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BellinghamPublicLibrary.org Whatcom READS Northwest Washington's premier annual literary event, Whatcom READS celebrates readers and strong communities through the shared experience of reading one book, together. The 2022 Whatcom READS selection is the generational saga, Greenwood by Canadian author Michael Christie. With trees as a guiding metaphor, Greenwood charts a family's rise and fall and the "hopeful, impossible task of growing toward the light." Borrow Greenwood from the Library as a book, eBook, or audiobook, and join in the conversation. Greenwood has inspired discussion on the following variety of topics. Pre-registration is required for online events. Details and register at WhatcomReads.org. Climate Fiction & Climate Change Literature Professor Stephen Siperstein explores how cli-fi can be a source of radical hope in our world. 11 am to noon, Saturday, Jan. 22, Online Wood Songs Local luthier Devin Champlin discusses wooden musical instrument making. 7 to 8 pm, Thursday, Jan. 27, Online Poetry Reading with Washington State Poet Laureate Rena Priest Focused on the themes in this year's Whatcom READS selection, Greenwood. 7 to 8 pm, Thursday, Feb. 3, Online Intersectional Environmentalism: The Key to Fighting Racism and Climate Change Scientist Emily Pinkney shares how to combat the racism embedded within the environmental movement. 7 to 8 pm, Thursday, Feb. 10, Online A Million More Trees for Whatcom County? YES! An interactive Q&A with Whatcom Million Trees Project Executive Director Michael Feerer. 6:30 to 7:30 pm, Thursday, Feb. 17, Online The Woodstock Farm Story – and its Fruitful Future Discover the storied history of this wonderful 16-acre City of Bellingham waterfront park. 6:30 to 7:30 pm, Thursday, Feb. 24, Online Whatcom WRITES Attend a reading by local writers whose work was selected for the 2022 Whatcom WRITES anthology. 2 pm Sunday, Feb. 27, Online Allied Arts Whatcom READS Challenge Submit your original artwork inspired by Green- wood for display at the Allied Arts Gallery in Bellingham. Submission deadline is March 1-2. Exhibition is March 3-31. Learn more at: alliedarts.org/whatcom-reads-art-challenge. Author events with Michael Christie The author visits Whatcom County to discuss the book and his creative process. Event details and locations will be announced. March 3-5, in-person Bellingham READS 2022 Bellingham Reads meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 6:30 pm for an open book discussion group facilitated by a Bellingham Public Library staff member. The following titles have been selected for discussion in 2022. All titles are available through the Library. During the pandemic Bellingham Reads is meeting virtually. To register for the virtual event, email: scarlson-prandini@cob.org or call: 360-778-7236 Jan. 25: This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger Feb. 22: Greenwood by Michael Christie March 22: The Sum of Us by Heather C. McGhee April 26: The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune May 24: The Book of Eels by Patrik Svensson June 28: Deacon King Kong by James McBride July 26: Piranesi by Susanna Clarke Aug. 23: Being Heumann by Judith E. Heumann Sept. 27: American War by Omar El Akkad Oct. 25: Dirt by Bill Buford Nov. 22: Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell Dec. 27: Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid Read the Book… Join the Conversation 23

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