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Books & Big Ideas Community Read Program: Winter/Spring 2024 Edition Focusing on Climate Action & Sustainability - New Book Discussion Event Just Added with Author Henry Grabar

Posted on: February 1, 2024 - 1:29pm
Colorful illustration of people reading books with text: Books and Big Ideas a Kittery Community Read Program

New Event Just Added!

 "Paved Paradise" Book Discussion with Author Henry Grabar - April 11, 2024 at 6:00 PM at the Rice Public Library
 
Parking plays a central role in nearly every aspect of modern life. Parking influences design of new buildings, patterns of traffic and the viability of transit, the quality of public space and so much more.
 

Is this the best use of our finite resources and space? Is parking really more important than anything?

Join Author, Henry Grabar as he explores these questions and discusses his book, “Paved Paradise”.

To register for this FREE Books & Big Ideas event, please click here.

Paved Paradise Book Discussion with Author Henry Grabar at Rice Public Library in Kittery

Turn on your book lights and grab your bookmarks because the Town of Kittery is kicking off the next edition of Books & Big Ideas: a Kittery Community Read program.  The program celebrates and fosters community dialogue around important themes affecting our community and those living and working within it.  Topics for the program will range from affordable housing to diversity, equity and inclusion, climate change and more.

Each topic featured as part of our Community Read will include a variety of options for fiction, non-fiction and children/young adult titles. Copies of each book will be available at the Rice Public Library, located at 8 Wentworth Street in Kittery.  Residents interested in acquiring the books included in this program should contact the library at www.rice.lib.me.us or 207-439-1553.

Community members of all ages are encouraged to participate by reading and sharing their perspectives with friends and neighbors in local book-clubs, at one of our upcoming group discussions or public events, and on social media.  

The winter/spring edition of Books & Big Ideas will take place from February 2024 - April 2024 and focus on the topic of climate action and sustainability in Kittery, the state of Maine and beyond.  Through the power of literature, we will collectively learn about the environmental issues facing our planet and community, along with the complexities of the unfolding climate crisis. 

By exploring this topic and the actions that can be taken in our everyday lives to help mitigate the adverse effects of climate change, we can foster a greater sense of stewardship for the place we call home.

Selected Titles for the Fall/Winter Community Read Are:

 

Adult Nonfiction: There is No Planet B by Mike Berners-Lee Books and Big Ideas Winter/Spring 2024 Book Selection Page 1
Available in paperback and Libby audiobook.
 
Adult Nonfiction: The Climate Action Handbook: A Visual Guide to 100 Climate Solutions for Everyone by Heidi A. Roop
Available in paperback and Libby ebook.
 
Adult Fiction: The End We Start From by Megan Hunter
Available in hardcover, large print hardcover, Libby audiobook and book on CD.
 
Adult Nonfiction: The Story of More: How We Got to Climate Change and Where to Go From Here by Hope Jahren
Available in paperback and Libby audiobook and Libby ebook.
 
Adult Nonfiction: Paved Paradise: How Parking Explains the World by Henry Grabar
Available in hardcover and CloudLibrary ebook.
 
Adult Nonfiction: Small Town, Big Oil by David W. Moore
Available in paperback, Libby ebook and book on CD.
Books and Big Ideas Winter/Spring 2024 Book Selection Page 2
 
Young Adult Nonfiction: The Story of More: How We Got to Climate Change and Where to Go From Here by Hope Jahren
Available in paperback
 
Juvenile Fiction: Hoot by Carl Hiaasen
Available in paperback, hardcover, large print hardcover, book on CD, CloudLibrary ebook, CloudLibrary audiobook, Libby ebook and Libby audiobook.
 
Juvenile Nonfiction Picture Book: The Secret Stream by Kimberly Ridley
Available in hardcover picture book.
 
Juvenile Nonfiction Picture Book: The Secret Pool by Kimberly Ridley
Available in hardcover picture book.
 
Juvenile Nonfiction Picture Book: A Planet Like Ours by Frank Murphy and Charnaie Gordon
Available in hardcover picture book.

Calendar of Events & Activities

By reading and sharing unique perspectives about topics that affect those around us, we can find innovative and rewarding solutions to help Kittery thrive. 

Please see below for a list of events, programs and activities that explore the themes of climate action and sustainability and ways that you can participate in the conversation:

February 2024

 
Story Time & Craft at the Rice Public Library
February 13, 2024 & February 16, 2024 | 10:30 AM
Join the Rice Public Library for Story Time: “An Earth Bots Solution to Plastic Pollution” by Russel Ayto.
 
For more information, please visit the RPL’s website by clicking here.
 
Movie Night & Matinee at the Kittery Community Center
February 22, 2024 & February 23, 2024 | Various showtimes
Join your friends and neighbors as the Kittery Community Center hosts a Family Movie Night and Matinee of the documentary film “2040”. 
 
Showtimes will be at 12:00 PM and 6:00 PM on 2/22 and 12:00 PM on 2/23.  To learn more about the film, please visit the KCC’s website by clicking here.
 
Traip Academy Storm Chasers Photo Display at Town Hall
Currently on display
Learn about the Traip Academy Storm Chasers and their project to document the effects of sea level rise on the Town of Kittery, on display now at the Kittery Town Hall.
 
The Traip Academy Storm Chasers photo display provides students with a community service opportunity to become a "Storm Chaser", and to contribute scientific observations from the field in a more usable way. 
 
For more information about the project, please visit their website by clicking here.
 
Kittery Climate Action Task Force Climate Strategies on Display
Learn about what the Town of Kittery is doing to address climate change and check out the 29 Adopted Climate Action Strategies developed by the Climate Action Task Force with input from the community.
 
The strategies will be on display throughout the winter/spring at the Rice Public Library, Kittery Community Center and online by visiting www.kitteryme.gov/CAP or by clicking here.
 

March

 
Small Steps, Big Change - Make a Climate Action Pledge to Support a Sustainable & Resilient Kittery
This spring, we invite community members to read one of our selected titles “The Climate Action Handbook” and become a climate action champion or sustainability superhero by making your very own climate action pledge for Kittery.  
 
Learn more about how to participate by clicking here or visiting www.kitteryme.gov/pledgeit. 
 
By reading and sharing your pledges with us, you'll be entered to win one of five eco-awesome prize packs as seen below.  
 
Small Steps, Big Change Prizes
 
Shapleigh Student Art on Display at the Rice Public Library
March 2024
Visit the Rice Public Library in March to view a collection of original artwork painted by Shapleigh School students which explores the theme of climate change and sustainability.
 
Community Book Discussion of “The Story of More” with Town Manager Kendra Amaral at the Rice Public Library
March 14, 2024 | 6:00 PM - CANCELLED DUE TO ILLNESS 
Join Town Manager Kendra Amaral as she leads an interactive community book discussion of “The Story of More” by Hope Jahren. 
 
For more information, please visit the RPL’s website by clicking here.
 
Story Time & Craft at the Rice Public Library
March 19, 2024 & March 22, 2024 | 10:30 AM
Join the Rice Public Library for Story Time featuring “Sea Bear” by Lindsay Moore.
 
For more information, please visit RPL’s website by clicking here.
 
Seacoast Environmental Film Festival at the Kittery Community Center
March 23, 2024 | All Day Event Beginning at 8:30 AM
Join the Kittery Land Trust at the KCC for the Seacoast Environmental Film Festival: a day-long event that brings together Seacoast area environmentalists, activists, educators, and interested film-goers to watch and discuss award winning documentaries about critical environmental issues that are globally important and locally relevant.
 
For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit KLT’s website by clicking here.

April

 
"Paved Paradise" Book Discussion with Author Henry Grabar at the Rice Public Library
April 11, 2024 | 6:00 PM
Join Author Henry Grabar as he hosts a community discussion about his book, "Paved Paradise.
 
For more information and to register, please visit the RPL's website by clicking here.
 
Paved Paradise Book Discussion Event with Henry Grabar
 
 
“Hoot” Family Movie Night at the Rice Public Library
April 17, 2024 | 6:00 PM
Join the Rice Public Library for a family movie night viewing of “Hoot” based on the beloved book by Carl Hiaasen. 
 
For more information, please visit RPL’s website by clicking here.
 
Story Time & Craft at the Rice Public Library
April 24, 2024 | 10:30 AM
Join the Rice Public Library for Story Time featuring “Give Bees a Chance” by Bethany Barton.
 
For more information, please visit RPL’s website by clicking here.
 
Great Bay Book Discussion of “Small Town, Big Oil” with Author David W. Moore at 3S Artspace
April 25, 2024 | 6:30 PM
Join the Great Bay Piscataqua Waterkeeper, Great Bay Stewards and author David W. Moore as they host a community book discussion about “Small Town, Big Oil - the Untold Story of the Women Who Took on the Richest Man in the World - And Won”. 
 
For more information about the event, please visit 3S Artspace’s website by clicking here.
 
Are you excited to start flipping some pages?  Because we are! Additional events, programs and interactive activities will be added throughout the winter and spring, so stay tuned for additional updates and ways you can participate in Books & Big Ideas!
 
Books and Big Ideas Flyer