Medford, Oregon (December 1, 2025) – In the dark months of winter, we all could use some remarkably bright moments to get us through the short days and long nights.
Jackson County Library Services has just the remedy with the sixth annual Rogue Reads, a system-wide winter reading program, that returns Dec. 1 and runs through Feb. 28.
And this year, participants are ocean-bound, with a host of delightful aquatic-themed programs and events. Take part in crafts such as a crocheted octopus or an ocean-themed sensory bottle. Learn from experts about SCUBA diving, Oregon Coast wildlife, and oceanic camouflage. Attend a Hatfield Marine Science Center virtual presentation on octopi. And much, much more.
A full list of events and programs will be available in our soon-to-be-released event guide, which will star JCLS’s newest mascot, Opal the Octopus, in her debut!
Speaking of octopi, Rogue Reads will feature two flagship reads starring the eight-limbed aquatic invertebrates:
- Remarkably Bright Creatures, a New York Times bestselling novel by Shelby Van Pelt
- The Octopus Escapes, a children’s picture book by Maile Meloy
Van Pelt will travel to Medford for an author talk, held 5 to 6:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20, at the Craterian Theater at the Collier Center for the Performing Arts, 23 S. Central Ave., Medford. A brief Q&A and book signing will follow. The free event is for attendees 18 years of age and older. Registration is required. Visit https://bit.ly/43TgMrc for more information and to register.
Remarkably Bright Creatures, Van Pelt’s debut novel, has sold more than 2 million copies. She was awarded the Heartland Prize for Fiction and the McLaughlin-Esstman-Stearns First Novel Prize from The Writer’s Center.
Get a jump on this year’s Rogue Reads by checking out a copy today! Then, sign up for Beanstack and start logging your reading! Visit https://jcls.org/roguereads to learn more.
