Our award-winning Community Read program is designed to bring books and people together, and spur discussion around an important topic or idea.
Highlighting a different book each year and working with more than 50 partners, we have explored topics from conservation to innovation, from birding to weird plants.
About the Community Read
Launched in 2014, the Community Read was uniquely envisioned as a collaborative effort between the Gardens and community to encourage reading for pleasure and to start a conversation surrounding gardens, plants, or nature.
In 2021, the Community Read received the American Public Gardens Association’s Program Excellence Award, which recognizes original programs that display a truly innovative spirit.
Today, the Community Read features more than 50 partner organizations and has led to the donation of more than 10,000 books to area libraries. Each year, more than 200 events in the community explore the books and keep the conversation going.
Our Partners Put the Community in the Community Read
A partnership with the Community Read means engaging our region in the important conversations surrounding nature, plants, and gardens. Together, we can make an impact. To learn more about how your organization can get involved, email us at library@longwoodgardens.org.
Community Read 2023
Our 2023 selections include the featured book Black Food: Stories, Art, and Recipes from Across the African Diaspora, an exuberant celebration of foodways and culture edited and curated by celebrated chef and writer Bryant Terry. Supplementing the adult title, The Comic Book Guide to Growing Food (by Joseph Tychonievich, illustrated by Liz Anna Kozik), is a graphic novel guide to growing a successful vegetable garden; while our title for ages 4–7, Bring Me Some Apples and I’ll Make You a Pie: A Story About Edna Lewis (by Robbin Gourley), traces the roots of Edna Lewis, a descendant of slaves who grew up to be a famous chef, and includes five kid-friendly recipes.