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“The Great Cookie Kerfuffle,” written by Jessica Shaw and illustrated by Pauline Gregory, has been chosen as the 2026 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, the state Department of Education’s Office of Commonwealth Libraries 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.

“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.

“Early learning is the keystone of a bright future, and the Shapiro Administration is committed to ensuring that every child in Pennsylvania has the opportunity to develop a lifelong love of reading,” said Secretary of Education Carrie Rowe. “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.”

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.

To celebrate the 2026 selection, PA One Book will host a virtual author event on April 15. Additional details, including registration information, will be shared soon on the PA One Book website at paonebook.powerlibrary.org/.