We launched One Book, One Burg: Louisburg Reads in 2005. We knew of Chicago's literacy initiative to encourage everyone in the community to read the same book and we were hopeful it would be successful in Louisburg. We formed a focus group that developed a month full of programs, events and reading. October was officially declared One Book, One Burg: Louisburg Reads month by the mayor of Louisburg and the first book we read together was Once Upon a Town by Bob Greene.

For the first several years, we structured a biennial event. It was so popular with our readers that in 2011 we made it an annual program.

Our previous titles are a mixture of fiction and non-fiction, appealing to a variety of interests.

Do you have a book recommendation for future One Book, One Burg: Louisburg Reads?  Email your suggestion to Kiersten Allen.

2005
Once Upon a Town by Bob Greene

2007
The Learning Tree by Gordon Parks

2009
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

2011
Hate List by Jennifer Brown

2012
Our Boys: A perfect season on the plains with the Smith Center Redmen by Joe Drape

2013
Until Tuesday: A wounded warrior and the golden retriever who saved him by Louis Carlos Montalvan

2014
The Giver by Lois Lowry

2015
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain

2016
A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail
by Bill Bryson
Youth Companion Title:
My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George

2017
Life in a Jar: The Irena Sendler Project by Jack Mayer

2018Wonder by R.J. Palacio
Picture Book Companion Title:
We're All Wonders by R.J. Palacio

2019
Same Kind of Different As Me by Ron Hall & Denver Moore

2020The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

2021
Who Owns the Ice House?  Eight Life Lessons from an Unlikely Entrepreneur by Clifton Taulbert & Gary Schoeniger
Youth Companion Title:
Peacebunny Island by Caleb Smith

2022
Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger

2023
The Call of the Wild by Jack London