Rappahannock Reads

Central Rappahannock Regional Library's Community Read

Rappahannock Reads is a community-wide reading program hosted by the Library that encourages everyone in the region to read the same book. Thanks to a grant from Virginia Humanities, the Library is bringing back this exciting literary event.

Running from September 2026 through May 2027, the program features Nature’s Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation That Starts in Your Yard, by bestselling author and ecologist Dr. Douglas W. Tallamy.

The program encourages hands-on nature learning through book club kits, information about supporting birds and other wildlife, a digital reading challenge, and workshops with community partners--all leading up to a live community Q&A with Dr. Tallamy on Saturday, April 10.

This page will continue to be updated through April 2027. Check back for more classes, events, and helpful resources!

About the book

(provided by publisher)

Douglas W. Tallamy's first book, Bringing Nature Home, awakened thousands of readers to an urgent situation: wildlife populations are in decline because the native plants they depend on are fast disappearing. His solution? Plant more natives.

In this new book, Tallamy takes the next step and outlines his vision for a grassroots approach to conservation. Nature's Best Hope shows how homeowners everywhere can turn their yards into conservation corridors that provide wildlife habitats. Because this approach relies on the initiatives of private individuals, it is immune from the whims of government policy. Even more important, it's practical, effective, and easy--you will walk away with specific suggestions you can incorporate into your own yard. If you're concerned about doing something good for the environment, Nature's Best Hope is the blueprint you need. By acting now, you can help preserve our precious wildlife--and the planet--for future generations.