About OUR Community Reads
The Council Bluffs Public Library proudly announces the theme for OUR Community Reads 2025: “Found Community.” OUR Community Reads, sponsored by the Council Bluffs Public Library Foundation, and in partnership with organizations from around our community, aims to raise awareness of a community or regional challenge through a book selection that supports community discussion, awareness, and action. This year’s theme focuses on the cultures within our community and how we can discover what connects us all through traditions and common experiences.
This year, our three books are Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt, Invisible by Christina Diaz Gonzalez and My Kingdom of Darkness by Susan Tan.
During OUR Community Reads, we invite the Community to read one of three titles and participate in events throughout March and April.
2024 - Adult Nonfiction: Riverman by Ben McGrath
2024 - Young Adult: Sunny Makes a Splash by Jennifer Holm
2024 - Kids: Ocean! Waves for All by Stacy McAnulty
2023 - Adult Fiction: The Seed Keeper by Diane Wilson
2023 - Ault Non-Fiction: A Culinary History of Iowa: Sweet Corn, Pork Tenderloins, Maid-Rites & More by Darcy Dougherty Maulsby
2023 - Young Adult: Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan
2023 - Kids: Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt by Kate Messner
2022 - Adult Non-Fiction: Bicycling with Butterflies: My 10,201-Mile Journey Following the Monarch Migration by Sarah Dykman
2022 - Young Adult: The Way of the Hive: A Honey Bee’s Story by Jay Hosler
2022 - Kids: Señorita Mariposa by Mister G, Illustrated by Marcos Almada Rivero
Upcoming Events
Help us kick off Our Community Reads 2025: Found Community at our Culture Fest! This is a family-friendly, all-ages community celebration of the cultures around us.
Join in as we discuss a mix of contemporary fiction and nonfiction books. Take your mind out of the grind of everyday life to be transported into captivating and calming reads.
Please join us for this book discussion of the Our Community Reads title of 2025. All are welcome as we enjoy lively discussion of the book's themes and impact.
Shelby Van Pelt, author of OUR Community Reads 2025 title Remarkably Bright Creatures, joins us for an author talk and Q&A. Book signing to follow.
OUR Community Reads Beanstack Challenge
March 1-April 30
This challenge will be available to patrons of all ages.
To get ready, use the link to create or update your account and come back to enroll in the challenge on March 1.
In addition to the copies you can find on the shelf and place a hold on, the Library has multiple copies of Remarkably Bright Creatures available for checkout through the Reference Desk. Throughout our One Community Reads, copies will be available for checkout with a three week loan period. Please contact the Reference Desk to check on availability.
Digital copies of Remarkably Bright Creatures can be found as an e-book and e-audiobook through Libby by OverDrive and as an e-book and e-audiobook through Hoopla Digital.
Digital copies of Invisible can be found as an e-book and e-audiobook through Libby by OverDrive and as an e-book through Hoopla Digital.
Digital copies of My Kingdom of Darkness can be found as an e-book through Libby by OverDrive and as an e-book through Hoopla Digital.
Through a generous grant to the Council Bluffs Library Foundation from the Iowa West Foundation, every second grader from the Council Bluffs Community School District, Lewis Central Community School District, and Saint Albert Catholic Schools will get the book Kingdom of Darkness and every sixth grader from the Council Bluffs Community School District and Saint Albert Catholic Schools will get the book Invisible.
Shelby Van Pelt, author of Remarkably Bright Creatureswill be joining us on Thursday, April 10 at 6:30 p.m. in Meeting Room B.
The two youth authors – Christina Diaz Gonzalez and Susan Tan- will speak to students at schools in Council
Bluffs during April.
Want to participate in a book discussion but don’t want to organize and plan one? Join us for our Library-led books discussions throughout March.
Book Discussions: Remarkably Bright Creatures Book Discussion
Tuesday, March 18 at 12 p.m. in Meeting Room A (Lunch Bunch Book Club)
Monday, March 24 at 6:30 p.m. in Meeting Room A.
