The Longest Shot Wins South Dakota’s Prairie Pasque Award – South Dakota Library Association

The Longest Shot: How Larry Kwong Changed the Face of Hockey, co-authored by Chad Soon and George Chiang and illustrated by Amy Qi, has won the 2025–2026 Prairie Pasque Award.

The Prairie Pasque Award is a prominent children's choice book award sponsored by the South Dakota Library Association and the South Dakota State Library. Voted on directly by fourth- and fifth-grade students across the state, the book claimed the top spot based on high star ratings from young readers who connected deeply with its narrative.

The biography tells the inspiring true story of Larry Kwong, who broke the NHL’s color barrier in 1948 as the league's first player of color. This recognition from young readers highlights the universal impact of Larry's legacy of perseverance and resilience, extending his story well beyond the hockey rink to inspire a new generation of readers across North America.