News Room

A Greener Tomorrow Starts Today with 150+ Free Programs Focused on Sustainability

January 12, 2024

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, Calif. – Every year Silicon Valley Reads works to select a theme and books that resonate with the community. After years of successfully bringing the community together in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic with “Connecting” (2021), “The Power of Kindness, Resilience and Hope” (2022), and a pivot to new territory with the theme “Journey to New Beginnings” (2023), this year Silicon Valley Reads is highlighting the importance of caring for our planet with the theme: “A Greener Tomorrow Starts Today”. Book selections include three featured books for adults, and four age-appropriate titles for children and teens.

In partnership with schools, libraries, and community organizations, Silicon Valley Reads is proud to offer more than 150 free programs throughout February and March. Find ample opportunities to learn about topics such as composting, gardening, recycled art projects, how-tos, textile tours, clothes swaps/mending, bike safety information, electrification, a water purification plant tour, clean energy information, expert discussions and more on how to make sustainable choices in 2024 and beyond.

The 2024 season will kick off on Wednesday, January 31st at 7 p.m. with a free in-person and live-streamed event featuring two of the selected authors, Heather White (One Green Thing) and Lily Brooks-Dalton (The Light Pirate) and two contributors to the anthology All We Can Save: young-adult activist Alexandria Villaseňor and artist Favianna Rodriguez. This panel discussion will be moderated by NBC Bay Area reporter Damian Trujillo. The event will be at De Anza College’s Visual Performing Arts Center (VPAC) in Cupertino. Books will be available for purchase and there will be a book signing opportunity after the program. Connected to the VPAC, the Euphrat Museum of Art will feature an art exhibition, “Sacred Terrain,” free to attendees. The museum opens at 6 p.m. before the kickoff, and closes at 9 p.m. Learn more and register at siliconvalleyreads.org/calendar.

Authors Heather White and Lily Brooks-Dalton will be visiting local libraries in the days following the kickoff. In addition, two authors from a list of recommended reading will also hold events: Esha Chhabra (virtual), Working to Restore: Harnessing the Power of Regenerative Business to Heal the World and Clare Frank (in-person), the author of Burnt: A Memoir of Fighting Fire. More details are available on the calendar of events.

There is a wide variety of programs for kids of all ages from the youngest readers to teens; including events such as a career fair with “green” careers, a visit to Walden West, an in-person visit from the young adult author Ellen Hagan at The Tech Interactive, many creative art projects around up-cycled materials, a STEM fair, storytimes in multiple languages, and virtual visits from all four featured children’s authors.

All events through Silicon Valley Reads are free to the public. Please note that some events may require advanced registration. See a listing of all events and register online at siliconvalleyreads.org/calendar.

Silicon Valley Reads is presented by the Santa Clara County Library District, the Santa Clara County Office of Education and the San José Public Library.

Media Contact: Reid Myers, Silicon Valley Readssiliconvalleyreads@gmail.co