
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.
“OUR Community Reads brings us together as a community through reading. This year, our three books – ‘Remarkably Bright Creatures’ by Shelby Van Pelt, ‘Invisible’ by Christina Diaz Gonzalez, and ‘Pets Rule!: My Kingdom of Darkness’ by Susan Tan, focus on connections and communities that are found in not typical ways. We’ll be introduced to various cultures, traditions, and perspectives that will help us to learn to accept our community members,” says Antonia Krupicka-Smith, Director of the Council Bluffs Public Library. “With our public and school-focused events, we will engage all ages in our community in thinking about what communities we have found and are a part of here in Council Bluffs.”
During OUR Community Reads, we invite the Community to read one of three titles and participate in events throughout March and April, including our kick-off event, Culture Fest, on March 8 and the author talk by Shelby Van Pelt, author of the adult book selection, “Remarkably Bright Creatures” on April 10.
The two youth authors – Christina Diaz Gonzalez and Susan Tan - will speak to students at schools in Council Bluffs during April. Through a generous grant to the Council Bluffs Library Foundation from the Iowa West Foundation, every 2nd grader will get the book “Pets Rule!: My Kingdom of Darkness” and 6th graders at CBCSD and St. Albert will get “Invisible.” Due to scheduling conflicts, Lewis Central 6th graders are not able to participate this year.
For more information about books, community events, and our partners for this program, visit https://www.councilbluffslibrary.org/ocr/.