Annual Literature Award >> Winners and Nominees >> 2026 Nominees

Nominees for the 2026 Annual Literature Award are:


The Accidental Seed Heroes: Growing a Delicious Food Future for All of Us

Alexander, Adam

Chelsea Green Publishing, 2025. 304 p.

ISBN 9781915294432


Afterlives of the Plantation: Plotting Agrarian Futures in the Global Black South

McInnis, Jarvis C.

Columbia University Press, 2025. 480 p.

ISBN 9780231215756


Ancient Women Gardeners : Prelude to the Chacoan World

Stuart, David E.

University of New Mexico Press, 2025. 232 p.

ISBN 9780826368461


Aroids: Plants of the Arum Family, 3rd edition

Bown, Deni

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, 2025. 456 p.

ISBN 9781842468128


Youth Literature Boing!: A Bouncy Book of Bugs

Carter, James; Neal Layton, illustrator

Otter-Barry Books, 2025. 32 p.

ISBN 9781915659507


The Brendel Collection of the University of Namur: Another way of looking at plants, fungi and bacteria

Martin, Philippe

Presses universitaires de Namur, 2024. 354 p. (Patrimoines,22)


Cacti and succulents: On-point advice to keep your plants looking sharp

Gerrard-Jones, Sarah

DK Publishing, 2025. 256 p.

ISBN 9780593961124


Chasing Wildflowers: An Adventurous Guide to Finding Minnesota’s Native Flowers in their Unique Habitats

Root, Phyllis; Kelly Povo, photographer

University of Minnesota Press, 2025. 304 p.

ISBN 9781517918873


Citrus: A World History

Mabberley, David J.

Thames & Hudson, 2024. 272 p.

ISBN 9780500026366


The Encyclopedia of Rootical Folklore: Plant Tales from Africa and the Diaspora

Samuels, Natty Mark; Nancey B. Price, illustrator

Scorched Earth Press, 2024. 336 p.

ISBN 9781961924055


The Essential Guide to Bulbs: Grow a Bounty of Beautiful Bulbs in Gardens and Containers

Samuels, Natty Mark; Nancey B. Price, illustrator

Timber Press, 2025. 348 p.

ISBN 9781643263243


Ferns: Lessons in survival from Earth’s most adaptable plants

Li, Fay-Wei and Jacob S. Suissa; Laura Silburn, illustrator

Hardie Grant North America, 2025. 192 p.

ISBN 9781958417850


Flora Indica: Recovering lost stories from Kew’s Indian drawings

Noltie, H. J.

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, 2025. 192 p.

ISBN 9781842468425


Youth Literature From Plant to Plate: Turn Home-Grown Ingredients into Healthy Meals!

Gadzekpo, Darryl; Ella Phillips, illustrator

DK Children, 2024. 96 p.

ISBN 9780744096996


Youth Literature A Gift of Dust: How Saharan Plumes Feed the Planet

Brockenbrough, Martha; Juana Martinez-Neal, illustrator

Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2025. 40 p.

ISBN 9780593428429


Youth Literature Grace Lee Boggs: Gardens of hope

Daemicke, Sogju Ma; Lin, illustrator

Albert Whitman & Company, 2025. 32 p.

ISBN ‎ 9780807530122


Youth Literature The Great Pollination Investigation: And How We Get Food from Flowers

Hocking, Deborah

Templar Publishing, in association with Kew Publishing, 2025. 32 p.

ISBN 9781800788138


Youth Literature The Hidden Life of Trees: A Graphic Adaptation

Bernard, Frédéric; Benjamin Flao, illustrator

Greystone Books, 2024. 240 p.

ISBN 9781778401657


Hilma af Klint: What Stands Behind the Flowers

Hauptman, Jodi

The Museum of Modern Art, New York, 2025. 272 p.

ISBN ‎9781633451681


I, Buxus: A cultural history of the Tree of Afterlife

Aniśko, Tomasz

Landszaft, 2025. 192 p.

ISBN 9788397020610


Israel florilegium: An album of wildflower illustrations

Grierson, Mary Anderson and Heather Wood, illustrators; Yadin Roman and Ori Fragman-Sapir authors/editors.

ERETZ The Magazine of Israel, 2025. 1 vol. (English and Hebrew)


Youth Literature Just In Case: Saving Seeds in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault

Clendenan, Megan; Brittany Cicchese, illustrator

Charlesbridge, 2025. 32 p.

ISBN 9781623544805


Youth Literature Leif’s gift

Wang, Michael; Wen, Lenny

Norton Young Readers, 2025. 40 p.

ISBN 9781324052784


Love Them to Death: Turning Invasive Plants into Local Economic Opportunities

Applequist, Wendy L., editor

Missouri Botanical Garden Press, 2025. 304 p.

ISBN 9781935641315


Youth Literature Mighty: The Story of an Oak Tree Ecosystem

Cole, Henry

Peachtree, 2025. 48 p.

ISBN 9781682637333


The Nature of Fashion: A Botanical Story of Our Material Lives

Somers, Carry

Chelsea Green Publishing, 2025. 304 p.

ISBN 9781915294791


Nature’s Greatest Success; How Plants Evolved to Exploit Humanity

Spengler, Robert N.

University of California Press, 2025. 512 p.

ISBN 9780520405837


Youth Literature The Observologist: A Handbook for Mounting Very Small Scientific Expeditions

Clarkson, Giselle

Gecko Press, 2024. 120 p.

ISBN 9781776575190


The Rose Book

Phaidon Editors

Phaidon, 2025. 248 p.

ISBN 9781838668808


Youth Literature Rosie & Pogo Visit the Missouri Botanical Garden

Byrde, Liz; Matt Byrde, illustrator

Missouri Botanical Garden Press, 2025. 28 p.

ISBN 9781935641339


Saving Orchids: Stories of species survival in a changing world

Seaton, Philip; Zettler, Lawrence W.

Univ of Chicago Press; Kew Publishing, 2025. 320 p.

ISBN 978-0226839417


Youth Literature Seeds of Discovery: How Barbara McClintock Used Corn and Curiosity to Solve a Science Mystery and Win a Nobel Prize

Alexander, Lori; Rebecca Santo, illustrator

Clarion Books, 2025. 128 p.

ISBN 9780063245990


South African Indigenous Garden Plants: The Gardener’s Guide

Pooley, Elsa; Geoff Nichols, and Andrew Hankey

Struik Nature (an imprint of Penguin Random House South Africa), 2025. 616 p.

ISBN 9781775846505


The Southwest Native Plant Primer- 235 Plants for an Earth-friendly Garden

Dash, Jack; Takata, Luke; the Arizona Native Plant Society

Timber Press, 2025. 248 p.

ISBN 9781643263335


Still: The Art of Noticing

Hoffman, Mary Jo

Monacelli (A Phaidon Company), 2024. 318 p.

ISBN 9781580936330


Trees in Winter

Shimell, Richard

Sphere, an imprint of Little Brown, Hachette UK, 2024. 288 p.

ISBN 9781408732403


A Tyranny of Peonies, The Life of A.P. Saunders

Girton, Lois

Peony Press, 2025. 198 p.

ISBN 9798218590536


Youth Literature Wilding: How to Bring Wildlife Back – an Illustrated Guide

Tree, Isabella; Angela Harding, illustrator

Pan Macmillan, an imprint is Macmillan Children’s Books, 2024. 96 p.

ISBN 9781529092844

Youth Literature Indicates a title from our Literature for Children and Young Adults category.

array(5) { [1844]=> array(25) { ["ID"]=> int(1844) ["post_title"]=> string(115) "Charlotte Tancin, FLS - Librarian, Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation, Carnegie Mellon University Libraries" ["post_content"]=> string(842) "CBHL is an essential organization for botanical and horticultural libarians, and also useful for curators, booksellers and others in the bot/hort world. This welcoming and interdependent community shares information, questions, practices, observations and ideas peer-to-peer with others in the field. We can consult with each other on any aspect of our work and receive the benefit of diverse experiences, perspectives and referrals. We act as an informal ILL system, connecting our library users with what they need. Annual meetings and a quarterly newsletter keep us all connected. Those who also serve CBHL develop organizational skills that enhance what we do collectively and in our own institutions. CBHL has enabled me to be a better librarian and has welcomed me to a vibrant network of friends and colleagues. Truly essential." ["post_excerpt"]=> string(0) "" ["post_author"]=> array(1) { [10]=> array(9) { ["ID"]=> string(2) "10" ["user_login"]=> string(7) "celine2" ["user_nicename"]=> string(7) "celine2" ["display_name"]=> string(17) "Celine Arseneault" ["user_pass"]=> string(16) "****************" ["user_email"]=> string(22) "[email protected]" ["user_url"]=> string(0) "" ["user_registered"]=> string(19) "2024-02-21 11:26:33" ["id"]=> int(10) } } ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2024-12-05 10:30:56" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2024-12-05 10:30:56" ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["ping_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(110) "charlotte-tancin-fls-librarian-hunt-institute-for-botanical-documentation-carnegie-mellon-university-libraries" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2024-12-06 21:32:51" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2024-12-06 21:32:51" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> array(0) { } ["guid"]=> string(52) "https://cbhl.net/?post_type=testimonials&p=1844" ["menu_order"]=> int(0) ["post_type"]=> string(12) "testimonials" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" ["comments"]=> bool(false) ["id"]=> int(1844) } [1166]=> array(25) { ["ID"]=> int(1166) ["post_title"]=> string(108) "Brandy Kuhl, Library Director, Helen Crocker Russell Library of Horticulture, San Francisco Botanical Garden" ["post_content"]=> string(149) "I can't imagine not renewing our CBHL membership. My involvement in CBHL is one of the highlights of my job and the benefits far outweigh the cost. " ["post_excerpt"]=> string(0) "" ["post_author"]=> array(0) { } ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2019-12-02 05:20:25" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2019-12-02 14:50:25" ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["ping_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(105) "brandy-kuhl-library-director-helen-crocker-russell-library-of-horticulture-san-francisco-botanical-garden" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2019-12-02 05:20:25" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2019-12-02 14:50:25" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> array(0) { } ["guid"]=> string(56) "https://www.cbhl.net/?post_type=testimonials&p=1166" ["menu_order"]=> int(0) ["post_type"]=> string(12) "testimonials" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" ["comments"]=> bool(false) ["id"]=> int(1166) } [672]=> array(25) { ["ID"]=> int(672) ["post_title"]=> string(63) "Suzi Teghtmeyer, librarian, Michigan State University Libraries" ["post_content"]=> string(153) "CBHL is my lifeline, my go-to group when I need assistance locating information about plants and botanists, especially the early works and on taxonomy. " ["post_excerpt"]=> string(0) "" ["post_author"]=> array(0) { } ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2014-10-30 09:26:40" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2014-10-30 18:56:40" ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["ping_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(66) "suzi-teghtmeyer-michigan-state-university-libraries-cbhl-president" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2024-12-06 21:36:02" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2024-12-06 21:36:02" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> array(0) { } ["guid"]=> string(55) "https://www.cbhl.net/?post_type=testimonials&p=672" ["menu_order"]=> int(0) ["post_type"]=> string(12) "testimonials" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" ["comments"]=> bool(false) ["id"]=> int(672) } [448]=> array(25) { ["ID"]=> int(448) ["post_title"]=> string(101) "Tracy L. Mehlin, information technology librarian (retired), University of Washington Botanic Gardens" ["post_content"]=> string(589) "I  have been a member of CBHL since 2001 when I joined the staff of the Elisabeth C. Miller Library at the University of Washington Botanic Gardens in Seattle. That same year, I attended my first annual meeting at the Denver Botanical Garden hosted by the Helen Fowler Library. I was so amazed to learn that there was an organization comprised of plant librarians!After the Miller Library hosted the annual meeting in 2010, I was asked to join the Board. I wanted to serve CBHL because I had gained so much from meeting fellow horticultural librarians and visiting other garden libraries." ["post_excerpt"]=> string(0) "" ["post_author"]=> array(0) { } ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2014-04-29 10:34:55" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2014-04-29 15:34:55" ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["ping_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(29) "tracy-l-mehlin-cbhl-president" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2024-12-06 21:30:42" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2024-12-06 21:30:42" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> array(0) { } ["guid"]=> string(51) "https://cbhl.net/?post_type=testimonials&p=448" ["menu_order"]=> int(0) ["post_type"]=> string(12) "testimonials" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" ["comments"]=> bool(false) ["id"]=> int(448) } [171]=> array(25) { ["ID"]=> int(171) ["post_title"]=> string(77) "Celine Arseneault, retired botanist and librarian, Montréal Botanical Garden" ["post_content"]=> string(389) "CBHL has proven to be for me the best professional organization to participate during my 34-year career as head of the Library of the Montréal Botanical Garden. As my involvement, I attended 26 annual meetings, hosting two of them, I served on the board and was part of many committees. CBHL provided me with shared expertise and a great network of colleagues all across North America." ["post_excerpt"]=> string(0) "" ["post_author"]=> array(1) { [1]=> array(9) { ["ID"]=> string(1) "1" ["user_login"]=> string(8) "cbhlprod" ["user_nicename"]=> string(8) "cbhlprod" ["display_name"]=> string(8) "cbhlprod" ["user_pass"]=> string(16) "****************" ["user_email"]=> string(34) "[email protected]" ["user_url"]=> string(16) "https://cbhl.net" ["user_registered"]=> string(19) "2024-02-21 10:29:55" ["id"]=> int(1) } } ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2014-04-26 11:13:27" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2014-04-26 16:13:27" ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["ping_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(17) "celine-arseneautl" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2019-12-02 05:18:50" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2019-12-02 14:48:50" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> array(0) { } ["guid"]=> string(51) "https://cbhl.net/?post_type=testimonials&p=171" ["menu_order"]=> int(0) ["post_type"]=> string(12) "testimonials" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" ["comments"]=> bool(false) ["id"]=> int(171) } }

Why I am a CBHL member