2026 Great Reads from Great Places Selections

Chosen authors will represent the U.S. Virgin Islands at the Library of Congress National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

As the U.S. Virgin Islands affiliate of the Library of Congress’s Center for the Book, the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands (CFVI) has selected two works that celebrate the culture and heritage of the territory for the 2026 Great Reads from Great Places program. The 2026 selections are Creative Callaloo: Art, Poems, and Recipes Inspired by the Virgin Islands by Danica M. David in the adult category, and Broo 'Nansi and Hummingbird by Mario Picayo as the youth selection.

“The Great Reads from Great Places program offers a unique opportunity to showcase the stories, voices and cultural traditions that make the U.S. Virgin Islands so special,” said CFVI President Dee Baecher-Brown. “These books are written by local authors, set in the territory and highlight the traditions and stories that define our islands. We are proud to celebrate authors whose works inspire readers and share the richness of the Virgin Islands culture with audiences across the nation.”

Thanks to support from the Department of Tourism, the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the National Endowment for the Humanities, CFVI staff will travel to the 2026 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., in August to represent the U.S. Virgin Islands alongside the selected authors and literacy representatives from the 50 states and the territories.

In Creative Callaloo: Art, Poems, and Recipes Inspired by the Virgin Islands, St. Croix artist, educator and entrepreneur Danica M. David brings together visual art, poetry, history and culinary traditions in a vibrant celebration of Virgin Islands culture. Featuring contributions from poet Winifred "Oyoko" Loving and chef Mark E. Davis, the book blends storytelling and creativity to capture the flavors, memories and traditions of the territory.

"I am honored and grateful that my book, Creative Callaloo: Art, Poems, and Recipes Inspired by the Virgin Islands, has been chosen as an Adult Reader Selection for Great Reads from Great Places in 2026," said David. "This recognition affirms my commitment to sharing my grandmother's heritage, wisdom and other nuances of Virgin Islands culture. I celebrate this recognition with my contributors, Winifred 'Oyoko' Loving and Mark E. Davis, and with Editorial Campana for trusting my vision and publishing my first book. I sincerely thank the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands, the USVI affiliate of the Library of Congress Center for the Book, for supporting our stories and allowing me to celebrate my cultural roots as a Virgin Islands ambassador."

The youth selection, Broo 'Nansi and Hummingbird, celebrates the beloved Caribbean storytelling tradition through a colorful and humorous tale featuring trickster Broo 'Nansi. Author Mario Picayo weaves together themes of generosity, community and wisdom while introducing young readers to elements of Virgin Islands and Caribbean culture. Both books are available at local bookstores in all three Virgin Islands.

"Broo 'Nansi and Hummingbird bridges our oral Virgin Islands storytelling, firmly rooted in West African traditions, with the contemporary Caribbean world and culture," said Picayo. "Hurricanes, goats, iguanas, carnivals and our very own hummingbird are all part of the story. It speaks about greed and generosity, about wit used selfishly and wit used for the sake of the community. I wrote the story with the hope of entertaining, educating a little and, above all, as a humble tribute to those who have kept the Broo 'Nansi traditions alive through generations. May readers enjoy it."
CFVI was invited by the Library of Congress in 2022 to serve as the Center for the Book for the U.S. Virgin Islands. Through this partnership, CFVI collaborates with the Library of Congress to promote literacy, reading and literary heritage through local programming, public initiatives and community engagement.

For more information about CFVI's Center for the Book programs and literacy initiatives, visit CFVI.net/U-S-Virgin-Islands-Center-for-the-Book