The Pennsylvania Department of Education’s Office of Commonwealth Libraries announced The Great Cookie Kerfuffle, written by Jessica Shaw and illustrated by Pauline Gregory, as the 2026 selection for Pennsylvania One Book — a statewide initiative encouraging families, libraries, early learning programs, and community partners to come together around a shared reading experience.
Through PA One Book each year, OCL selects a single high-quality children’s book to support early literacy development, family engagement, and joyful shared reading experiences for young children across the Commonwealth.
“We encourage caregivers, educators, and families across Pennsylvania to share this story that demonstrates solving problems together when perspectives and ideas differ. Through initiatives like the PA One Book project, we continue to make early literacy a priority,” said Secretary of Education Dr. Carrie Rowe.
In Pennsylvania, 444 public libraries operate 637 service outlets, including main libraries, branches, and bookmobiles, providing trusted, welcoming spaces for residents. Last year, OCL released “The Future Role of Public Libraries in Pennsylvania” report, which found Pennsylvanians overwhelmingly support public investment to ensure the Commonwealth’s libraries remain financially strong. Nearly all Pennsylvanians value their libraries, with 93% identifying them as trusted sources of information and 95% reporting that they feel welcome in their local library.
“OCL is proud to lead the PA One Book Program with our colleagues from the Office of Child Development and Early Learning and our partners in early learning across the Commonwealth,” said Deputy Secretary for the Office of Commonwealth Libraries and State Librarian Susan Banks. “We celebrate 20 years of this program connecting young children, caregivers, and their families with a shared reading experience. Early literacy is the foundation of the success of our Commonwealth and we’re excited to share another story in the long list of One Book titles.”
The Great Cookie Kerfuffle is a lively and engaging picture book filled with humor and expressive illustrations that explore what happens when different ideas collide. Through a playful story about competing interests and finding common ground, the book highlights the value of cooperation, problem-solving, and community, offering families a fun and meaningful story to enjoy and talk about together.
As part of the program, libraries and certified early learning programs across Pennsylvania will receive copies of The Great Cookie Kerfuffle, and downloadable activity sheets will be available on the PA One Book website, along with additional activities aligned to the Pennsylvania Early Learning Standards.
This year, PA One Book collaborated with Keystone Scholars to strengthen the connection between early literacy, family engagement, and long-term educational opportunity by helping families access information about free college savings accounts for children born or adopted in Pennsylvania. Together, PA One Book and Keystone Scholars will support families as they build both strong early learning foundations and hopeful futures. In addition, PA One Book launched a new partnership with the Pennsylvania Kiwanis Foundation, which is generously purchasing additional copies of the 2026 selection to distribute to children across the Commonwealth, further extending access to high‑quality early literacy experiences for Pennsylvania families.
