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Hope College Presents

NEA BIG READ

LAKESHORE

How to watch & participate in events?

Explore our Past Events

Wow! What a year. Together with our partners, this year’s NEA Big Read Lakeshore program had over 50 events.

The events ranged from lectures with authors, Q&A’s, lectures by domain experts, dance performances, book discussions, and more.

Did you miss any of our events? Would you like to rewatch any of them? Head on over here to our YouTube channel to check them out!

Explore Events

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel & Facebook Page

We will be streaming most of our events through YouTube and Facebook. Make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel and our Facebook book page to be notified when we go live on our events.

Big Read Lakeshore 2020 Book

In the Heart of the Sea

The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex

Nathaniel Philbrick

More About the Book
Middle Read Lakeshore 2020 Book

In the Heart of the Sea

The Young Reader's Edition

The True Story of the Whaleship Essex

Nathaniel Philbrick

More About the Book
Little Read Lakeshore 2020 Book

Galápagos Girl / Galapagueña

Marsha Diane Arnold
Illustrated by Angela Dominguez
More About the Book

Reimagining the Big Read as a Virtual Program

The show must go on!

The health and safety of our Lakeshore is our top priority. In light of the global spread of the COVID-19 virus, our Big Read and Little Read Lakeshore programs will hy-flex. Check out our Youtube to watch.

Efficient

Little to no travel. Attend most events in the comfort of your own home.

Interactive

Real-time virtual interactions with speakers and fellow participants.

Flexible

Some events will be offered multiple times.

Global

Going virtual allows us to include speakers beyond our geographical reach.

What is the NEA Big Read Lakeshore?

Hope College's NEA Big Read Lakeshore program began in 2014. Our goal is to create and foster a culture where reading matters. We bring our Lakeshore community together around a common book and use this shared experience of reading, discussing, and exploring the themes of the book as a springboard to listen to and learn from each other. Our trademark program takes place annually in November. Partial funding for our Big Read program comes from the NEA Big Read, a program of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in partnership with Arts Midwest.

What is the Little Read Lakeshore?

Hope College's Little Read Lakeshore creates and fosters a culture where reading matters to children, families and those who support, advocate for and work with children. We bring our Lakeshore community together around a common book and use this shared experience of reading, discussing, and exploring the themes of the book as a springboard to listen to and learn from each other. Our month-long community-wide reading program takes place annually in November. The Little Read Lakeshore is made possible in part by a grant from the Michigan Humanities, an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Contact Us

Guiding Questions for 2020 Program

Culture & Inclusion

Whose histories are told? Whose histories are silenced?
How do we tell stories from the past?

Literature

What can we learn from stories of the past?

Sustainability & Conservation

What does it mean to live sustainably in our natural environment?

Adventure & Exploration

How do we delight in the world around us and the greater world we live in?

Different Ways to Get Involved

Read the book

Our book's topics and themes are timely and relevant.

Attend our events

Our events offer a variety of perspectives, experiences, and angles on the book.

Interact with others

Our goal is that you listen and learn from others as well as sharing your own ideas and experiences.

Respond

Our community becomes stronger when you make positive changes in response to your interactions with the book.

Who is the NEA Big Read Lakeshore for?

  • Readers of all ages along the Lakeshore
  • Book clubs
  • P-12 students
  • College/University students
  • Teachers
  • Professors
  • Librarians
  • Library patrons
  • Senior citizens
  • Workplaces
  • Families

Find The Book

Our 2020 Big Read and Little Read titles will be available at the Hope College BookstoreReader’s World (Holland), The Bookman (Grand Haven), Barnes and Noble in Holland and Amazon.

Participating libraries will host book giveaways in late October.

You can also check out the titles at participating libraries starting in June. Book club bags are available.

NEA Big Read Lakeshore and Little Read Lakeshore 2020 Sponsors