As the 12th annual Independent Bookstore Day on Saturday, April 26 approaches, the American Booksellers Association promises that this year’s celebration of independent bookselling will be the largest one yet. More than 1,600 bookstores “from all 50 states and territories [are] participating with many stores offering exclusive merchandise and hosting special events," the ABA stated in a release.
ABA marketing manager Courtney Wallace, who is also the organization’s Independent Bookstore Day program director, stated that indies “continue to elevate their creativity and community engagement” with some stores kicking off multi-day festivities before April 26. “It’s clear that indie bookstores are vital hubs that bring people together and shape the heart of their communities,” Wallace said.
The ABA posted an interactive map on its website listing all of the participating bookstores this year. The association also lists more than 50 bookstore crawls, with hundreds of bookstores in 25 states and the District of Columbia participating. The Chicagoland Bookstore Crawl includes 55 stores across that sprawling metro area. Several new indies, such as Bromley’s Books in Marquette, Mich. and Bibliobar in Plano, Tex., among others, are planning on holding grand opening celebrations on April 26.
A wide range of books and merchandise will be available for sale exclusively on IBD. Among books for sale are: a special edition of Lightlark by Alex Aster, signed by the author; a special edition of Horror Movie by Paul Tremblay; a special edition of What You Are Looking For Is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama; a special edition of Hot Mess (Diary of a Wimpy Kid #19) by Jeff Kinney that is signed by the author; signed copies of On Again, Awkward Again by Erin Entrada Kelly that comes with an embroidered patch; Frog and Toad Coloring Book by Arnold Lobel. And, as usual, branded tote bags, tee shirts, baseball caps, posters, stickers, and numerous other sidelines will be available.
Comedian Trevor Noah, this year’s Independent Bookstore Day Ambassador, recalled how as a child, reading allowed him to “envision lands and lives, real and imagined, far beyond anything I could see with my own eyes.” Bookstores, he added, “are where readers can go to find these magical portals into other universes and other minds.” Not only that, he continued, “independent bookstores connect readers to ideas and stories, and they are the rare physical place in our communities where we can connect with each other. It’s up to us to support and sustain these stores, vital hubs that promote reading, learning, and imagining, while fostering a sense of community, providing spaces where diverse voices and ideas can mingle and thrive.”
