Fishtrap Reads returns with community book program and author event

Fishtrap Reads is coming back this month with programs designed to bring readers together across Northeast Oregon. The winter selection is The Bear by Andrew Krivak, and Fishtrap and Cook Memorial Library are providing more than 300 free copies to schools and libraries in Wallowa and Union counties to encourage shared reading and conversation.

The program launches Jan. 9 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Fishtrap, 107 W. Main St., Enterprise. The kickoff evening will include interactive stations on navigating by stars, tracking, native fish, wilderness survival skills, local wildlife and a short reading. A series of book discussions, kids storytime, game night and nature workshops will follow, culminating in an author event with Andrew Krivak on Jan. 29 at Fishtrap and online at fishtrap.org.

According to Fishtrap, “The Bear” is a fable, telling the story of a 12-year-old girl who finds herself alone in the wilderness. She practices ancient skills she’s learned from her father - she makes a bow and arrows, and hunts, fishes and gathers food from the forest. She makes shoes and clothing from materials she finds in nature, and learns to navigate by the constellations. The girl also forms a bond with a bear, a mountain lion, and eventually the forest itself. The program’s organizers say the book “will resonate with the values and lifestyle of the people of Northeast Oregon,” according to a press release.

For residents of Baker County, the program offers nearby in-person events and virtual programming that reduce travel barriers. Local schools and libraries receiving free books can use The Bear as a focal point for classroom discussion, outdoor education and family literacy efforts. Bookloft in Enterprise is also supporting the initiative by donating a portion of sales to Fishtrap, helping to sustain community programming.

Beyond literary enrichment, collective reading initiatives like Fishtrap Reads have public health and social implications. Shared cultural events build social cohesion, provide low-cost mental health supports through community connection, and expand access to arts programming that can be limited in rural areas. Partnerships between Fishtrap, libraries and local booksellers model ways small institutions can pool resources to increase equity in cultural access.

Full event schedules and details are available at fishtrap.org, where residents can register for sessions and join the Jan. 29 author event online.