Library staff and booksellers who organize and present Whatcom READS have announced the literary program’s 2026 schedule of community and author events, celebrating Solito: A Memoir by Javier Zamora. The book selection was announced in March 2025. The bestselling memoir, which recounts the author’s odyssey from El Salvador to Arizona as an unaccompanied 9-year-old, presents a wide range of discussion and event opportunities leading up to the March 12-13, 2026, in-person author events.
Visit whatcomreads.org to learn more and to register. Borrow Solito as a book, eBook or audiobook from the Bellingham Public Library or Whatcom County Library System. Or purchase a copy from Village Books, which donates 10 percent of each sale to Whatcom READS. Solito is available to read in English and Spanish.
COMMUNITY PROGRAMS EXPLORING THEMES IN THE MEMOIR
All programs are free except where noted. Space is limited; pre-registration is required for all Whatcom READS events. Find more information and register to attend at whatcomreads.org.
Film Screening: Desert Angel
For 25 years, Rafael Larraenza has tirelessly searched deserts and mountains to rescue lost immigrants and to recover remains. This documentary tells his story. Tickets available online soon, pickfordfilmcenter.org.
Saturday, Jan. 17, 1:30-3 p.m., Pickford Film Center, Bellingham
Celebrating Salvadoran Art Through Painting
This hands-on learning experience celebrates El Salvador’s most iconic art, the colorful folk art of Fernando Llort. As they paint a small wooden piece in Llort’s style, participants will learn how Llort’s use of vibrant colors captures the beauty of Salvadoran culture, nature and everyday life. For ages 16 and older. Presented in English and Spanish.
Saturday, Jan. 31, 2-3:30 p.m., Island Library, Lummi Island
Saturday, Feb. 21, 10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m., Everson Library
Saturday, Feb. 21, 3-4:30 p.m., Lynden Library
Saturday, Feb. 28, 2-3:30 p.m., South Whatcom Library (Sudden Valley)
Saturday, March 7, 2-3:30 p.m., North Fork Library (Kendall)
Nepantla: Exploring Chicano Art
Discover the vibrant world of Chicana/o and Latina/o art through the inspiring story of the Nepantla Cultural Arts Gallery with founders and artists Jake Prendez and Judy Avitia-Gonzalez. Sponsored by Humanities Washington.
Saturday, Jan. 31, 3-4:30 p.m., Jansen Art Center, 321 Front St., Lynden
The Future of Borders with Laurie Trautman and Ted Alden
Attend a timely discussion based on the presenters’ 2025 book, When the World Closed Its Doors: The COVID-19 Tragedy and the Future of Borders. Dr. Laurie Trautman is the director of the Border Policy Institute at Western Washington University. Edward Alden is senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. Sponsored by Whatcom Museum.
Saturday, Feb. 7, 4-5:30 p.m., Whatcom Museum Rotunda Room, 121 Prospect St., Bellingham
A Celebration of Unofficial Languages
A Celebration of Unofficial Languages is just that: a celebration of the sounds and unique nuances of speech that English cannot contain within its broad linguistic scope. Participants will read selections of prose in several different languages. Translations of the works will be provided.
Sunday, Feb. 8, 2-3:30 p.m., Village Books, 1200 11th St., Bellingham
The Sonoran Desert: Biodiversity and the Perils of Human Passage
Conservation biologist Saff Killingsworth discusses what makes the Sonoran Desert so biologically interesting – and so dangerous for those who attempt to cross it.
Thursday, Feb. 12, 6-7 p.m., online. Link provided upon registration.
Art, Creativity and Immigrant Youth with Lakeya Afolalu
Young people across the U.S. — including Washington — are growing up between languages, countries, and cultures. Explore how immigrant and transnational youth use the arts to express their identity. Sponsored by Humanities Washington.
Thursday, Feb. 19, 6-7:30 p.m., Ferndale Library
Exploring Salvadoran Cuisine, Its History and Traditions, with Chef Nicole Carter
Join us at Bellingham Technical College’s School of Culinary Arts for a live demo and tasting of Salvadoran cuisine. Culinary Arts Chef Instructor Nicole Carter will demonstrate how to make traditional Salvadoran dishes.
Saturday, Feb. 21, 2-3:30 p.m., Bellingham Technical College, 3028 Lindbergh Ave., Bellingham
Green Expectations: A Poetry Workshop / Ilusiones Verdes, Un Taller de Poesía
Former Washington State Poet Laureate Claudia Castro Luna leads two events, one in English and one in Spanish, that are part poetry reading, part discussion and part writing workshop. The afternoon workshop is conducted in Spanish.
Saturday, Feb. 28, 10-11:30 a.m.
En Español Saturday, Feb. 28, 2-3:30 p.m.
Both sessions at Village Books, 1200 11th St., Bellingham
Whatcom Writes Readings and Allied Arts Challenge: Local writers and artists create original works based on a prompt inspired by the selected book. This year’s prompt is Family: Formed, Found and Chosen. Whatcom Writes submissions have closed. IThe deadline for the Allied Arts Art Challenge is Tuesday, March 3. Learn more at whatcomreads.org/art-challenge.
Whatcom Writes Author Readings
Sunday, Feb. 15, 2-3:30 p.m., Village Books, 1200 11th St., Bellingham
Sunday, Feb. 22, 2-3:30 p.m. Village Books, 430 Front St., Lynden
AUTHOR EVENTS WITH JAVIER ZAMORA
Book Discussion with Javier Zamora
Thursday, March 12, 7-8:30 p.m.
Pioneer Pavilion Community Center, 2007 Cherry St., Ferndale
An Evening with Javier Zamora and Friends
Bushwick Book Club Northwest will open the event with original music composed by local musicians and inspired by Solito. The author will be in conversation with poet Claudia Castro Luna. At the close of the event, Zamora will announce the Whatcom READS 2027 selection and will sign books.
Friday, March 13, 7-9 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m.
Mount Baker Theatre, 104 N. Commercial St., Bellingham
About Whatcom READS: Northwest Washington’s premier annual literary event, Whatcom READS celebrates reading, readers and strong communities through the shared experience of one book. Entering its 18th year, Whatcom READS is presented by all the public and academic libraries in Bellingham and Whatcom County – Bellingham Public Library, Bellingham Technical College, Northwest Indian College, Western Washington University, Whatcom Community College and Whatcom County Library System. Village Books is Whatcom READS’ community partner. Whatcom READS is a proud recipient of Allied Arts of Whatcom County’s 2025 Whatcom Arts Awards. The program receives significant funding from Friends of the Bellingham Public Library and Whatcom County Library Foundation. Learn more at whatcomreads.org.
About Javier Zamora: Javier Zamora was born in La Herradura, El Salvador, in 1990. When Zamora was 1, his father fled El Salvador due to the U.S.-funded Salvadoran Civil War (1980-1992). His mother followed her husband’s footsteps in 1995 when Javier was about to turn 5. Zamora was left in the care of his grandparents who helped raise him until he migrated to the U.S. when he was 9. His first poetry collection, Unaccompanied (Copper Canyon Press, September 2017), explores some of these themes. His accolades include a 2024 Whiting Fellowship, 2018-2019 Radcliffe Fellowship at Harvard University, a 2017 Lannan Literary Fellowship, the 2017 Narrative Prize, and the 2016 Barnes & Noble Writer for Writers Award for his work in the Undocupoets Campaign. Zamora lives in Tucson, Ariz. Learn more about the author at javierzamora.net.