The Community Reads Series is an initiative aimed at connecting folks in the community, sharing stories between people of different generations, and creating opportunities for deeper connection and understanding.

It is a children’s reading time, not simply where stories are read from pages, but where the reader gets to share their own story as well- what roles they may serve, what community means to them, and what they’ve learned about what supports a vibrant, loving community of people.

ABOUT THIS WEEK’S BOOK: Why We Dance: A Story of Hope and Healing

From Indigenous creative team Deidre Havrelock and Aly McKnight comes a powerful and exuberant story about the heritage, joy, and healing power of the Jingle Dress Dance—a perfect read-aloud picture book.
 
It’s a special day—the day of the Jingle Dress Dance! Before the big powwow, there’s a lot to do: getting dressed, braiding hair, packing lunches, and practicing bounce-steps. But one young girl gets butterflies in her stomach thinking about performing in front of her whole community. When the drumbeats begin, though, her family soothes her nerves and reminds her why she dances.