Help celebrate Independent Bookstore Day and Country Bookshelf’s 60th Anniversary on Saturday, April 29th from 9am–6pm. Independent Bookstore Day is a one-day national party taking place at indie bookstores across the country on the last Saturday in April. In addition to the special events planned, there are exclusive books and literary items that you can only get on that day. Not before. Not after. Not online. Why Celebrate Independent Bookstores? They’re not just stores, they’re community centers and local anchors run by passionate readers. They are entire universes of ideas that contain the possibility of real serendipity. They are lively performance spaces and quiet places where aimless perusal is a day well spent. In a world of tweets and algorithms and pageless digital downloads, bookstores are not a dying anachronism. They are living, breathing organisms that continue to grow and expand. In fact, there are more of them this year than there were last year.
Country Bookshelf’s schedule of events is as follows. – 9am: Doors open to exclusive merchandise (limited quantities) – ALL DAY: Refreshments while you browse. Watch for tags marking author-recommended books and other special displays throughout the store. – 11am-noon: Local author Janet Fox will give book recommendations for attendees and the young people in their life. She will be ready to sign copies of her own books, including The Charmed Children of Rookskill Castle, Faithful, Forgiven, and Sirens. – 12pm: Book readings of beloved children’s author Amy Krouse Rosenthal to honor her memory. – 2pm: Kids, get your superhero masks and hear children’s author Sara Crow read from her new book, Even Superheroes Need to Sleep. Learn all about sleeping superheroes and how this book came to be. Great for parents, grandparents, and everyone! – 3pm: Book Trivia to celebrate the book that celebrates bookshops, My Bookstore. Fill out your trivia sheet beforehand and be ready for the Live Book Trivia Finals to win prizes! – 3:45pm: Bubbly toast to celebrate Country Bookshelf’s 60 years and a special announcement for the decades to come. – 4pm: Billings author Sean McDaniel presents Criminal Zoo and answers all your questions about his chilling literary debut. Due to Sean’s terrifying imagination, it is suggested the kids be left downstairs. Book signing and more bubbly will bring this Indie Bookstore Day celebration to a close.
The Country Bookshelf is located at 28 W. Main St. downtown. All events are free and open to the public. For more information about the store or these events, visit www.countrybookshelf.com/ or call (406) 587-0166. •