Salina Reads is all about bringing our community together through a shared story. Each year, we invite Salina to read the same book, explore new ideas, and take part in conversations and experiences that help us see the world from different perspectives. It is one of the ways we connect with each other in a meaningful, lasting way, and I am excited to share what we have planned for Salina Reads 2026. This year’s theme is especially fun.

Our 2026 selection is “Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law” by Mary Roach. If you have read her work before, you know she has a way of making complex topics both hilarious and fascinating. In this book, she explores what happens when wildlife and human systems collide. Think jaywalking moose, bears breaking into homes, and all the unexpected ways animals refuse to follow our rules. Beneath the humor, the book really highlights how science and understanding often lead to better solutions than punishment.

We will kick things off on Thursday, April 16, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the Campbell Room at the library. This is one of those events where you can just show up and enjoy yourself without having to register. There will be live music from Treehouse, appetizers, and a hands-on animal-themed craft that works for all ages. We are also partnering with Lakewood Discovery Center, Rolling Hills Zoo, and Salina Animal Services, so there will be some special animal guests throughout the evening. We will gie away free copies of “Fuzz“ while supplies last, so it is a great chance to grab the book if you haven’t had a chance to read it yet.

This year, we are inviting the community to share their own wildlife stories. In the spirit of “Fuzz,” we want to hear about those moments when nature did something unexpected, funny, or just refused to cooperate. If you have a story, you can submit it at salinapubliclibrary.org/salina-reads. We’d love to see a picture too, if you have one to go along with your story. Those can be emailed to infoservices@salinapublic.org or dropped off at the Information Desk. 

Throughout the month, we have a mix of programs for all ages. Operation WildLife will be here with Imprinted for Life, which includes live birds and a closer look at wildlife rehabilitation. We are also hosting a few Jungle Escape Rooms, which should be a great family-friendly interactive experience. Nona Miller will host a historical program called Snyder: An Elephant’s Story that explores a unique part of Salina’s past, and we will be screening All That Breathes, a documentary that looks at the relationship between humans and wildlife in a really powerful way, at the Art Center Cinema.

We will wrap everything up with a Happy Hour Book Discussion on Friday, April 24, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Red Fern Booksellers. Come together and enjoy light appetizers, a cash bar, and talk about the book with fellow community members. We will also have a panel of local experts joining the conversation, which always adds great perspective. Hear from Jackie Augustine of the Audubon Society, Brian Underwood of the Lakewood Discovery Center, Elizabeth Tharman of Kansas Wesleyan University,  and Lydia Nicholson of The Land Institute.

Salina Reads is about connection. It is about creating space for people to come together, share ideas, and reflect on how we relate to the world around us. This year’s theme invites us to think about our relationship with nature, but it also opens the door to bigger conversations about curiosity, coexistence, and understanding.

If you want to see the full schedule or sign up for events, you can visit salinapubliclibrary.org/salina-reads.