary in Katy, Texas had an outstanding $7,800 in gift card redemptions in May 2025.
Literati Class Act Award
For schools that rallied their communities to fill classroom libraries
This award goes to the coordinator who didn’t just set up a digital teacher wishlist; she activated it. She rallied her staff, brought parents into the vision, and made sure books landed directly in the hands of the teachers who needed them most.
The 2025 Class Act winner literally doubled her school’s total sales by leaning into this one feature alone, generating $8,375 in targeted wishlist purchases. Literati was so impressed, they wrote this case study about it to share with schools nationwide.
🏆 2025 National Winner: Allison Merrick at St. Anne School in Houston, Texas. If you want a model for what’s possible with digital teacher wishlists, this is it.
Literati Best Sequel Award
For schools that didn’t just repeat their success, they topped it
These coordinators came back for another season and raised the bar. Significantly.
🏆 Fall 2025 National Winner: Janet Miscavage at JC Ellis Elementary in Metairie, Louisiana, who grew from $3,600 to over $8,000 in sales, a 122% increase.
⭐ Fall 2025 Texas Winner: Samantha Wilson at J.W. Monday Elementary in Kaufman, Texas was up 82%, from $3,300 to over $6,100. How’d she do it? Samantha launched a “Book Buddies” program that brought community members into the library to read with students. By the time the book fair arrived, the whole town was already invested. It’s a beautiful example of what happens when you build community first.
🏆 Spring 2025 National Winner: Liz Hinker at Minster Elementary in Minster, Ohio (a double winner!) who went from nearly $7,000 to over $16,700, a jaw-dropping 140% growth in a single year.
⭐ Spring 2025 Texas Winner: Charlene Riley at China Spring Primary School saw a strong 69% jump to over $7,000 this spring.
Literati Magic Makers Award
For the schools that transformed their library with creative, immersive decorations
These coordinators didn’t just host a book fair; they built a world. Their students walked into an experience that sparked reading excitement the moment students walked through the doors. This award celebrates the creativity and heart that makes a fair unforgettable.
🏆 Fall 2025 National Winner: Sue Borain at King’s Ridge Christian School in Alpharetta, Georgia who turned her library into an enchanted Everglow Forest.
⭐ Fall 2025 Texas Winner: Keri Garcia at Central Elementary in Lubbock, Texas who also created a stunning Everglow Forest transformation.
🏆 Spring 2025 National & Texas Winner: Ann Shafer at Jean Stewart Elementary in Montgomery, Texas created an absolute destination with the Story Arcade theme. Students walked in and were transported.
Could You Be Next?
Nominations are now open for the 2026–27 Literati Book Fair Magic Maker Awards! If you go all-in on your Literati Book Fair decorations, you can submit your photos and videos here from your Spring 2026 or Fall 2026 Literati Book Fair. Entries are due by December 31, 2026.
And if you’re planning your next fair, Campfire Magic is the theme for Fall 2026 , and your school community is going to love it. Your students will be collecting books like badges at the cozy reading campground you’ll create!
The Literati Book Fair Awards exist because what you do every day deserves to be celebrated. Literati continues to redefine what a book fair can and should be for children across our country. Here’s to all the librarians who show up for their students, season after season, fair after fair.
Happy reading!
