Best of the Best Book Club: "The Narrow Road to the Deep North" by Richard Flanagan
2026-01-28 11:00 - 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
The Coronado Public Library’s Best of the Best Book Club meets regularly on the fourth Wednesday of each month to discuss books that have won major awards.
For our January meeting, we will discuss the 2014 Booker Prize Winner The Narrow Road to the Deep North by Richard Flanagan, a magisterial novel of love and war that traces the life of one man from World War II to the present.
Place this title on hold via our online catalog, or check out the e-book through the CloudLibrary app.
About The Narrow Road to the Deep North
August, 1943: Australian surgeon Dorrigo Evans is haunted by his affair with his uncle’s young wife two years earlier. His life, in a brutal Japanese POW camp on the Thai-Burma Death Railway, is a daily struggle to save the men under his command. Until he receives a letter that will change him forever.
A savagely beautiful novel about the many forms of good and evil, of truth and transcendence, as one man comes of age, prospers, only to discover all that he has lost.

Secrets before shelf date: A pre-pub launch with Kaira Rouda on "We Were Never Friends'
2026-01-28 18:00 - 19:00 | Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Join the Library and Adventures by the Book for a special author event and book launch featuring thriller author Kaira Rouda and her new book We Were Never Friends.
Five former Theta Gamma Mu sorority sisters reunite at Roxy Gentry’s luxurious Palm Springs estate for what’s supposed to be a celebratory engagement weekend, but old grudges and long-buried secrets quickly surface. The glamorous setting echoes a Spring Break tragedy from 25 years ago, and as tensions rise, the weekend spirals into a dangerous reckoning. Darkly funny, deliciously dramatic, and dripping with suspense, this is a reunion you’ll never forget. Dive into the twisty world of We Were Never Friends, where sisterhood is forever, friendships are… complicated, and the past never stays buried.
This event is free and open to the public. Seating is first-come, first-served, subject to availability. Limited preferred seating is available with purchase of We Were Never Friends through Adventures by the Book.
Please visit adventuresbythebook.com/calendar-event/kaira-rouda-01-28-26/or more information.

About the Author
Kaira Rouda is an award-winning USA Today, Amazon #1, and International Bestselling Author of contemporary fiction that explores what goes on beneath the surface of seemingly perfect lives. Three of her novels have been named Amazon Editor’s Picks for Best Mystery, Thriller & Suspense. The Next Wife was named a Suspense Magazine’s Best Book of 2021 Award, and a 2022 Silver Falchion for Best Suspense Novel and a 2022 Silver Falchion first runner-up for Best Book of the Year. To date, her novels have been translated into a dozen languages.
A former magazine editor and society columnist, Kaira won the Stevie Award for Women in Business for creating the first female-focused residential real estate brand, Real Living, and growing the brand to more than 22 states before its sale to Berkshire Hathaway. Her first book, Real You Incorporated: 8 Essentials for Women Entrepreneurs led to a national speaking tour where she inspired thousands.
About the Book
Sisters? Forever. Friends? NEVER. Who knew a reunion weekend could be so deadly?
Meet the sorority sisters of Theta Gamma Mu:

Roxy Callahan Gentry, the ruthless former sorority president and current hostess who has painstakingly choreographed every detail of this weekend—even matching the cocktails to her couture—to prove that she remains their undisputed queen
Amelia Dell, the widow drenched in old money and alcohol, with her big pot-stirring spoon and uninvited boy-toy in tow
Jamie Vale, the double-legacy pledge, straight-A student with no sparkle, now a top cardiologist with a picture-perfect family—and a well-guarded bad habit
Beth Harrison, the scholarship student who never quite fit in and was only admitted because her best friend Sunny insisted that the two were a package deal
Sunny Spencer, the carefree and beloved friend to all, or so it seemed—until she wasn’t

They’ve been summoned to Roxy’s luxurious Palm Springs vacation home to celebrate the engagement of her son to Beth’s daughter. But the refurbished 1920s estate is eerily reminiscent of the hotel where tragedy struck during Spring Break twenty-five years ago. Long-simmering tensions and shocking secrets begin bubbling to the surface like bodies—because while the weekend was supposed to be about celebrating the future, it’s not so easy to bury the past…

Learn the art of storytelling: Finding the Stories in Your Life
2026-02-03 18:00 - 19:30 | Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Everyone has a story to tell — what’s yours?
For those who love stories — or want to learn how to tell better ones, don’t miss the Coronado Public Library’s hands-on workshop series where you can Learn the Art of Storytelling. Starting February 5, this five-session series will return to the Library on consecutive Tuesday’s at 6:30 p.m. Our lives are filled with stories; this series will help you learn to cultivate and share them with friends, family, and more. Each session focuses on a different element of storytelling, helping you bring real experiences to life and connect with others through the power of story. Participants will have the chance to showcase their new skills at the San Diego Storytelling Festival on March 21.
Registration is requested for the February 3 introductory session. All other sessions are walk-in, no registration.

Feb. 3: “Finding the Stories in Your Life” with Marilyn McPhie.
Our lives are filled with stories! In this workshop we’ll dive into our memories — the people, the places, the triumphs, the disasters, the memorable moments — and emerge with stories worth sharing in family gatherings, business settings, podcasts, memoirs, on social media, onstage, and more.
Marilyn McPhie has been a professional storyteller since 1985, performing at schools, libraries, bookstores, museums, corporate and private events, and festivals around the country, including the Exchange Place at the National Storytelling Festival an the TEDx stage. Her stories are delivered with wit, wisdom and humor that delights, informs and entertains.

Ink & intrigue: "Hooked" with Caitlin Rother
2026-02-05 19:00 | Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Join us for an evening with Caitlin Rother, bestselling author and investigative journalist, as she explores the twists and turns of her latest thriller, Hooked, set right here in San Diego. Drawing on her background in true-crime reporting — including her acclaimed Death on Ocean Boulevard, set in Coronado — Rother brings real-world tension and insight to her fiction. Hear how investigative journalism fuels her suspenseful storytelling and what it takes to keep readers guessing until the final page.
Books will be available for sale at the event and a book signing will follow the talk.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Investigative reporter Katrina Chopin is back home in San Diego on a mission (or two). The first is personal: reheating the cold case of her parents’ murder and investigating her brother’s reported suicide. The second involves a new spate of deaths with alleged causes that just don’t smell right. She and Detective Ken Goode need each other’s help for both. But she has to keep the sexy surfer at arm’s length, because dating him is off limits. For now.
Teaming up, they make coordinated progress down each path. Digging deeper into La Jolla’s corrupt network of elites, they uncover a pattern of lies, depravity, and greed. And with every new discovery, Katrina is pulled closer to danger…and to Goode.
Sharing sexy phone calls and sunset drinks isn’t exactly following the rules, but fully crossing that line could jeopardize the case. As they start to connect the dots, they realize they must risk everything to bring down the shadowy cabal that kills to keep its secrets.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Caitlin Rother has written or co-authored 16 books, ranging from true crime to thrillers and memoir. A New York Times bestselling author and investigative journalist, Rother worked nearly 20 years for daily newspapers. Writing books full-time since 2006, she draws from decades of watchdog reporting on topics from addiction to suicide, mental illness, murder, government, political corruption and the criminal justice system. A popular speaker, she has appeared more than 250 times on TV, radio, and podcasts as a crime expert. A former writing instructor of 10 years, she coaches a limited number of aspiring author clients. In her spare time, she goes ocean swimming, sings and plays keyboards in a jazzy, bluesy trio called In the Lounge. Explore the photo galleries and learn about her latest titles, backlist, videos, and podcasts at caitlinrother.com.

An evening with New York Times bestselling author Paula McClain
2026-02-09 19:00 - 20:00 | Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
The Coronado Public Library, in partnership with Warwicks Bookstore presents Paula McLain, New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Wife, Circling the Sun, and Love and Ruin. McLain will discuss and sign her new novel, Skylark. A mesmerizing tale of Paris above and below, where a woman’s pursuit of artistic freedom in 1664 intertwines with a doctor’s dangerous mission during the German occupation of the 1940s, it’s a story of courage and resistance that transcends time.
A book-signing will follow. This event is free and open to the public. Seating is first-come, first-served, subject to availability. Limited preferred seating is available with purchase of Skylark through Warwick’s bookstore. Please visit www.warwicks.com/mclain-2026-reserved-seat or call the store at 858-454-0347 for more information.

About the Author
Paula McLain is the author of the New York Times bestselling novels, The Paris Wife, Circling the Sun, and Love and Ruin. Her latest instant bestseller is When the Stars Go Dark.
Paula McLain was born in Fresno, California in 1965. After being abandoned by both parents, she and her two sisters became wards of the California Court System, moving in and out of various foster homes for the next fourteen years. When she aged out of the system, she supported herself by working as a nurse’s aide in a convalescent hospital, a pizza delivery girl, an auto-plant worker, a cocktail waitress — before discovering she could (and very much wanted to) write. She received her MFA in poetry from the University of Michigan in 1996.
McLain’s essays have appeared in Town & Country, Good Housekeeping, Real Simple, O the Oprah Magazine, Huffington Post, The Guardian, The New York Times and elsewhere. She is also the author of the memoir, Like Family: Growing up in Other People’s Houses, two collections of poetry, and the debut novel, A Ticket to Ride. She lives with her family in Cleveland.

About Skylark
1664: Alouette Voland is the daughter of a master dyer at the famed Gobelin Tapestry Works, who secretly dreams of escaping her circumstances and creating her own masterpiece. When her father is unjustly imprisoned, Alouette’s efforts to save him lead to her own confinement in the notorious Salpêtrière asylum, where thousands of women are held captive and cruelly treated. But within its grim walls, she discovers a small group of brave allies, and the possibility of a life bigger than she ever imagined.
1939: Kristof Larson is a medical student beginning his psychiatric residency in Paris, whose neighbors on the Rue de Gobelins are a Jewish family who have fled Poland. When Nazi forces descend on the city, Kristof becomes their only hope for survival, even as his work as a doctor is jeopardized.
A spellbinding and transportive look at a side of Paris known to very few — the underground city that is a mirror reflection of the glories above — Paula McLain’s unforgettable new novel chronicles two parallel journeys of defiance and rescue that connect in ways both surprising and deeply moving.

Learn the art of storytelling: Shaping Your Story
2026-02-10 18:00 - 19:30 | Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Everyone has a story to tell—what’s yours?
The Storytellers of San Diego invite you to explore the art of sharing stories from your own life, your grandparents, your friends, or your imagination! Each workshop focuses on a different element of storytelling, helping you bring real experiences to life and connect with others through the power of story. Participants will have the chance to showcase their new skills at the San Diego Storytelling Festival on March 21, 2026.
Registration was requested for the February 3 introductory session. All other sessions are walk-in, no registration.

February 10: Shaping Your Story and Making it Yours with Emily Stamets
Explore fun, practical techniques for learning, remembering, and making a story your own—no matter your style or experience level.
Emily Stamets is a storyteller specializing in original fantasy with a modern feminist twist. A dynamic and theatrical storyteller, she brings over two decades of Theatre Arts experience to the stage. With over ten years of full-time teaching experience and five+ years 1:1 coaching experience, Emily is a highly effective teaching artist and coach.

Learn the art of storytelling: Crafting Worlds with Words
2026-02-17 18:00 - 19:30 | Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Everyone has a story to tell—what’s yours?
The Storytellers of San Diego invite you to explore the art of sharing stories from your own life, your grandparents, your friends, or your imagination! Each workshop focuses on a different element of storytelling, helping you bring real experiences to life and connect with others through the power of story. Participants will have the chance to showcase their new skills at the San Diego Storytelling Festival on March 21, 2026.
Registration was requested for the February 3 introductory session. All other sessions are walk-in, no registration.

February 17: “Crafting Worlds with Words” with Mindy Donner
Learn how to “show, not tell” and transport your listeners into the vivid and unforgettable world of your story through rich imagery and sensory detail.
Mindy Donner folds her background in movement and puppetry arts into her storytelling repertoire, exploring myths, folktales and personal tales. She taught Learning Through the Arts at Cal State San Marcos for nine years, and produced original puppet plays for children and adults. She enjoys performing South of the Border Tales in Spanish and English with a musical partner.

Learn the art of storytelling: Creating & Connecting through Emotion
2026-02-24 18:00 - 19:30 | Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Everyone has a story to tell—what’s yours?
The Storytellers of San Diego invite you to explore the art of sharing stories from your own life, your grandparents, your friends, or your imagination! Each workshop focuses on a different element of storytelling, helping you bring real experiences to life and connect with others through the power of story. Participants will have the chance to showcase their new skills at the San Diego Storytelling Festival on March 21, 2026.
Registration was requested for the February 3 introductory session. All other sessions are walk-in, no registration.

February 24: “Creating & Connecting through Emotion” with Almena Mozon
Learn how to craft stories that resonate in this interactive workshop on using the power of emotions in your storytelling. Explore techniques for creating vivid moments, building authentic connection, and shaping narratives that move audiences.

Best of the Best Book Club: "Beloved" by Toni Morrison
2026-02-25 11:00 - 12:00 | Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
The Coronado Public Library’s Best of the Best Book Club meets regularly on the fourth Wednesday of each month to discuss books that have won major awards.
For our February meeting, we will discuss the 1988 Pulitzer Prize Winner Beloved by Toni Morrison, which was named as one of the Great American Novels of the Past 100 Years by The Atlantic.
Place this title on hold via our online catalog, or check out the e-book through the CloudLibrary app.
About Beloved
Sethe was born a slave and escaped to Ohio, but eighteen years later she is still not free. Sethe has too many memories of Sweet Home, the beautiful farm where so many hideous things happened. And Sethe’s new home is haunted by the ghost of her baby, who died nameless and whose tombstone is engraved with a single word: Beloved.

Coronado Community READ Event: Flight & Feathers - Meet Two Birds of Prey
2026-03-01 14:00 - 15:00 | Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Join us as we kick off the 2026 Coronado Community READ with Flight and Feathers presented by the Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation. In this live presentation featuring two magnificent birds of prey, a falcon and an owl, expert handlers will share fascinating insights into their behavior, biology, and conservation. The 40-minute program will include approximately 20 minutes with each raptor, followed by a 20-minute Q&A where you can ask your own questions about these incredible birds.
This event is presented by the Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to energizing the community through environmental education and outreach while preserving the Agua Hedionda Lagoon as a healthy, accessible watershed for wildlife and people alike.

Story Time Stroll with Stop & Grow
2026-03-02 09:15 - 10:15 | Stop and Grow, 1339 Orange Avenue, Suite 8B, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Begin at the Stop & Grow children’s book store (1339 Orange Ave, near the Miguel’s hostess stand), and stroll down to Mathewson Park for story time.

Amanda Johnson created Stop & Grow to get kids excited about reading

Learn the Art of Storytelling: Tying it All Together
2026-03-03 18:00 - 19:30 | Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Everyone has a story to tell—what’s yours?
The Storytellers of San Diego invite you to explore the art of sharing stories from your own life, your grandparents, your friends, or your imagination! Each workshop focuses on a different element of storytelling, helping you bring real experiences to life and connect with others through the power of story. Participants will have the chance to showcase their new skills at the San Diego Storytelling Festival on March 21, 2026.
Registration was requested for the February 3 introductory session. All other sessions are walk-in, no registration.

March 3: “Tying it All Together” with Aunt Li-Anne
Bring everything together in this final workshop designed to help you shape a complete, cohesive story ready to share on stage. Participants will polish their performances and learn tips for connecting with an audience — culminating in the chance to tell their story at the upcoming storytelling festival.
Aunt Li-Anne is a storyteller, singer, actor and healer. She has been performing in local theaters and teaching drama workshops for more than twenty years. Aunt Li-Anne’s Story Garden has fun programs for parties, schools or other events. Her stories emphasize traditional lore and range from fairies and myths to thought-provoking tales of conflict resolution.

Coronado Community READ Event: An evening with "The Feather Detective" author, Chris Sweeney
2026-03-05 19:00 - 20:00 | Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Author Chris Sweeney will share the story behind The Feather Detective at the Coronado Public Library.
As part of the 10th annual Coronado Community READ, the Coronado Public Library will host a special evening with author Chris Sweeney on Thursday, March 5 at 7 pm. The free program will celebrate this year’s Community READ selection, The Feather Detective: Mystery, Mayhem, and the Magnificent Life of Roxie Laybourne, with Sweeney sharing his insight into the remarkable true story behind the book.
The Feather Detective chronicles the groundbreaking work of Roxie Laybourne, the world’s first forensic ornithologist, whose pioneering techniques in feather identification helped solve crimes, prevent airplane disasters, and transform scientific understanding. Blending biography, history, and natural science, the book has been praised for its engrossing narrative and compelling subject matter.
The event is free and open to the public thanks to support from the City of Coronado and the Friends of the Coronado Public Library. Seating is offered on a first-come, first-seated basis. For more information about this and other Community READ events, visit coronadolibrary.org.

All About Birds with Zovargo!
2026-03-09 15:30 - 16:30 | Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Come meet some feathery friends with Zovargo. This live bird demonstration will teach you about birds and everything that makes them fantastic.

More than specimens: Inside the Nat's bird collection
2026-03-12 18:00 - 19:00 | Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Coronado Community READ event

How do scientists identify a species from a single feather fragment? Phil Unitt from the San Diego Natural History Museum will share the history and modern applications of the museum’s bird collection. Discover the hidden world of museum collections and their vital role in understanding birds.

Philip Unitt is the Dennis and Carol Wilson Endowed Chair of Ornithology and curator of the Department of Birds and Mammals. Phil is a specialist in subspecies identification, distribution, and history of distributional change of California birds. He has led large survey projects, organizing hundreds of volunteers; analyzed and interpreted extensive data sets; and prepared more than 4,000 bird specimens.
Phil edits and produces publications on a wide variety of scientific subjects for diverse audiences, both public and professional. He authored The San Diego County Bird Atlas and The Birds of San Diego County, coauthored Birds of the Salton Sea, and is editor of Western Birds, the regional journal of ornithology for western North America.

Voice of San Diego’s MacKenzie Elmer on March 2 published an article on Philip Unitt. Read it at the link below:
Environment Report: A Conversation with San Diego’s ‘Bird Wizard’

An evening with Cynthia d’Aprix Sweeney
2026-03-18 19:00 - 20:00 | Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
New York Times bestselling author of The Nest, Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney will appear in conversation with award-winning writer Madhushree Ghosh to discuss her compelling new novel, Lake Effect. Hailed by Booklist as “a reverberating, intergenerational family saga… artful and fresh,” the novel explores love, longing, and the complicated bonds between mothers and daughters as one family reckons with the consequences of a long-buried scandal. A book signing will follow the discussion.
Sweeney’s previous novels, The Nest and Good Company, have been widely celebrated, with The Nest named a best book of the year by People, The Washington Post, and NPR, and currently in development as a limited series with AMC Studios.
Ghosh is the author of the award-winning Khabaar: An Immigrant Journey of Food, Memory, and Family and a widely published essayist whose work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and numerous literary outlets.
This event is free and open to the public. Seating is available on a first-come, first-seated basis. Limited preferred seating is offered with the purchase of Lake Effect through Warwicks Bookstore.
About Lake Effect
It’s 1977 and an air of restlessness has settled on the residents of Cambridge Road in Rochester, New York, a place long fueled by the booming fortunes of Kodak and Xerox and, for some, the mores of the Catholic church. When Nina Larkin is given a copy of The Joy of Sex by her newly divorced friend, she can no longer dismiss the nearly nonexistent intimacy of her marriage. Just as her oldest child, Clara, is falling in love for the first time, Nina finds herself longing for the forbidden: a midlife awakening. An intoxicating fling with a prominent neighbor brings Nina a freedom she never thought possible — but also risks the reputations of both families and unravels Clara’s world, just as she stands on the threshold of adulthood.
Years later, Clara, now a successful food stylist in New York City, has never been able to move past the long-ago scandal. Drawn back home by the pull of a family wedding and wrestling with her own demons, she makes a pivotal decision that turns her life upside down. Written with Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney’s signature humor and insight,  Lake Effect is a wise and probing look at love and desire, mothers and daughters, loss and grief, and what we owe the people we love most.

Lie Detectors & Tall Tales
2026-03-19 15:30 - 16:30 | Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
As a part of this year’s Coronado Community READ, kids of all ages are invited to an exciting and interactive storytelling show that asks the big question: When is it okay to lie? LA-based storyteller Adam Mellema brings the theme to life through hilarious tales from his own childhood, along with beloved stories like Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears by Verna Aardema and a fresh, playful take on The Boy Who Cried Wolf. The fun ramps up with plenty of audience participation, as volunteers are invited onstage to test out Adam’s “lie detector machine” and tackle tricky (and funny) hypothetical situations.
With nonstop movement, character voices, and big energy, Mellema prances, dances, and acts out every role in this fast-paced performance for all ages. Best of all, some of the stories featured are books you can check out from the library and take home the very same day.
This event is free to attend thanks to the support of the City of Coronado and the Friends of the Coronado Public Library. Seating is first come, first seated.

He dances… He sings… He’s got the energy of ten cheetahs! Adam plays all the characters in his stories: every man, woman, child, and paperweight. Mellema has performed all over the world including China, South Africa, Chile, and Mexico. Adam moonlights as an Emmy Award-winning Children’s Television Producer for companies including Disney Channel and Mattel. He is currently Head of Content for Yippee TV, a streaming service for kids where he has overseen the creation of 55 original series. Mellema co-created the campy action figure hit, Playtime, and Backseat Drivers, the world’s first car show for kids. His preschool series, Maggie’s Market, is in its fourth season. In his “spare time,” Adam serves on several boards for local arts organizations, visits old places, and dreams of learning to play the zither.

At Your Fingerprints, Forensic Science Workshop
2026-03-20 13:00 - 14:00 | Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
This workshop will provide a brief overview of the forensic science disciplines with a focus on fingerprint analysis. A hands-on portion of the workshop will allow attendees to determine the basic fingerprint pattern classification of their own fingerprints!
This program is for adults over the age of 18. Space is limited, registration is recommended. Walk-ins will be accommodated as space permits.

Tina Young is a College Professor in Southern California where she teaches basic and advanced forensic photography, forensic technology, forensic analysis, criminal evidence, and California State-certified forensic technology and bloodstain pattern analysis (BPA) courses.

She worked as a Crime Scene Specialist from the mid-1990s to early 2000s. She’s a private BPA practitioner and has testified as a BPA expert witness in San Diego, Riverside, Los Angeles, and San Bernardino County Superior Court. She has a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and a Master of Forensic Sciences degree.
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Since July, 2007, she’s maintained certification as a Certified Bloodstain Pattern Analyst through the International Association for Identification.
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Tina is the author of a forensic technology textbook, contributing author in forensic photography textbooks, and authored several forensic journal articles. She was featured on the Discovery Channel’s What on Earth series.
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Tina’s latest passion is her forensics fiction novel series for young adults, Bailey McKenzie, Crime Scene Specialist.

San Diego Storytelling Festival
2026-03-21 10:00 - 17:00 | Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Storytelling Festival Returns to the Coronado Public Library

Head over the Coronado Bridge for the San Diego Storytelling Festival as it returns to the Coronado Public Library on Saturday, March 21. This year’s theme, “Light in the Dark,” invites audiences to explore stories that illuminate hope and resilience through a full day of free performances, workshops, and interactive experiences.
The festival opens at 10 am with Light in the Dark, featuring local and visiting storytellers sharing folktales, history, and personal narratives inspired by the international theme At 11 am, audiences can choose between Sea to Shining Sea, celebrating America’s 250th birthday through stories from coast to coast, and Good Craic: Irish Stories and Music, where twice All-Ireland storytelling champion Mairtín de Cógáin brings the lively Irish seanchaí tradition to life with wit and charm.
The day will also include a special workshop with Grammy winner Adam Mellema, who will share his “secret sauce” for gathering and preserving family stories. In the afternoon, Deidra Davis will create a live art installation with stories during A Community Tree, while Darci Tucker’s dynamic first-person portrayal in Revolutionary Women offers a vivid look at colonial America.
The day also features Out Loud: Teen Voices, showcasing student storytellers from Morse High School, and a Story Circle/Open Mic where community members are invited to share short, heartfelt stories of their own. The festival concludes with Voices at the Water’s Edge, an inspiring celebration of personal and traditional stories designed to send audiences home with new stories, good memories, and light in the dark.
Hosted in partnership with Storytellers of San Diego, which has brought oral storytelling to the region for more than 40 years, the festival is free and open to the public. Attendees are welcome to join for one event or stay for the day to experience storytelling in its oldest and most vibrant form. Learn more at coronadolibrary.org.

Feathers & Form Art Workshop
2026-03-24 18:00 - 19:00 | Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Join visual artist Stacie Birky Greene for a bird drawing workshop designed for people of all levels. In this hands-on session, Stacie will guide participants through techniques to observe and sketch birds with confidence and creativity. You’ll learn how to see key features like proportion, posture, anatomy, and feather texture, and how to capture these on paper with simple, expressive lines. The workshop also encourages participants to connect personally with nature as they draw — seeing birds not just as subjects, but as living forms with motion, attitude, and character.
This program is for adults over the age of 18. Space is limited, registration is recommended. Walk-ins will be accommodated as space permits.

Originally from Colorado, Stacie Birky Greene received degrees in Art and Art History from the University of Kentucky. She also studied in Florence, Italy, and at the Art Institute of Chicago. Although painting was the focus of her training, she has explored her art in a wide variety of media, including drawing, performance, photography, installation and video.
The central focus of Birky Greene’s work has been to explore nature through a combination of materials and techniques. Her approach has often been guided by a fascination with form and shape, particularly as nodes for connecting unlikely allies, such as coral and cacti. By taking organic materials (or at least their representation) out of context, she compels the viewer to revel in patterns of structural unity. Her recent work has also considered the impact of human consumption and climate change on the natural world. Appalled by mass deforestation and habitat destruction, she has turned her attention to bird species that have gone extinct since the time of her own birth. The tangible results of this study will be revealed over the course of the next few years, in a variety of projects. One feature of these works that is important to consider is her choice of materials: namely, junk mail, which she either uses “as is” or manipulates, with the addition of other detritus, into homemade paper. It is a project that implicates us all in its struggle: here are beautiful objects made, nevertheless, from unwanted materials. Moreover, the materials themselves are the products of overconsumption of resources – fossil fuels burned in production and transportation, and deforestation to provide wood pulp for paper. The problem of avian ecology and the pressures these birds face is multidimensional, but the viewer is placed in the unlikely position of assessing and admiring the victim even as its emblem is formed from components that have been implicated in its destruction.
Birky Greene lives in San Diego, and she exhibits her artwork locally and internationally. She has taught art to children and adults since 1998.

Best of the Best Book Club: "The Calculating Stars" by Mary Robinette Kowal
2026-03-25 11:00 - 12:00 | Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
The Coronado Public Library’s Best of the Best Book Club meets regularly on the 4th Wednesday of each month to discuss books that have won major awards.
For our March meeting, we will discuss the 2019 Hugo Award winner The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal, a novel that imagines an alternate history of spaceflight that speaks volumes about the present.
Place this title on hold via our online catalog, or check out the e-book through the CloudLibrary app.
About The Calculating Stars
On a cold spring night in 1952, a huge meteorite fell to earth and obliterated much of the east coast of the United States, including Washington D.C. The ensuing climate cataclysm will soon render the earth inhospitable for humanity, as the last such meteorite did for the dinosaurs. This looming threat calls for a radically accelerated effort to colonize space, and requires a much larger share of humanity to take part in the process.
Elma York’s experience as a WASP pilot and mathematician earns her a place in the International Aerospace Coalition’s attempts to put man on the moon, as a calculator. But with so many skilled and experienced women pilots and scientists involved with the program, it doesn’t take long before Elma begins to wonder why they can’t go into space, too.
Elma’s drive to become the first Lady Astronaut is so strong that even the most dearly held conventions of society may not stand a chance against her.

Birding 101: How (and why) to spot birds in your neighborhood
2026-03-26 18:30 - 19:30 | Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Have you ever seen a bird? Then you’re already a birder! Join San Diego Bird Alliance for a fun and easy introduction to the world of birds. San Diego is one of America’s “birdiest” counties, and we’ll talk about what makes our region so special. You don’t need to go far to experience this bounty, and we’ll talk about how to spot and identify some familiar birds right in your own neighborhood. Along the way, we will learn about free resources like eBird, the Merlin Bird ID app, and ways to get plugged in with other local nature enthusiasts. This talk will be given in English, with English/Spanish resources available. All ages are welcome!

San Diego Bird Alliance is a local nonprofit defending our region’s birds, unique biodiversity, and threatened habitats through advocacy, education, and restoration. SDBA has served San Diego County’s diverse communities for over 75 years through community-based habitat restoration projects, environmental education programs, and recreational offerings. https://www.sandiegobirdalliance.org/

San Diego Writers Festival
2026-03-28 09:00 - 18:00 | Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
The San Diego Writers Festival is a free, community-based event designed to celebrate the power of writing and storytelling.
Stories transform both the teller and the listener. In whatever form you welcome a story into your life—by reading a memoir or graphic novel, listening to a podcast or a poetry reading, watching a movie or play or going to the theater—stories are our pathways, our links, our bridges to one another.
At the San Diego Writers Festival, we ask two important questions: What if there was a place where all stories could be nurtured and heard? What if we opened up our community to stories from those who have been under-served, disenfranchised, or neglected?
We invite you to join us on our mission to hear one another, be educated and illuminated by one another, and inspired by one another—one story at a time.
Jodi Picoult headlines 7th annual San Diego Writers Festival in Coronado

Makers Monday: Birds and Detectives with LKW STEM Foundation
2026-03-30 14:00 - 15:00 | Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Hosted by LKW STEM Foundation, Birds & Detectives is an engaging, hands-on STEM Workshop that introduces students to the science of Forensic Ornithology — the investigation of bird evidence to solve real-world mysteries. Participants step into the role of nature detectives as they observe birds, analyze feathers and tracks, collect data, and use scientific tools to draw evidence-based conclusions.
Through guided inquiry and outdoor exploration, students practice core STEM skills such as observation, pattern recognition, data recording, and critical thinking while strengthening social-emotional skills like collaboration, curiosity, and perseverance. The workshop connects science learning to real careers in wildlife biology, environmental science, conservation, and forensic investigation, helping students see how STEM is used beyond the classroom.
Designed to be interactive, age-appropriate, and inclusive, Birds & Detectives blends science, nature, and problem-solving to spark curiosity, build confidence, and inspire the next generation of STEM thinkers — one clue at a time.
Registration Required, please register EACH child individually

Book launch: "The Last Special Thing" by Alyssa Burns
2026-03-30 18:00 - 20:00 | Coronado Tasting Room, 1201 1st St # 101, Coronado, CA 92118, USA
2010 Coronado High School grad Alyssa Burns will celebrate the release of her debut novel, The Last Special Thing (releases April 1) at a book launch party at the Coronado Tasting Room from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on March 30. The entire community is invited.

Alyssa Burns with copies of her debut novel. Courtesy photo.
The Last Special Thing is a young adult fiction novel that tackles drug exploration, a topic she approached with caution. It’s a book that she wished she had read while younger, because it explores how quickly people can find themselves in unexpected situations. It aims to teach young readers to navigate these things without condescension.
“You don’t open to page one and someone’s doing heroin,” she said. “There’s a step stool to how these things escalate, and that structure came naturally to this story.”
Burns was intentional about refusing both glamorization of drugs and oversimplified scare tactics.
“How we talk about drug use is: ‘Don’t do drugs because you’re going to get addicted and die,’” she said. “Maybe you’re not going to get addicted and die, but you’re also not going to have a good time. You’re going to make decisions you wouldn’t have made otherwise.”
The core message of the book is embedded in its title.
“You don’t need drugs, you don’t need a guy, you don’t need a thrill to be special,” Burns said. “You already are.”

Readers can preorder a signed copy of The Last Special Thing on Alyssa Burns’ website. To read more of Burns’ writing for The Coronado Times, click here.
LEARN MORE HERE

Stroll and a Story
2026-04-06 09:15 - 10:15 | Stop and Grow, 1339 Orange Avenue, Suite 8B, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Begin at the Stop & Grow children’s book store (1339 Orange Ave, near the Miguel’s hostess stand), and stroll down to Mathewson Park for an Easter-themed story time.

Amanda Johnson created Stop & Grow to get kids excited about reading

An evening with international soccer star Landon Donovan
2026-04-11 17:30 - 18:30 | Coronado Performing Arts Center, 650 D Avenue, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
As excitement builds around the World Cup — played in part on U.S. soil this year — join the Coronado Public Library for a special evening with Landon Donovan, widely regarded as one of the greatest American soccer players of all time. Donovan will share reflections from Landon: A Memoir, offering an inside look at his life on and off the field, from defining career moments to the challenges that shaped his journey beyond the game.
A six-time MLS Cup champion and four-time U.S. Soccer Player of the Year, Donovan remains the all-time assists leader for the U.S. Men’s National Team and is tied for the most international goals scored by an American man. His five World Cup goals make him the highest-scoring American male player in tournament history, and Major League Soccer honored his legacy by naming its MVP award after him. Yet Donovan’s memoir goes far beyond trophies and highlight reels, it’s a story of resilience, vulnerability, and self-discovery.
The event serves as a fundraiser for the Friends of the Coronado Public Library’s work with the Exceptional Families Program and requires a paid ticket for entry. The Friends of the Coronado Public Library are dedicated supporters who offer financial assistance for a variety of the Coronado Public Library’s programs that serve readers and learners of all ages. The Exceptional Families Program is a partnership with the Coronado Community Foundation and Camp Able which offers monthly programs that provide enrichment, respite, and community connection for families with special needs members, particularly those who have aged out of school-based services or are transitioning beyond the classroom.
Ticket options include:

$10 entry only

$29.95 for admission for one person and one copy of Landon: A Memoir

Tickets can be purchased at cplevents.org or adventuresbythebook.com/calendar-event/landon-donovan-4-11-26/. This event will take place at the Coronado Performing Arts Center in partnership with Adventures by the Book. All seating is first-come, first-served.

Earth Day local author visit, book signing at Stop and Grow Books
2026-04-12 14:00 | Stop and Grow, 1339 Orange Avenue, Suite 8B, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Coronado author, Marianne Blackstone Tabner, will be at Stop and Grow Books on April 12 in celebration of Earth Day doing a book reading and signing of her book “Taking Turns.”

Plant a Seed, Read!
2026-04-13 15:30 - 16:30 | Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Come enjoy Plant a Seed, Read! with Amazing Dana the Magician. This interactive program is filled with colorful magic, audience participation, and engaging storytelling. Kids will see ideas grow, books come alive, and discover how reading can spark imagination.

Crafty Hour: Fantasy Book Nooks
2026-04-14 18:30 - 19:30 | Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Feeling crafty? Join us on the second Tuesday of every month for arts and crafts.
In the month of April, we’ll get ready to celebrate National Library Week by creating our own fantasy book nooks to decorate our home library shelves with.
Can’t make it to this program? Check back here the day after this program to download the instructions so you can recreate this craft at home.
This program is for adults over the age of 18. Space is limited, registration is recommended. Walk-ins will be accommodated as space permits.
