Celebrate Independent Bookstore Day!

More than 500 independent bookstores across the country will participate in Independent Bookstore Day on Saturday, April 28. Read my overview to see how local stores are celebrating.

The last Saturday in April is one of my favorite days of the year -- it's a bookstore holiday! Indie bookstores across the US will be celebrating the fourth annual Independent Bookstore Day on April 28. It's a great excuse to get out and support your local stores (and grow your personal library). Every store has its own unique party, offering discounts, treats, author visits, or other bookish activities. There's also special merchandise available at participating stores that you can't get any other day.

Since Crosby and I currently live in Chicago, we will once again be visiting our local Chicago (and surrounding suburban) stores. Last year, we successfully completed the #MyChicagoBookstore Independent Bookstore Day Challenge, visiting 10 participating stores. We're excited that the Challenge is back again this year, with even more local stores participating! Here's how it works:

• Make a purchase of $25 or more at the first participating store you visit to earn your passport and first stamp of the day.

• Get your passport stamped at each additional participating store you visit (no purchase necessary).

• Visit 10 stores to get 10% off at all participating bookstores for the entire year!

• OR Visit 15 stores to get15% off at all participating bookstores for the entire year!

• Use #CHIBD18 to share photos from your indie bookstore tour!

To get Chicagoans geared up and ready for this special day, I've gathered a list of what's happening at Chicagoland stores. I've broken it into stores participating in the MyChicagoBookstore Challenge and stores not participating in the Challenge, but still celebrating the day. While we completed the Challenge last year, I must admit I am torn on whether to make that the main goal again this year. There are many great stores not participating in the Challenge that I'd also love to celebrate on this day. Whether you (or we) choose to complete the Challenge this year, what matters is that we all get out and show our support!

And for those of you who aren't in Chicago, be sure to check the Independent Bookstore Day website to see who is participating near you. As indieland grows, we hope to offer information on more cities!

Chicago Bookstore Challenge

See this great handy map of participating stores so you can plan your own bookstore crawl!

Chicago - Beverly

• Bookies - It's "Buy a Book at Bookie's Day!" The event was created to support the store after a recent theft. There is also an author event with R.C. Goodwin, author of the psychological thriller, Model Child.

Chicago - Hyde Park

• 57th Street Books - Stop in at 6 pm to hear from author of Tales of an Ecotourist, Mike Gunter.

• Seminary Co-op Bookstore - Catch FRESH Ayres with David Stovall, author of 21st Century Jim Crow Schools, at 3 pm.

• Powell's Books Chicago - anyone who picks up their passport at Powell's will be eligible to enter into a drawing for Powell's gear, and three lucky winners will have their choice of either a t-shirt or tote bag! Everyone will receive 20% off any sale-sticker book(s) purchased. And for you early birds, they open at 9 am!

Chicago - Pilsen

• Pilsen Community Books - Grab coffee and treats!

• Open Books - Pilsen - You don't want to miss their bi-annual Garage Sale! Sale runs 10 am to 5 pm, and all kids books are $1, all paperbacks are $2, and all hardcovers are $3. Fill an entire box with books (35-40 total) for only $40. The sale is also open on Sunday, so you have another chance to catch it if you miss it on Indie Bookstore Day.

Chicago - Printer's Row

• Sandmeyer's Bookstore - your day wouldn't be complete without a visit to this historical Printer's Row neighborhood bookstore.

Chicago - The Loop / Downtown

• The Dial Bookshop - Stop here for a coffee and donut break! Serving starting at 11 am until they run out -- so get there early if you want a sweet treat.

• Open Books (West Loop) - Bring the kids to Storytime with Ms. Nancy at 10 am.

Chicago - River West

• Abraham Lincoln Book Shop, Inc - a great place to visit at the start, end or middle of your day!

Chicago - Wicker Park

• Wicker Park Secret Agent Supply Co - Author Jessica Mlinaric signs copies of Secret Chicago: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure! at 1 pm.

• Volumes Bookcafe - Oh so much goodness happening here! A special storytime with author Becky Cattie, a pizza book AND pizza, a Two Brothers Brewery beer tasting, and guest authors around to chat all about books with you.

• Quimby's - stop here to find unique and unusual zines, books, and comics.

Chicago - Lincoln Park

• Read It & Eat It - Come in for refreshments from 11 to 6, including sparkling wine and nonalcoholic beverages! All books will also be 25% off, and all guests who visit will be entered into a raffle to win a "Season Authors Event Pass" that lets the winner into 10 author events in 2018.

Chicago - Logan Square

• City Lit Books - Visit at 4 pm for a discussion and book signing with Jean Iversen, author of Local Flavor: Restaurants That Shaped Chicago's Neighborhoods.

Chicago - Roscoe Village

• Roscoe Books - Try some home-baked treats from the staff's favorite cookbooks! There will be bookish giveaways all day long and free advance reader copies for anyone who spends at least $50!

Chicago - Lincoln Square

• The Book Cellar - They'll be serving up literary cocktails and free Garrett Popcorn! Plus, embarrassing baby pics of booksellers, photo ops, and a drawing for a chance to get up to 50% off your purchase.

Chicago - Andersonville

• Women & Children First - Stop by for giveaways and complimentary refreshments from Sauce and Bread and The Coffee Studio!

Northern Suburbs - Evanston

• Bookends & Beginnings - Come in for several activities and perks! With all purchases over $10, you get a free Bookends & Beginnings bumper sticker and custom-designed store postcard by artist and staff member George Booker. At 10:30 am, there will be a Reading & Giveaway of the children's book, Maisy Goes to the Local Bookstore. At 3 pm, join the What’s with Chicago? Trivia Contest with author Ellen Shubart (trivia based on her new book, What’s With Chicago?) and compete for prizes. And at 5 pm, The Great Books Foundation launches its new Big Ideas in Popular Culture Anthologies. Authors will read, followed by a group discussion and Q&A.

Northern Suburbs - Winnetka

• The Book Stall at Chestnut Court - The day begins with a Children’s Story Hour at 10:30 am, with mimosas for the adults. They'll be serving Peet’s Coffee, adult beverages (3 to 5 pm), and baked goods prepared by the staff from their favorite cookbooks! There will be activities and prizes for both adults and kids. And if that wasn't enough excitement for you, they'll also be welcoming local authors Lindsay Currie, Rebecca Makkai, Erica O'Rourke, Sarah Aronson, Lisa Jenn Bigelow, and Christine Sneed to talk about their books and recommend some of their favorites to customers.

Northern Suburbs - Lake Forest Book Store

• Lake Forest Book Store - Come in for coffee, donuts, giveaways, and a visit with costumed character NUTBROWN HARE from the book GUESS HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU (10:30 am - 12:00 pm).

Northern Suburbs - Northbrook

• The Book Bin - Bring the children for a reading with local author and illustrator John Paterson.

Western Suburbs - Oak Park

• Magic Tree Bookstore - Drop in for store-wide discounts, treats, and storytime.

• The Book Table - Check out what exclusive Independent Bookstore Day items they be selling.

Western Suburbs - Forest Park

• Centuries & Sleuths Bookstore - Stop in for coffee, music, author signing, and other special features! Author Patricia Skalka will be discussing her book, Death Rides the Ferry, at 2 pm.

Western Suburbs - La Grange/Downers Grove/Naperville

• Anderson's Bookshop - Visit any of their locations! All Anderson’s stores will have special merchandise, goodies and freebies, and a special discount announced that day on their website, good for Indie Bookstore Day only.

Other Stores to Visit

As I mentioned, there are many stores that are not participating in the Challenge, but that are definitely worth a visit if you can make it happen. If not, be sure to check them out another day!

• After Words, Chicago - River North: Cookies and a special in-store sale on used books.

• Uncharted Books, Chicago - Logan Square: A Reading of Prose and Poetry from 6:30 - 8:30.

• Unabridged Bookstore, Chicago - Lakeview: 10% off everything in store and customers get a 10% off coupon for the month of May. And if you're hungry, there will be homemade sweets the Booksellers themselves whipped up. Indie Bookstore Day will also mark the debut of Unabridged's summer reading challenge! Finally, share what you love most about your local indie bookstore in a love note to Unabridged on their bulletin board for a chance to win a $25 gift card.

• Myopic Books, Chicago - Wicker Park: Check out the Myopic Books Poetry Series, featuring Dana Jerman and Jodie Hollander read new poetry, 7 pm.

• Prairie Path Books, Western Suburbs - Wheaton: They'll serve up treats from their favorite cookbooks and you can enjoy them while browsing special shelves with book suggestions by their readers. Also ask about their new Membership program!

• Barbara's Bookstore, Chicago & Burr Ridge: Save 30% on a collection of the staff's favorite books.

Clearly, there is so much to choose from! Be sure to share your adventures on social media, and if you participate in the Challenge, use #CHIBD18. Happy shopping and I wish you all a Happy Independent Bookstore Day!