Books

About 31% of Philadelphia students in grades 3-8 scored at or above the reading benchmark on the Star Assessment in winter 2023–24.

Barnes and Noble asked two dozen local authors to silently read a favorite book in the storefront window. They all jumped at the chance.

The summer reading campaign was celebrated with an Aug. 29 event at Franklin Square that featured a book giveaway, a sing-along and double Dutch jump rope.

Forty Philadelphia-area stores will be participating in this year’s event with discounts, giveaways, and author talks and signings.

Tracey Quillen Carney kicked off her reading tour in Wilmington as part of an ongoing effort to inspire Delaware kids to embrace the importance of libraries.

“It's Philadelphia history,” Africa Jr. said while discussing his new book at Temple University. “It's Black history. It’s revolutionary history. It's American history.”

The photography in “The Group for Mutual Improvement” shows a group of misfit Kensington neighbors building unlikely bonds.

Westside Family Healthcare's new bilingual book aims to boost literacy and ease kids' medical anxieties by combining health education with storytelling.

The pediatric surgeon founded the Black Doctors Consortium and worked as a regional health director under the Biden administration.

Amy Tan discovers the joys backyard birding, Philadelphia Inquirer food critic Craig LaBan, and the surprising history behind the Oxford English Dictionary.

“Private Gardens of Philadelphia” showcases beautiful places few people have seen.

Journalist and filmmaker Sebastian Junger almost died. His new book explores coming to terms with his own mortality and what might come after death.

The Free Library has aimed for universal six days a week service at all of its 55 branches in the Philadelphia region for years. It may be coming this fall.

Lost bags, flight delays and cancellations, rowdy flyers - going on an airplane can be a hassle. We'll tackle the frustrations of modern air travel and more.

Upgrades will address aging infrastructure, HVAC issues, failing systems, limited space for programming and visitors and parking constraints.