2026 Bike to Books Winners

2026 Bike to Books

In September, PBOT and Multnomah County Library announced the winners of the 2026 Bike to Books Design Contest. Four designs rose to the top and were crowned grand prize winners. These designs will be installed on Portland Streets by PBOT Maintenance crews in the Spring of 2027. Eight more designs were awarded second and third place runners-up places. 

First Place Winners

Winner: Pre-K - 2nd Grade - "Earthy Day" by Hilde Harkness, North Portland Library

Check out The Earthy Day book recommendations 

View full size image of Winning Bike to Books design for the Pre-K - 2nd Grade category is a smiling mushroom riding a green and red bike. Titled "Earthy Day", by Hilde Harkness.

View full size image of Pre-K - 2nd grade winner's inspiration for their design is, "I just thought about a mushroom guy. And it made me think of Earth Day, which is special to me."

Winner: 3rd - 6th Grade - "The Coral Ride" by Emily Essley, Holgate Library

Check out The Coral Ride and the Knight with the Shining Sword book recommendations

View full size image of Winning Bike to Books design for the 3rd - 6th Grade category is a blue and yellow swordfish riding a colorful bike encrusted with different corals. Bubbles float around the scene. Titled "The Coral Ride and the Knight with the Shining Sword", by Lily Essley.

View full size image of 3rd - 6th grade winner's inspiration for their design is, "Nature documentaries and wanting to help protect the ocean."

Winner: 7th - 12th Grade - "The Rainy Day Trip" by Quinn Rosenhall, Woodstock Library

Check out A Rainy Day Trip book recommendations

View full size image of Winning Bike to Books design for the 7th - 12th Grade category is a green frog with dark green spots riding a blue bike. The frog holds a red umbrella and rain drops fall and splash on the scene. Titled "The Rainy Day Trip" designed by Quinn Rosenhall.

View full size image of Inspiration for this design is, "I love to ride my bike with my family. We go to the store and my dad always buys ice cream sandwiches. And Portland always rains."

Winner: Adult - "A Wild Adventure" by Danielle Thomas, Troutdale Library

Check out A Wild Adventure book recommendations

View full size image of Winning Bike to Books design for the Adult category is a racoon wearing a blue helmet and riding a blue bike. A front bike basket is stacked with books and a squirrel rides on top of the books. Titled "A Wild Adventure" by Danielle Thomas.

View full size image of The adult winner's inspiration for their design is, "All the wonderful creatures that visit my yard."

Second Place Winners

Second place runner-up: Pre-K - 2nd grade - "Bertie Reading Books on a Bike" by Mathilda Jordan, Gregory Heights Library

View full size image of Three rats sit on a a blue and red bike. A basket of books is on the front of the bike.

View full size image of Inspiration for this design is, "My pet rats."

Second place runner-up: 3rd - 6th grade - "The Hottest Dog on the Block" by Sam Trippe, Belmont Library

View full size image of A hot dog wearing a hat sits on a bike and waves.

View full size image of The inspiration for this design is, "Love to ride my bike."

Second place runner-up: 7th - 12th grade - "Bike-Riding Dragon" by Verity Clearman, Woodstock Library

View full size image of A large, blue dragon rides a yellow bike.

View full size image of Inspiration for this design is, "Dragons are my favorite animals and I wanted to make something silly."

Second place runner-up: Adult - "Read, Ride, Resist" by Charlie Buss, Hollywood Library

View full size image of A green and yellow frog wears a blue scarf and holds a sign that reads, "Read, Ride Resist."

View full size image of 7th - 12th grade winner's inspiration for their design is, "The Portland Frog and the liberating power of free information."

Third Place Winners

Third place runner-up: Pre-K - 2nd grade - "Super Potato!" by Maren Wright, Hollywood Library 

View full size image of The third place winner in the Pre-K - 2nd grade category is "Super Potato!" by Maren Wright. The design features a smiling potato wearing a cape and riding a multi-colored bike.

View full size image of Inspiration for "Super Potato!" is, "I love potatoes! Even potatoes can ride bikes and have fun!"

Third place runner-up: 3rd - 6th grade - "Pigeons Steal a Bagel" by Martha Alday, Woodstock Library

View full size image of The third place winner in the 3rd - 6th grade category is "Pigeons Steal a Bagel" by Martha Alday. The design features two pigeons riding a bike. One stands on a bagel on the bike seat.

View full size image of Inspiration for "Pigeons Steal a Bagel" is, "Portland has so many pigeons, and it has lots of good bagels as well, and pigeons love stealing food."

Third place runner-up: 7th - 12th grade - "Hoglet Heist" by Beatrice Smith, Midland Library

View full size image of The third place winner in the 7th - 12th grade category is "Hoglet Heist" by Beatrice Smith. The design features three purple hedgehogs riding a purple and black bike.

View full size image of Inspiration for "Hoglets Heist" is, "Baby hedgehogs (hoglets) are ADORABLE."

Third place runner-up: Adult - "Buses on Bikes" by Barbara Brown, Hollywood Library,

View full size image of The third place winner in the adult category is "Buses on Bikes" by Barbra Brown. The design features a smiling TriMet bus riding a red bike.

View full size image of Inspiration for "Buses on Bikes" is, "Every day that includes a TriMet ride is a great day, and every great day includes reading a good book."