Sunday evening marks the start of the American Booksellers Association’s third Children’s Institute (April 19-21) in Pasadena, Calif. The success of the second standalone Children’s Institute last year in San Antonio, Tex., paved the way for this year’s gathering with 190 booksellers and more than 50 authors. The event directly follows the LA Times Book Festival.
Events
LA Times Book Festival: One of the biggest cultural events on the West Coast takes place on Saturday and Sunday at the University of Southern California with dozens of authors and performers, a children’s stage, a YA stage, and many booths, including 11 with local booksellers.
Southern Kentucky Book Festival: The festival, which takes place in Bowling Green, includes a children’s day and writer’s conference today, followed by activities on Saturday.
Closings
Marlborough, N.H., Bookstore Closing: Since the building that houses Homestead Bookshop sold quickly, Robert Kenney has been forced to liquidate the 45-year-old used bookstore earlier than he had planned.
Lyon Books to Close: Unable to find a buyer, Heather Lyon and her husband, Aaron, have decided to shutter their 13-year-old bookstore in Chico.
Other News
RJ Julia Marks Its First 25 Years: Roxanne Coady and her husband, Kevin, are inviting customers to a day-long party this Sunday to celebrate the Madison, Ct., bookstore’s first quarter century.
Bloomsbury Books Celebrates 35 Years: Owners Karen Chapman and Sheila Burns are holding a party Sunday afternoon to mark the Ashland, Ore., bookstore’s coral anniversary.
New Owners for Tampa Bookstore: David and Ellen Brown are retiring after 23 years and turning over the keys to Old Tampa Book Company to employee Carrie Carnes and her husband, Matthew Saxon.
Crest Hill Bookstore Moving Across the Street: After 38 years, bookstore owner Jan Saley has decided to go big and is relocating the Crest Hill, Ill., store in a space that is triple its current size. She expects to complete the move this weekend.
East West Bookstore Moves Nearby: The nearly 30-year old Seattle bookstore is moving up in the world, literally, across the street and above Whole Foods Market. The store will celebrate its grand opening May 1, followed by a “community honoring and blessing” on May 2.
Looking Glass Books for Sale: Earlier this week Greg and Jessica Bogard put their La Grande, Ore., bookstore announced up for sale and encouraged the new owner to adopt bookstore cat Amber.
