Reading Together invites people of all ages, from all
walks of life, throughout Kalamazoo County, to read and discuss important
issues raised by a single book.
Group Discussions &
Special Events explore the book's issues:
Find out more about ways to participate.
Kalamazoo Public Library leads Reading Together with the collaboration of
libraries, educational institutions, health and social service agencies,
cultural, civic and religious organizations, businesses, the media, and local
governments throughout Kalamazoo County. The Kalamazoo Community Foundation
helped the library launch Reading Together with funding for the first three
years with grants from their "Better Together" initiative.
A committee of thirty-five community leaders, representing local high schools
and colleges, libraries, bookstores, book clubs, civic and social service
organizations, media outlets and various religious denominations, selected The
Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. Selecting a book whose main
character is an autistic teenager offers opportunities to draw in new
participants. "The selection committee felt that The Curious Incident of the
Dog in the Night-Time will spark important conversations about what it means to
be different in our community," says Hawxhurst. "The book's combination of
unusual language, illustrations, accessibility, humor, literary allusions and
compelling characters opens doors to many levels of discussion."
Reading Together programming will take place in February and March 2007. Book
discussions and a variety of special events will take place throughout this
two-month period.