2026 Book of the Year Winner

 
Salmon Weather, by CMarie Fuhrman, Columbia State University Press, 2025

This collection of introspective and poignant essays forms a cohesive portrait of the myriad experiences that make up a life in the Salmon River area and other parts of wild Idaho. CMarie Fuhrman shares her deeply personal life journey as she experiences devastating grief, forges relationships with humans and animals, and continues the lifelong discovery and appreciation of what wilderness and wildness mean to her.

Honorable Mentions

 
Incredible Idaho Women: 43 Inspiring Stories for All Ages, by BoiseDev, 2025

On July 3, 1890, Idaho became the 43rd state in the United States of America. This beautiful book honors 43 women who have made contributions to the state, as well as portraits of each woman drawn by Idaho artists.

A Journal of the Plague Years, Volume 1: End Notes, by John Rember, Grand Mogul Books, 2025

These weekly journal entries chronicle the isolation and personal growth that John Rember and his wife experienced as they were quarantined during the Covid-19 pandemic in the beautiful Sawtooth Valley of Idaho.

Lost Cathedral, by Hannah Rodabaugh, Cornerstone Press, 2025

Not only do these poems honor and mourn the passing of many extinct and endangered species in both the plant and animal kingdoms, but they point out some of the quiet and often overlooked steps that ultimately culminate in the loss of habitat, species, or wilderness.

Nomination Process

Do you have a favorite book that was published in 2026?

The Idaho Library Association Book Award Committee is seeking nominations for the 2026 Idaho Book Award to be given at the 2027 Idaho Library Association Conference.

To qualify for the award:

• The book must have been published in the 2026 calendar year

• The book must have an Idaho setting, significant Idaho content or have been written by a resident of Idaho.

• The book can be in any category: fiction or non-fiction, prose or poetry, intended for children or adults.

Nominations may be submitted by anyone except for award committee members, including publishers, booksellers, authors, librarians, scholars, and readers.

To nominate a book, please send a letter of nomination and two review copies to:

Marina Rose

Idaho Commission for Libraries

325 W. State St.

Boise, Idaho 83702

Nomination letters may also be emailed to: marina.rose@libraries.idaho.gov