The Storefront

Independent Bookstore Day Saturday, April 27, 2024

Celebrate Independent Bookstores! Ten years ago, California Bookstore Day (which was inspired by Record Store Day and Free Comic Book Day) became a national Independent Bookstore Day. On the last Saturday of April, readers flock to bookstores to show their support for these cornerstones of community. Many stores will have exclusive items, free treats, or special guests. You can find official participating stores using the list and interactive map on IndieBound.org. That site also lists regional challenges, like the Seattle Independent …

Apr 26, 2024

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Apr

25

2024

Thursday Themes

Bestseller Spotlight: Bright and Bold

On Wednesdays, the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association Bestseller list is published. Every week, we love to see what books have been most popular in independent bookstores around our region. As we peruse the list, we ponder patterns. Then we present this weekly feature: Thursday Themes. The bestseller list contains eyepopping color this week. Enjoy! Martyr! Kaveh Akbar (#13 …

Apr

24

2024

Face Out

Afikomen, Where’d You Go? written by Rebecca Gardyn Levington, illustrated by Noa Kelner

This book is a Where’s Waldo? of Passover. The Passover seder can run very long and so there is a bit of a break for the kids to search for the afikoman, a special matzo the hosts have hidden for this very purpose. Whoever finds the afikoman usually gets a prize so this search is …

Apr

23

2024

The Storefront

Independent Bookstore Day Spirit Week— Culminating in Independent Bookstore Day Saturday April 27, 2024

Sure it sounds kind of funny, but that’s because it’s FUN! This week is Independent Bookstore Day SPIRIT WEEK. It hearkens back to school spirit with its themed days of zaniness, but instead of leading up to Homecoming or Field Day, it culminates in Independent Bookstore Day. Don’t worry— you don’t have to run out …

Apr

22

2024

Face Out

Climbing the Volcano: A Journey in Haiku written by Curtis Manley, illustrated by Jennifer K. Mann

For Earth Day and Poetry Month, this is the perfect book! Two Washington creators combine forces in this story of outdoor exploration. Haiku poems from the point of view of a young hiker help us all appreciate being outside together. This book gorgeously encapsulates the experience of hiking as a group of big people and …

Apr

19

2024

Face Out

Immortal Pleasures by V. Castro

Here is V. Castro’s Immortal Pleasures, which is the story of La Malinche, a Nahua woman who translated for Cortés back in the day. History hasn’t been kind to La Malinche, mostly due to the fact that Cortés left a lot of bodies in his wake. However, in Castro’s hands, La Malinche is reborn as …

Apr

18

2024

Thursday Themes

Bestseller Spotlight: Nature for Earth Day

Every Wednesday, the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association publishes the regional bestseller list. On Thursdays, we celebrate Thursday Themes to shine a spotlight on some of the books from the list and give our brains a different way of thinking about books. As we prepare for Earth Day on April 22, we see a lot of titles about the …

Apr

17

2024

Face Out

How to Protect Bookstores and Why: The Present and Future of Bookselling by Danny Caine

    If you ever wondered what kinds of conversations bookstores have behind the scenes about small business economics, community, obstacles, and current legislative landscapes, this is for you. Caine profiles a host of excellent stores who have faced different types of struggles that apply to other bookstores and small businesses in general. Read this …

Apr

16

2024

Award Winners

Congratulations to The Patterson Spring Bonus Booksellers!

  In celebration of the publication of The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians: True Stories of the Magic of Reading by James Patterson and Matt Eversmann, James Patterson awarded spring bonuses to booksellers around the country. The full list of bookseller recipients is here. Through April 30, 2024, you can nominate librarians. Among them, …

Apr

15

2024

Face Out

Loudermilk: Or, The Real Poet; Or, The Origin of the World by Lucy Ives

Truly the only novel about an MFA poetry program that matters; part parody, part homage, and another Cyrano de Bergerac retelling, this ridiculous farce of collegiate-town manners and betrayal is a heady read. –Ruby, Annie Bloom’s Books, Portland, OR Poetry month theme reading can include novels, too– novels in verse and novels about poetry. Ask for …

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