Agoura Hills will participate in the "one city, one book" program this year, officials said, with plans being drawn up for a series of citywide book discussions in early November.

The City Council voted last month to spend about $8,000 from the general fund to cover some costs of the project, which is designed to create a shared experience of reading among a large number of people throughout the city.

"One City, One Book: Agoura Hills Reads" is part of a growing movement based on a concept initiated in Seattle in 1998 to celebrate the written word and encourage the exchange of ideas. Cities in the U.S., Canada and England have participated, according to officials.

Organizers in Agoura Hills — including representatives of the city and Las Virgenes Unified School District, library officials and others — have a list of three books to encourage children of various ages and their parents to read during the upcoming event.

"The Tortilla Curtain" by T.C. Boyle is the selection for those of high school reading level and higher. "Esperanza Rising" by Pam Munoz Ryan is the choice for middle school readers. "Something's Happening on Calabash Street" by Judith Ross Enderle and Stephanie Jacob Gordon is the book for elementary school students. The titles were chosen based partly on what was done in other cities and on comments from school and library officials.

According to city officials, free public events are tentatively scheduled from Nov. 5-8.

Preliminary plans call for a discussion or similar public gathering related to "Something's Happening on Calabash Street" on Nov. 6, another event about "Esperanza Rising" on Nov. 7, and one on "The Tortilla Curtain" on Nov. 8. Plans for Nov. 5 were not immediately available.

Officials say steps are being taken to enable people to buy the books at discounted prices. Some copies will be available at schools.

The city funds will be used for marketing, agreements with authors to appear and take part in discussions, and light refreshments at the events.

"Fewer and fewer kids are reading these days," said Councilman Harry Schwarz, who gave credit to Mayor Dan Kuperberg for leading the local effort.

"We want our kids and their kids to be readers," Schwarz said. "I think this is a wonderful program to focus the schools' attention and the kids' attention on certain novels."

"I think it has the potential effect of bringing families together," Kuperberg said.

"It's a great program and money well spent," Councilman William Koehler said. He said that video entertainment predominates in the youth culture today and that this program could combat that trend.

The council approved the expenditure 3-0, with members John Edelston and Denis Weber absent.