Join more than 550 independent bookstores in 49 states for parties, author readings, in-store events, and exclusive day-of merchandise.
Lehigh Valley, PA, April 9, 2019 Independent Bookstore Day marks its fifth year of celebrating independent bookstores nationwide on Saturday, April 27th, with literary parties around the country.
Let’s Play Books Bookstore will be celebrating with multiple author & special guests, free activities, specials, balloons & cupcakes to celebrate their 5-year anniversary!
“IBD is the best day of the year to showcase to the community exactly what makes us so special. There is nothing like an indie bookstore – if you don’t believe us, just come and see for yourself” says Kirsten Hess, owner of Let’s Play Books Bookstore. Highlights include:
- Young Adult & Adult author, Jennifer Gilmore, IF ONLY (HarperTeen, 5/18).
- Children’s Book Author & Illustrator, David Kirk, Spider’s Tea Party (all) and My Hugging Rules (Pipweasel, Early release – 5/19).
- Special Appearance by Fancy Nancy, sponsored by A Storybook Party.
- Silent Auction benefiting Allentown Needs a Bookshop.
- Special guest bookseller, Rob Dougherty with specials & signed books.
- Bookish, one-of-a-kind prizes, give-a-ways, and Sesame Street #ThisIsMyStreet fun!
- #ThisIsMyStreet activities – specialty drinks at South Mountain Cycle & Café, bookmark activity Inner Child Fun, outdoor play and so much more!
- 5th year birthday bash – Balloons, cupcakes, and exciting shop news to share!
To see the complete schedule of events and all current information, please visit:
https://www.letsplaybooks.com/event/5th-annual-independent-bookstore-day
Let’s Play Books Bookstore will also offer exclusive day-of merchandise created especially for Independent Bookstore Day by major publishers and authors. Since its inception in 2014, more than 200 authors have demonstrated their support for independent bookstores by donating work for Bookstore Day.
The fifth annual National Independent Bookstore Day is sponsored in part by Penguin Random House, Ingram, and The American Booksellers Association. Last year participating bookstores saw an average increase in sales of 200% on Independent Bookstore Day, with some stores up as much as 1000% over their average Saturday sales in April. In just five years, Independent Bookstore Day has become a book-buying holiday, increasing book sales on a national level.
The 2019 IBD author ambassador Tayari Jones says, “Indie stores stock books by hand and sell them the same way. They know what we want and need to read because they know us, as people. A writer is not a machine. A reader is not an app. We are human beings and so are the independent bookstore workers who show up each day and place books in our hands.”
The 2019 Bookstore Day Exclusives:
Independent Bookstore Day is proud to announce a selection of exclusive books and art pieces for Bookstore Day 2019. These limited edition, unique items will be available only at participating IBD bookstores, on April 27. Not before. Not online. And not in chain stores.
Some of the 20+ exclusive Bookstore Day books and items available include:
Women Talking (signed edition with an exclusive IBD-only cover)
Author: Miriam Toews
Fans of Toews’ darkly funny fiction have been waiting for this one. And we have an exclusive signed edition with a redesigned, IBD-only cover. Women Talking is a transformative novel — as completely unexpected as it is inspired—based on actual events that happened between 2005 and 2009 in a remote Mennonite community.
The 2019 Bad Citizen Graffiti Stencil: COURAGE IS AS CONTAGIOUS AS FEAR
Author: Susan Sontag
Every year we create our signature “Bad Citizen” Graffiti Stencil to highlight the authors and the words that push us to think, read, and be disruptive when necessary.
Man-Eaters Vol. 1 (signed edition with an exclusive IBD-only cover)
Author: Chelsea Cain Illustrator: Kate Niemczyk
This special edition with an exclusive cover is signed by both women creators! From the creative team that brought you the groundbreaking Eisner-nominated series Mockingbird, this trade paperback collects the first story arc (#s 1-4) of the unconventional coming-of-age tale-including the informative survival handbook, “CAT FIGHT! A BOYS’ GUIDE TO DANGEROUS CATS” and all-new never-before-published extras!
What to Eat with What You Read: A Guide for Book Clubs and Other Literary Gatherings
A companion to last year’s IBD bestseller The Book Club Journal, comes this funny, helpful guide with reading lists, recipes, and menu suggestions from 25 of our favorite authors, including Min Jin Lee, Mary Roach, Roxane Gay, Jennifer Egan, and Robin Sloan.
Ada Twist and the Perilous Pants (Exclusive, signed edition with FREE iron-on Ada patch)
Author: Andrea Beaty
A special Independent Bookstore Day exclusive autographed copy of ADA TWIST AND THE PERILOUS PANTS signed by bestselling author Andrea Beaty. Includes a collectible embroidered iron-on patch of stellar scientist Ada Twist.
To see all of the exclusive items created for IBD and for all current information, visit:
http://www.indiebookstoreday.com
About Independent Bookstore Day
Independent Bookstore Day began in California in 2014 and became a national event the next year. A host of publishers and authors such as Neil Gaiman, George Saunders, Roxane Gay, Lauren Groff, James Patterson, Stephen King and many others have donated work in support of the event. Independent Bookstore Day (IBD) is produced by writer and former bookseller Samantha Schoech in partnership with the Northern California Independent Booksellers Association. Its sponsors include Penguin Random House, Ingram, and the American Bookseller’s Association. www.indiebookstoreday.com
Follow Independent Bookstore Day:
Facebook at Facebook.com/BookstoreDay
Twitter @BookstoreDay
Instagram @indiebookstoreday. #BookstoreDay
Follow Let’s Play Books Bookstore:
Facebook at Facebook.com/letsplaybooks
Twitter @letsplaybooks
Instagram @letsplaybooks. #PlayBooks
Penguin Random House:
Instagram @randomhousekids. #ThisIsMyStreet
Information and image provided to TVL by:
Kirsten Hess
Let’s Play Books Bookstore
244 Main St.
Emmaus, PA 18049
610-928-8600
