One Book, One San Diego has announced the selections for the 2026 region-wide read: “The Buffalo Hunter Hunter” by Stephen Graham Jones has been chosen for adult readers; “The Cartoonists Club: A Graphic Novel,” by Raina Telgemeier and Scott McCloud for teens and tweens; and “Books on Bikes” by F. Isabel Campoy, Theresa Howell and illustrated by Brizida Magro for children.
All three books selected for the One Book, One San Diego 2026 season reflect the utmost creativity in writing, and center and celebrate community and the art of storytelling. This is a poignant theme to commemorate One Book, One San Diego’s milestone year — 20 years of bringing the community closer together through the shared experience of reading and discussing the same book.
“The Buffalo Hunter Hunter,” a New York Times bestseller, is a chilling historical horror novel tracing the life of a vampire who haunts the fields of the Blackfeet reservation looking for justice. A diary, written in 1912 by a Lutheran pastor is discovered within a wall. What it unveils is a slow massacre, a chain of events that go back to 217 Blackfeet dead in the snow. It is told in transcribed interviews by a Blackfeet named Good Stab, who shares the narrative of his peculiar life over a series of confessional visits.
“I wrote “The Buffalo Hunter Hunter” because I couldn’t stop thinking about vampires. I think that’s why a lot of us write the books we write. Something lodges in our head and we can’t get it out until we push it through a pen. A book is never complete until it finds a reader. A book in a drawer, in a trunk…a book on my computer, is not a book. It has to start that feedback loop between the writer and the reader. Getting to come to your city and talk to you about it is that feedback loop. It is such an honor,” says Graham Jones.
“The Cartoonists Club” shares the story of Makayla, who is bursting with ideas but doesn't know how to make them into a story. Howard loves to draw but struggles to come up with ideas and his dad thinks comics are a waste of time. Lynda, who constantly draws in her sketchbook but keeps focusing on what she feels are mistakes, and Art, who simply loves being creative and is excited to try something new. Together they form The Cartoonists Club, where kids can learn about making comics and use their creativity and imagination for their own storytelling adventures. This graphic novel is a 2026 Eisner Award winner, awarded here at Comic-Con just last month.
“I am so excited that ‘The Cartoonists Club’ has been chosen as this year's One Book, One San Diego pick. This is a really special book to both Scott and I and this could not be better because this book was actually brainstormed when Scott and I were in San Diego together at San Diego Comic-Con in 2019. It took us several years to make it, but now it's out. We're very excited to come and talk to you guys about this book and find out what you think,” says Telgemeier.
“I can't wait to find out what people think of the book and connect with the community. Raina and I loved collaborating on this book and we love collaborating with our readers and getting ideas from them. So this is a perfect opportunity for us,” says McCloud.
“Books on Bikes” tells the story of Lía who loves books, and she reads all the time, even while walking her trusty bike through town. When Lía discovers her neighbors are as eager for books as she is, she takes a page from the heroes she has read about and pedals into action. Taking inspiration from the many books-and-bikes projects across the world, “Books on Bikes” salutes the kind hearts and innovative acts of everyday people who spread community through the magic of reading.
“I am so excited to be part of One Book, One San Diego. It feels like such an honor and like coming full circle because many years ago Isabel and I wrote a book called ‘Maybe Something Beautiful’ inspired by your vibrant city. And we learned that far away in another country, this woman was pedaling that book on her bike from village to village to reach kids who didn't have access to books. We were so inspired by that story that we looked into book bikes across the world, across the country. We came up with the story of Lía, who notices the same thing. Some kids don't have access to books. And so she took matters into her own hands. I cannot wait to come out in the fall and meet you all,” says Howell.
For Spanish language readers, “Books on Bikes” is available in Spanish translation, and will be part of our One Book, Sin Fronteras program.
One Book, One San Diego will host two events on November 9-10 featuring an interview with Graham Jones. Dates for the teen and children’s books are in the process of being confirmed. Event details and registration will be available in the coming weeks at www.kpbs.org/onebook.
Additional free discussions, film screenings, lectures and workshops around the 2026 selections will be hosted by public libraries and other partner locations throughout fall and winter 2026. Find details at www.kpbs.org/onebook.
Media Contact:
Heather Milne Barger
hmilne@kpbs.org
