A Nevada author is heading to Washington, D.C., this month for the 2026 Library of Congress National Book Festival.
The festival, taking place Aug. 22, will feature two Nevada-made titles as part of the Library of Congress Center for the Book’s national Great Reads from Great Places initiative, which includes books for adults and kids from all 50 states and six U.S. jurisdictions.
The books, chosen by Nevada Humanities, include “Endangered Eating: America’s Vanishing Foods” by Sarah Lohman, released by W.W. Norton & Co. in 2023, and “Wild Sierra Nevada: A Family Nature Guide” by Joanna Howes and illustrated by Alex Bailey, released by Yosemite Conservancy in 2024.
The books were chosen to represent Nevada’s unique locations and literary heritage, as part of the Nevada Center for the Book program, which promotes literacy across the state. Lohman will attend the festival and sign copies of her book at the Nevada booth.
“In commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, our selections this year celebrate Nevada’s wild spaces and places and reflect upon our rich history of food traditions and stories,” said Christina Barr, executive director of Nevada Humanities.
“Everyone is invited to pull up a seat around the table as we listen, share and partake in one another’s stories and traditions, reflect on 250 years of our nation’s history and envision what healthy and flourishing communities would look like in the next 250 years.”
‘Endangered Eating: America’s Vanishing Foods’
Originally from Ohio, Lohman is a culinary historian based in Henderson. Her previous book, “Eight Flavors: The Untold Story of American Cuisine,” was released in 2016 to critical acclaim. Her latest became a New York Times Editors’ Choice and was named a best book of the year by Amazon, Food & Wine and the Milk Street podcast.
In “Engangered Eating,” Lohman tracks foods that carry significant cultural weight — apples of New England and dates of the Coachella Valley, for example — but are disappearing. She traveled the country learning about the ingredients most at risk from those who care most for them: shepherds, fishers, farmers, scientists, historians and activists. Each chapter includes two recipes for the reader to prepare.
Lohman’s next book, “Ice Cream Land,” is expected in 2027.
‘Wild Sierra Nevada: A Family Nature Guide’
Howes lives in the Lake Tahoe area and has taught at Montessori schools for nearly a decade, fueled by her educational background in natural history and ecology. She grew up in the Bay Area, and her earliest memories included family trips to the Sierra Nevada. Now, she spends time in the area with her partner and children.
Her book weaves together illustrations by Bailey, simple identification keys and whimsical insights to create an engaging natural history guide for children ages 4 through 7.
Bailey is a Canadian American artist from Reno with a background in geology and geochemistry. Her art is inspired by her scientific background and curiosity for the natural world.
Howes is working on her next book about the Colorado Plateau, and Bailey currently works as a full-time artist.
For information about the festival or to attend virtually, visit loc.gov/events/2026-national-book-festival or nevadahumanities.org.
Contact Kristen Di Chiara at [email protected].
Upcoming event
Join local author Sarah Lohman for “Learning from Las Vegas Food,” a free online talk diving into the history of food and food culture in Southern Nevada, on Thursday, Aug. 27, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Register at nevadahumanities.org to hear the talk on everything from native plants to luxury buffets.