Extinctopedia tells a complex story, not just of those who are extinct but also of those in greatest peril, with explanations of what threatens their survival. It is also a story of hope—hopes for animals that have been rediscovered, hope in the form of newly-discovered animals, and hope that we might hear the warning call and act to preserve the amazing biodiversity of our fragile planet for future generations to come.

You’re invited to grab your family and friends and join us as Smithsonian scientists highlight information found in the Smithsonian’s book, Extinctopedia: Discover what we have lost, what is at risk, and how we can preserve the diversity of our fragile planet. In this talk, you will discover: 

Extinctopedia provides a fascinating catalog of life on earth and encourages the reader to find ways of preserving the incredible diversity of species, so we may all thrive and life itself can endure on this amazing and beautiful planet.

Join the conversation and register at https://libraryc.org/santacruzpl/76646.

About the Presenters: 

Brian Gratwicke is a conservation biologist and leads the amphibian conservation programs at the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. Brian’s focus is building capacity to conserve amphibians in Appalachia and Panama, developing outreach and educational programs and exhibits to build public support for amphibian conservation, and research to develop tools to reintroduce amphibians back into the wild. At SCBI, Brian collaborates with Panamanian conservation biologists and zoo partners to build an ex-situ amphibian facility in Panama. The Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project based at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Gamboa maintains and grows captive assurance populations of species most heavily affected by the deadly amphibian chytrid fungus. One major research focus is developing applied solutions for the amphibian chytrid fungus, including research into the area of beneficial skin bacteria and identifying genetic traits associated with resistance to the disease. He also conducts research into emerging diseases and the effects of climate change on Appalachian salamanders.

Gratwicke grew up in Zimbabwe and began his conservation work researching the impacts to freshwater fish in Africa. In 2000, he was awarded a Rhodes scholarship that took him to Oxford, where he studied marine fish communities in the British Virgin Islands for his doctorate. After completing his doctorate, Gratwicke moved to Washington, D.C., where he worked as a program administrator and then assistant director of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation's Save the Tiger Fund.

Dr. Gina Della Togna is a researcher and conservationist, currently serving as the Executive Director of the Amphibian Survival Alliance and a Research Associate at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. Dr. Della Togna earned her Ph.D. in Biological Sciences, with a specialization in Molecular and Cell Biology, from the University of Maryland, USA. Her groundbreaking research focuses on the reproductive biology of amphibians and the development of Assisted Reproductive Technologies for endangered species facing challenges in reproduction. As the co-Chair of the IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group ARTs and Biobanking working group since 2017 and co-author of the Amphibian Conservation Action Plan (ACAP), Dr. Della Togna plays a vital role in advancing conservation efforts for amphibian species worldwide. Additionally, she is part of the IUCN SSC ASG Atelopus Task Force and member of the Atelopus Survival Initiative, co-chairing the Ex Situ Working Group. Dr. Della Togna serves on the Advisory Board of the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, further showcasing her commitment to species preservation. Her dedication to amphibian conservation extends to her involvement in global, regional, and local initiatives, where she fosters collaborations and spearheads innovative projects to safeguard amphibian populations. Her expertise and passion have made her a leading figure in the field of conservation biology, inspiring positive change for the future of amphibians and their ecosystems.

For upcoming author talks, visit https://libraryc.org/santacruzpl/upcoming.

SCPL's Virtual Author Talks are made possible by the Friends of the Capitola Library.

Explore Unexpected Twists and Turns with Bestselling Author Lisa Jewell

You’re invited to an exclusive preview event with New York Times bestselling author Lisa Jewell as she introduces readers to her forthcoming title Don’t Let Him In (Out June 24, 2025!). Along with an introduction to her newest bone-chilling, psychological thriller, Jewell will chat about her life as a writer and her critically-acclaimed body of work. 

In Don’t Let Him In, three women are connected by one man in this kaleidoscopic thriller.

Nick Radcliffe is a man of substance and good taste. He has a smile that could melt the coldest heart and a knack for putting others at ease. He’s just what Nina Swann needed in her life after her husband’s unexpected death. But to Nina’s adult daughter, Ash, Nick seems too slick, too polished, too good to be true. Without telling her mother, Ash begins digging into Nick’s past. What she finds is more than unsettling…

Things don’t make sense and patience is wearing thin…

Martha is a florist living in a neighboring town with her infant daughter and her devoted husband Alistair. But lately, Alistair has been traveling more and more frequently for work, disappearing for days at a time. When Martha questions him about his frequent absences, he always has a legitimate explanation. But Martha can’t shake the feeling that something isn't right, despite her husband calling her mad and insisting they know everything there is to know about one another. 

Nina, Martha, and Ash are on a collision course with a shocking truth that is far darker than anyone could have imagined. And all three are about to wish they had heeded the same warning: Don’t let him in. But the past won’t stay buried forever.

Join the conversation and register at https://libraryc.org/santacruzpl/77158.

About the Author: Lisa Jewell is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of twenty-three novels, including None of This Is True, The Family Upstairs, and Then She Was Gone, as well as Invisible Girl and Watching You. Her novels have sold over ten million copies internationally, and her work has also been translated into twenty-nine languages. Connect with her on X @LisaJewellUK, on Instagram @LisaJewellUK, and on Facebook @LisaJewellOfficial.

For upcoming author talks, visit https://libraryc.org/santacruzpl/upcoming.

SCPL's Virtual Author Talks are made possible by the Friends of the Capitola Library.

Alka Joshi is the internationally bestselling author of the Jaipur Trilogy: The Henna Artist, The Secret Keeper of Jaipur and The Perfumist of Paris. Her debut novel, The Henna Artist, immediately became a New York Times bestseller and a Reese Witherspoon Pick. It has been translated into 29 languages and is currently in development as a tv series. Joshi was born in India and came to the U.S. with her family at the age of nine. She has a BA from Stanford University and an MFA from California College of Arts.  Alka shares her writing tips on her YouTube Channel.

Join us as she discusses her most recent book, released this April, Six Days in Bombay. The book is a tale of identity and self-discovery inspired by the mysterious death of India’s free-spirited painter Amrita Sher-Gil. Before flamboyant painter Mira Novak dies in a Bombay hospital, she leaves four paintings for her nurse Sona to deliver to friends and former lovers in Prague, Florence, and Paris, sending the innocent young woman on a perilous journey pre-WWII. Sona returns to Bombay with another question: Who was Mira Novak really?

We recommend pre-ordering the title from Bookshop Santa Cruz, Two Birds Books, or your favorite online retailer. Some copies of the book will be available for purchase thanks to our partners at Two Birds Books. Light refreshments will be provided. Registration is required. Please register below.

This event is sponsored by the Friends of the Capitola Branch Library.

You may also enjoy watching this earlier recording of The Henna Artist: Author Talk with Alka Joshi from our Library Speakers Consortium!

Living the Otter Life with Katherine Applegate (3rd-6th Grade)

Join us as award-winning author and summer reading champion Katherine Applegate talks to viewers about her enthusiastically heartwarming novel in verse, Odder. 

Everyone wants to meet Odder, the Queen of Play. Odder spends her days off the coast of central California, practicing her underwater acrobatics and spinning the quirky stories for which she’s known. She’s a fearless daredevil, curious to a fault. But when Odder comes face-to-face with a hungry great white shark, her life takes a dramatic turn, one that will challenge everything she believes about herself―and about the humans who hope to save her.

Katherine Applegate’s Odder, is inspired by the true story of a Monterey Bay Aquarium program that pairs orphaned otter pups with surrogate mothers. This poignant and humorous tale told in free verse examines bravery and healing through the eyes of one of nature’s most beloved and charming animals.

Join the conversation and register at https://libraryc.org/santacruzpl/77670.

About the Author: Katherine Applegate is the Newbery Medal-winning and #1 New York Times bestselling author of numerous books for young readers, including The One and Only Ivan, Wishtree, Crenshaw, the Endling series, the Roscoe Riley Rules chapter books series, and the Animorphs series.  She lives with her husband, who writes as the author Michael Grant, and their children in California.

For upcoming author talks, visit https://libraryc.org/santacruzpl/upcoming.

SCPL's Virtual Author Talks are made possible by the Friends of the Capitola Library.

Acompaña al autor e ilustrador Raúl the Third mientras nos habla de su libro ¡Vamos! ¡A leer! Conoce a Lobito y sus amigos mientras exploran el Festival del Libro Love de su biblioteca. Desde demostraciones de libros de cocina y talleres de cómics hasta creación de máscaras y clases de idiomas, esta biblioteca tiene algo para todos los gustos y Lobito está deseando mostrárselo.

Raúl the Third usa su cultura y su experiencia de crecer en la frontera entre Estados Unidos y México para inspirar su arte y sus historias. Se animará a los estudiantes a explorar su mundo a través de una perspectiva creativa. Se planea un dibujo conjunto y se recomiendan materiales y papel para dibujar.

Por Favor: Tenga en cuenta que esta fecha tendremos dos presentaciones de Raúl the Third: una en español y otra en inglés. Asegúrese de registrarse en el formato que prefiera.

Registrarse en https://libraryc.org/santacruzpl/80230.

Sobre el autor: Raúl the Third es un ilustrador, autor y artista superventas del New York Times y tres veces ganador del premio Pura Belpre, residente en Boston. Su obra se centra en la experiencia mexicoamericana contemporánea y sus recuerdos de su infancia en El Paso, Texas, y Ciudad Juárez, México. Actualmente está adaptando sus libros "World of Vamos!" a una serie animada de televisión con Silvergate Media y Mercury Filmworks.

Para las próximas conversaciones del autor, visite https://libraryc.org/santacruzpl/upcoming.

Las Charlas Virtuales de autor son posibles gracias a Friends of the Capitola Branch Library.