Eight public libraries to host county-wide read of Bite by Bite this spring

Join eight public library systems across Cuyahoga County, including Shaker Library, to read, gather, and share stories about food and community.

After being awarded the National Endowment for the Arts Big Read grant, library leadership selected Aimee Nezhukumatathil’s memoir, Bite by Bite: Nourishments and Jamborees, from a list of potential titles.

The book, published in April 2024, is a collection of short essays that connect the author's experiences with foods like mangoes, shaved ice, and lumpia to her Filipino and Indian heritage, as well as broader themes of nature and human connection.

Nezhukumatathil uses 40 different foods as a lens to explore memory, identity, family, and culture, blending personal stories with botanical facts, history, and Fumi Nakamura's illustrations.

Nezhukumatathil will speak at a Guided Tasting event, open to all, at Cleveland Public Library’s Main Branch on Wednesday, April 29 at 6 p.m. Attendees will sample flavors as the author guides us in a writing activity to spark creativity and reflection. Then, on Thursday, April 30 at 11:30 a.m., Nezhukumatathil will visit the City Club of Cleveland.

To reserve tickets for these author events and learn more about the book discussions, cooking workshops, open mic nights, and other related programming hosted by area libraries, visit www.cuyahogareads.org.