The Globe Pequot Publishing Group has acquired Linden Publishing, the Fresno, Calif., publisher founded in 1980 that specializes in nonfiction with a strong emphasis on woodworking and crafts, as well as titles in health, business, self-improvement, and true crime. The company's imprints include Linden (woodworking, arts & crafts), Quill Driver Books (general nonfiction), Craven Street Books (California regional history), and Pace Press (fiction). The company has 275 active titles in its backlist. This is the second company purchase for Globe Pequot this year: in January, it bought Lake Isle Press.

Globe Pequot indicated that Linden's woodworking titles complement Globe Pequot's Astragal Press program, while its broader crafts and how-to publishing align with Stackpole Books' list. In addition, Linden's Quill Driver imprint brings a range of backlist titles in health, business, and self-improvement, enhancing Globe Pequot's nonfiction publishing.

Bob Marsh, president of Globe Pequot, said, "Linden Publishing has long been a cornerstone in the woodworking and crafts space. Their catalog aligns seamlessly with our existing strengths at Astragal Press and Stackpole Books. This acquisition allows us to deepen our presence in these categories while leveraging the rich backlist and intellectual property Linden has developed over decades. We see tremendous opportunity to expand these titles through new formats, merchandising, and cross-promotion across our lists."

Linden Publishing v-p Kent Sorsky said, "I can't overstate how pleased I am that it is Globe Pequot, specifically, that is acquiring our line of books. I can't think of a better home for our titles, which fit quite naturally into Globe Pequot's existing catalog."

The National Association of Black Bookstores has declared April 7 National Black Bookstore Day, a national observance honoring the cultural, economic, and community impact of Black-owned bookstores across the U.S. The day also celebrates the late Georgia "Mother Rose" Peat West, founder of Underground Books in Sacramento, Calif.

On NBBD, readers and supporters are encouraged to visit a Black-owned bookstore, make a purchase, share their experience on social media using #NationalBlackBookstoreDay and #NAB2, and help amplify the visibility of Black literary spaces in their communities. A national directory of Black-owned bookstores is available to help readers find and support stores in their area.

In recognition of the day, the African American Mayors Association, which represents more than 500 Black mayors, partnered with its members to work with mayors, city councils, and legislators across cities and counties nationwide to issue proclamations recognizing NBBD and the vital role Black bookstores play in their communities. 

NAB2 founder Kevin Johnson said: "My mother, Mother Rose, founded and ran UndergroundBooks in Oak Park. This day is deeply personal to my brother and me, it's a way to honor her legacy and ensure that the stories, voices, and spaces she cherished continue to thrive. National Black Bookstore Day is about more than commerce. It is a declaration that Black bookstores are essential, that they are worth celebrating, and that they are here to stay." 
 
A $570,000 investment from Robert Smith, founder and CEO of Vista Equity Partners, anchors the launch of NBBD, "ensuring that the next generation of Black readers and scholars has access to literature that reflects and affirms their stories," the organizers said. Together with NAB2, 19,000 books are being donated to students at 19 Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

"Supporting NAB2 and recognizing National Black Bookstore Day is about ensuring that future innovators, leaders and entrepreneurs have access to the stories that expand what they believe is possible and give them the confidence to pursue a new way forward," said Smith. "I'm proud to stand with NAB2 in advancing that work."

Blanche Richardson, founding board member and owner of Marcus Books in Oakland, Calif., observed: "For decades, Black bookstores have been the connective tissue in communities across the nation. National Black Bookstore Day gives us a moment to make that visible on a national scale and to remind America that these spaces are not relics of the past, they are pillars of the future." 

Local Books, a mobile independent bookstore, officially hit the road to celebrate its grand opening on March 19 with an appearance at the historic Stutz Building in Indianapolis, Indiana., during Indy Indie Book Crawl, the Hamilton County Reporter noted.

Owned by Carmel residents Ryan Fields and Charlene Cruz, who operate out of a custom-built mini truck, the bookshop's curated inventory focuses on authors and subjects native to Indiana and the broader Midwest, aiming to spotlight regional voices and foster a deeper connection to local culture.

"We wanted to create a bookstore experience that literally meets people where they are," Fields said. "By transforming a tiny Japanese mini truck into a mobile shop, we can bring the bookstore experience right to local neighborhoods, markets, and festivals."

For the spring and summer seasons, the owners plan to attend community pop-ups and festivals, as well as being available for personal gatherings and corporate events. 

In an Instagram post after the grand opening, they noted: "Huge thanks to everyone that stopped by the @thestutzbuilding for @indyindiebookcrawl 2026! This was our grand opening and the entire community made us feel welcome! Watch for us at future events all around Indiana!"

Midnights Bookshop will officially open its storefront location on April 17 at Kettleman Station, 400 E. Kettleman Lane, Suite 11, in Lodi, Calif, the News-Sentinel reported. A grand opening celebration will be announced at a later date.

Co-owners Amanda Zimmerman and Selena Moffett launched Midnights Bookshop last summer as a traveling pop-up at local fairs and farmers markets.

"We thought a brick and mortar was just too big of an idea to open right off the bat," Zimmerman said. "We wanted to see if (another bookseller) was something Lodi wanted. So when we'd go to events, we had a lot of people ask us where our store was located, or ask us why we didn't have one."

The friends have been members of local book clubs for about a decade, and Zimmerman said Moffett approached her one day with the proposal to start the business, the News-Sentinel noted, adding that the mobile bookshop, named "after Taylor Swift's 10th album--they are both huge fans of the pop star... first popped up at the Downtown Lodi Farmers Markets."

Their selection focused on contemporary authors in the romance, fantasy, science fiction, and thriller genres. "We really thought that as millennials, there was a hole in Lodi (for contemporary authors)," Zimmerman recalled. "We thought we could fill that gap with new titles and follow trends."

The bookshop, which has since expanded to include classics as well as many "banned" books, "will feature a carefully curated selection of books, cozy corners for reading and a range of small events including author visits, workshops and community gatherings," the News-Sentinel wrote. Literary-related merchandise will also be available.

"Our pop-ups were always full of energy and surprises, but there's something special about having a place where stories can unfold slowly--where people can linger, explore, and feel at ease," Moffett said. "We can't wait to welcome Lodi into our world of books."

Zimmerman added: "We are very excited to be opening. We think this is something we could bring to the reading community in town. We want to build that community and get more people who love reading and going on adventures when they do it."

Michael Dennis Browne, poet and librettist who lived in Minneapolis, Minn., and was one of the founders of the Loft Literary Center, died March 29. He was 85. The Pioneer Press reported that Browne, who was born in England, won two Minnesota Book Awards for poetry for You Won't Remember This and Selected Poems, 1965-1995. He was professor emeritus at the University of Minnesota, where he taught for 39 years.

Michael Dennis Browne

The Loft Literary Center posted on social media: "We are saddened to hear of the passing of Michael Dennis Brown. He was an incredible poet and one of the Loft’s founders. Thank you, Michael, for your lifelong dedication to the literary arts."

Patricia Hampl, a poet and memoirist who was one of Browne's colleagues at the university, told the Pioneer Press: "He was a wonderful colleague. It is no wonder he became a beloved poet, so 'there' for the students. When you teach that long it's easy to do it by rote. He never fell into that, always being available to students and always alive to poetry. I'm not surprised he had such a success as a librettist. He was a very musical poet; he had a strong lyric sensibility, such a sense of language and musicality."

Hampl added that Browne "took a kind of delight in being a Midwesterner," and loved the work of Minnesota poet James Wright, also a member of the university's faculty.

Poet Dave Bengtson said Browne changed his life and became a good friend, the Pioneer Press noted. Bengtson was teaching at Long Prairie high school when he took a poetry workshop where "this guy with a British accent gets up and reads a poem about Robert Bly," he recalled. "I was blown away by how brilliant he was, his memorization, quoting and quoting from all kinds of poems. I knew nothing about how to write poetry. When I met with him alone I remember being encouraged." 

Browne visited Bengtson's high school classrooms from 1980 to 2001. "The kids loved him. His poems were so accessible for them. Sometimes he'd go into the elementary classes with poems he'd written for children... it was amazing to watch how those kids were being transformed even by a few moments of his poetry," Bengtson said.

Craig Hella Johnson, founder and artistic director of the Conspirare choral ensemble, collaborated with Browne on several projects, including the oratorio Considering Matthew Shepard. Johnson posted on Facebook: "My dear friend and soul brother, creative partner and inspiration--Michael Dennis Browne--died this morning. I feel deep grief and sadness to lose him, but I also feel and carry profound gratitude both for his friendship and partnership and also for the boundless ways he made our world and our hearts larger through his extraordinary creative gifts as a writer and tender of souls."

As a librettist, Browne also collaborated for many years with the late Minnesota composer Stephen Paulus, the Pioneer Press wrote. Their post-Holocaust oratorio, "To Be Certain of the Dawn," was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize in music. Browne also wrote the libretti for the church opera "The Three Hermits," which included "Pilgrims' Hymn," sung at the funerals of Presidents Ronald Reagan and Gerald Ford. Their song "The Road Home" was sung at President Jimmy Carter's funeral.

Although Browne was known for his poetry and lyrics, his daughter, Mary Sylvestre, recalled him writing little rhymes and "silly stuff in a good way" when he was home. "He had this funny little phrase 'not famous but famous-ish.' He was aware of recognition but not egotistical about it. He lived a full and beautiful life, helping through words and teaching. He really felt he had done his work in a positive way and his work carries on in his words and music. He was fulfilled."

Ellen Burns, co-owner of Books on the Common, Ridgefield, Conn., was awarded the Alice Paul Legacy in Action Award from the Ridgefield Democratic Town Committee. The award is named for suffragette and ERA advocate Alice Paul, who lived in Ridgefield for four decades.

The Committee wrote: "A 40-year Ridgefield resident and owner of Books on the Common, Ellen has combined professional excellence with unwavering civic commitment. In 1998, she co-founded the Ridgefield Open Space Association and spearheaded the community-driven campaign that saved the 480-acre property now preserved as Bennett’s Pond State Park.... She has served on numerous town boards and nonprofit organizations, shaping policy, preserving open space, and strengthening local institutions. In 2025, she was honored as the first "Icon" by Keeler Tavern Museum & History Center. Ellen's decades of service have helped safeguard Ridgefield's natural beauty and civic spirit.

Pictured: (l.-r.) Connecticut State Senator Julie Kushner, Ellen Burns, and State Senator Cece Maher.

Click here to see the latest Independent Press Top 40, the weekly bestseller list celebrating the bestselling 40 fiction and 40 nonfiction titles from independent publishers, as sold by independent bookstores across the country. The list is sponsored by the Independent Publishers Caucus and the American Booksellers Association.

This week's debut fiction titles: 

26. Horses: Poems by Jake Skeets (Milkweed Editions)
36. Hide and Seek: A Dark Stalker Romance (Deluxe Limited Edition) by Sheridan Anne (Podium Publishing)
37. The Husky and His White Cat Shizun: Erha He Ta De Bai Mao Shizun (Novel) Vol. 11 (Special Edition) by Rou Bao Bu Chi Rou, illus. by St (Seven Seas) 

This week's debut nonfiction titles:

12. Becoming the Warrior: Harnessing Your Inner Strength to Silence Self-Doubt by Jenn Donahue (Amplify Publishing)
14. Darkology: Blackface and the American Way of Entertainment by Rhae Lynn Barnes (Liveright)
21. Counterweights: An Essential Practice for Holding Hope in a Heavy World by Shannan Martin (Fleming H. Revell Company)

At Chronicle Books:

Melanie Roth has joined the company as senior manager, trade sales, independent trade and school & library.

Katie Campbell has joined the company as publicist.

Merry-Go-Round Broke Down by David Woo and Margalit Shinar (Regalo Press).

Today:
Today: Christina Geist, author of Before You Fly Away: Life Lessons from Home (Andrews McMeel, $19.99, 9798881612023).

Good Morning America: Sheldon Simeon, co-author of Ohana Style: Food from Hawai'i, for Your Family (Clarkson Potter, $35, 9780593581025).

The View: Arsenio Hall, author of Arsenio: A Memoir (Atria/Black Privilege Publishing, $28.99, 9781982191368).

Book TV airs on C-Span 2 this weekend from 8 a.m. Saturday to 8 a.m. Monday and focuses on political and historical books as well as the book industry. The following are highlights for this coming weekend. For more information, go to Book TV's website.

Sunday, April 5
8 a.m. Anand Gopal, author of Days of Love and Rage: A Story of Ordinary People Forging a Revolution (Simon & Schuster, $33, 9781668062173). (Re-airs Sunday at 8:30 p.m.)

11:50 a.m. D. Graham Burnett, Alyssa Loh, and Peter Schmidt, authors of Attensity!: A Manifesto of the Attention Liberation Movement (Crown, $30, 9798217086153). 

2:38 to 7 p.m. Coverage of the 2026 Tucson Festival of Books, which took place in March at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Ariz.

• 2:28 p.m. A discussion on investigative reporting with Jonathan Karl, author of Retribution: Donald Trump and the Campaign That Changed America, Carol Leonnig, author of Injustice: How Politics and Fear Vanquished America's Justice Department, and Jacob Soboroff, author of Firestorm: The Great Los Angeles Fires and America's New Age of Disaster.
• 3:32 p.m. A discussion on the Middle East with Loubna Mrie, author of Defiance: A Memoir of Awakening, Rebellion, and Survival in Syria, Mimi Nichter, author of Hostage: A Memoir of Terrorism, Trauma, and Resilience, and Daniel Zoughbie, author of Kicking the Hornet's Nest: U.S. Foreign Policy in the Middle East from Truman to Trump.
• 5:06 p.m. A discussion on the American Revolution with Kostya Kennedy, author of The Ride: Paul Revere and the Night That Saved America, Edward Larson, author of Declaring Independence: Why 1776 Matters, and Jonathan Turley, author of Rage and the Republic: The Unfinished Story of the American Revolution.
• 6:01 p.m. A discussion on misinformation and society with David Blumenthal, author of Whiplash: From the Battle for Obamacare to the War on Science, John Fugelsang, author of Separation of Church and Hate: A Sane Person's Guide to Taking Back the Bible from Fundamentalists, Fascists, and Flock-Fleecing Frauds, and Christopher Mathias, author of To Catch a Fascist: The Fight to Expose the Radical Right.

A shortlist has been revealed for the 2026 International Booker Prize, which recognizes the best works of long-form fiction or collections of short stories translated into English and published in the U.K. and/or Ireland. The winning book will be named May 19 in London. This year's prize is supported by Bukhman Philanthropies.  

The contribution of author and translator is given equal recognition, with the £50,000 (about $66,040) prize divided equally between them. Each shortlisted title receives £5,000 (about $6,605). The 2026 International Booker Prize shortlisted titles are:

Taiwan Travelogue by Yáng Shuāng-zǐ, translated by Lin King
The Witch by Marie Ndiaye, translated by Jordan Stump
On Earth as It Is Beneath by Ana Paula Maia, translated by Padma Viswanathan
The Director by Daniel Kehlmann, translated by Ross Benjamin
She Who Remains by Rene Karabash, translated by Izidora Angel
The Nights Are Quiet in Tehran by Shida Bazyar, translated by Ruth Martin

Chair of the judges Natasha Brown said: "Our shortlist offers readers a six-stop tour of highlights from the world of translated fiction. With narratives that capture moments from across the past century, these books reverberate with history. While there's heartbreak, brutality and isolation among these stories, their lasting effect is energizing. Re-reading each book, we judges found hope, insight and burning humanity--along with unforgettable characters to whom I'm sure readers will return again and again. Make space on your TBRs; this is an unmissable reading list."

Booker Prize Foundation CEO Gaby Wood commented: "This year, 2026, marks the 10th anniversary of the International Booker Prize in its current form. In each of those years it has reminded us of the way translated fiction allows us to travel through stories, unbound by geographical borders. This year's shortlist, selected with great care by our stellar panel of judges, does that particularly well."

---

The winner of The Story Prize for books published in 2025 is André Alexis for Other Worlds (FSG Originals). He receives $20,000. The other finalists were Lydia Millet for Atavists (W.W. Norton) and Ayşegül Savaş for Long Distance (Bloomsbury Books). They each receive $5,000.

The judges cited Other Worlds for "the playfulness, elegance, and originality of its stories... Other Worlds so seamlessly traverses the boundaries of time, of nationality, and of genre that such boundaries seem diaphanous. This fleet-footed collection is both rooted in oral and literary traditions and yet entirely contemporary. Being many things at once, full of sly innovations, and quietly upending conventions, Other Worlds is wholly original and wholly itself."

Alexis was born in Trinidad and grew up in Canada. His novel Fifteen Dogs won the 2015 Scotiabank Giller Prize and the Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize. He is also the recipient of the Windham-Campbell prize in fiction. His debut novel, Childhood, won the Books in Canada First Novel Award, the Trillium Book Award, and was shortlisted for the Giller Prize and the Writers' Trust Fiction Prize. His other books include Pastoral, Asylum, Beauty and Sadness, Ingrid & the Wolf, Despair and Other Stories of Ottawa, and Lambton, Kent and Other Vistas: A Play.

Selected new titles appearing next Tuesday, April 7:

American Fantasy: A Novel by Emma Straub (Riverhead, $30, 9798217046850) follows a woman on a themed cruise with a '90s-era boy band and thousands of other aging fans.

Rites of the Starling by Devney Perry (Entangled: Red Tower Books, $32.99, 9781682816752) is book two in the Shield of Sparrows romantasy series.

Yesteryear: A Novel by Caro Claire Burke (Knopf, $30, 9780593804216) follows a modern "tradwife" influencer transported to 1855.

Revenge Prey by John Sandford (Putnam, $32, 9780593852064) is the 36th Lucas Davenport thriller.

The Ending Writes Itself by Evelyn Clarke (Harper, $30, 9780063444614) follows six struggling writers competing to finish the novel of a deceased famous author. 

The Faraway Inn by Sarah Beth Durst (Delacorte, $14.99, 9798217024308) is a cozy YA fantasy featuring a young woman who moves to rural Vermont to help her great-aunt maintain her magical B&B.

Just One Gift by Linda Sue Park, illus. by Robert Sae-Heng (Clarion, $18.99, 9780063324633) is a picture book of linked poems about a classroom's answer to the question, "If you could give someone special in your life a present--just one gift--who would you choose, and what would it be?" 

Joyful, Anyway by Kate Bowler (The Dial Press, $30, 9780593734193) argues that joy can always been found regardless of happiness or things getting better.

Troika: Three Generations, Three Days, and a Very American Road Trip by Irena Smith (She Writes Press) is a memoir of a road trip by three women from one family who cover a range of geographic, generational, and emotional distances.

London Falling: A Mysterious Death in a Gilded City and a Family's Search for Truth by Patrick Radden Keefe (Doubleday, $35, 9780385548533) investigates a suspicious death in 2019.

Here Where We Live Is Our Country: The Story of the Jewish Bund by Molly Crabapple (One World, $32, 9780593229453) explores a Jewish political movement in early 20th-century Eastern Europe.

This Land Is Your Land: A Road Trip Through U.S. History by Beverly Gage (Simon & Schuster, $30, 9781668033104) visits 13 historical sites across the U.S.

Planet Money: A Guide to the Economic Forces That Shape Your Life by Alex Mayyasi and the Hosts of NPR's Planet Money (W.W. Norton, $29.99, 9781324078777) is a guide to everyday economics from NPR's Planet Money podcast.

Paperbacks:
You Are Fatally Invited by Andy Pliego (Bantam, $20, 9780593871591).

The Paris Match by Kate Clayborn (Berkley, $19, 9780593819371).

The Name Game by Beth O'Leary (Berkley, $19, 9798217190676).

The Lumber Baron's Wife by Lynn Austin (Tyndale, $18.99, 9781496476395).

From last week's Indie bestseller lists, available at IndieBound.org, here are the recommended titles, which are also Indie Next Great Reads:

Hardcover
Evil Genius: A Novel by Claire Oshetsky (Ecco, $28.99, 9780063466487). "I'm obsessed with Oshetsky's fiction like Celia Dent is obsessed with finding her way to a better life, and just like her mission, I'm always pining for the next tale Oshetsky will spin. She's a masterful writer of literary fiction." --Chelsia Rice, Montana Book Company, Helena, Mont.

So Old, So Young: A Novel by Grant Ginder (Gallery/Scout Press, $30, 9781668051771). "I loved the premise of this book--following a group of college friends for 20 years through the lens of multiple social gatherings. Getting to know these characters as a fly on the wall was truly unique." --Bobbi Irving, Penguin Bookshop, Sewickley, Pa.

Paperback
Stag Dance: A Quartet by Torrey Peters (Random House Trade Paperbacks, $18, 9780593446355). "Filled to the brim with visceral and liberatory queer writing. I found two of these stories years ago and they molded me into the reader I am today. To say I'm over the moon that people will finally read these stories is an understatement. Flawless!" --Grace Sullivan, Fountain Bookstore, Richmond, Va.

Ages 4-8
Judgy Bunny and the Terrible Beach by Scott Rothman, illus. by Linzie Hunter (Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, $18.99, 9781728296722). "Such a cute book! We have all been Judgy Bunny at some point in our lives--everything is too overstimulating and we're just in a bad mood. But with a little bit of patience and kindness even the most judgy of Judgy Bunnies can learn to have fun!" --Imaan Ramezanzadeh, Elliott Bay Book Company, Seattle, Wash.

Ages 7-10
Bravepaw and the Heartstone of Alluria by L.M. Wilkinson, illus. by Lavanya Naidu (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, $13.99, 9781665986588). "Remarkable! This illustrated fantasy novel is Redwall for a younger generation: adventurous, whimsical, and fun. May we find the Bravepaw in us all!" --Nicole Brinkley, Oblong Books, Millerton, N.Y.

Ages 14+: An Indies Introduce Title
The Free Verse Society by Delali Adjoa (Peachtree Teen, $19.99, 9781682638408). "This book broke me open. Yes, there are dark themes, but the story is a welcome breeze, a breath held and released, a scab falling off to reveal the healed skin beneath. What I thought was a story about two troubled kids in a poetry group turned into so much more." --Sydne Conant, Ink Cap Books, Stoughton, Wis.

[Many thanks to IndieBound and the ABA!]

Cuban American historian Ada Ferrer (Cuba: An American History) delves into her family's experiences in her powerful, bittersweet memoir, Keeper of My Kin. Through a combination of archival research, personal experience, and dozens of family letters, Ferrer recounts her immigration as a young child to the United States with her mother, her life in the States, her family's deep and lasting connections to Cuba, and the troubled life of her older half-brother Poly, who initially stayed behind. While Ferrer's narrative is a parallel accounting of two children's lives--one with American advantages and one without--it is also a haunting reflection on storytelling, who creates narratives, and who gets to decide whose story is worth telling.

Ferrer weaves together her experiences of childhood in the U.S. with stories of her extended family--grandparents, tías, innumerable cousins--back in Cuba. She portrays the triumphs and challenges of Fidel Castro's regime, linking well-known historical events to her family's particular narrative: for example, Poly's journey from Cuba to Florida during the 1980 Mariel Boatlift. She writes tenderly of her father's late-in-life, prolific correspondence with his son, Juan José, and of her own eventual trip to Cuba to meet Juan José and his family. Ferrer also points out the complications of visiting Cuba on a tourist visa and as a historian; though her blood and family history tie her to the island, paperwork has often made it complicated for her to visit.

In some ways, Ferrer's memoir is an exploration of the guilt she has carried for many years, knowing that Poly's story turned out so radically different from hers, partly because she grew up in the U.S. But she explores the effects of both chance and choice, the weight her mother carried due to her children living in two different countries, and Poly's complicated experiences as a young man in Cuba and the U.S. She recounts his issues with education and employment, his persistent mental health struggles, as well as her mother's efforts to help him. Ferrer admits the difficulty of reconciling Poly's story with her own, but she also points to her (and his) experiences as a wellspring for her career as a historian writing about both her homelands.

Sprinkled with family photos and excerpts from letters, Keeper of My Kin is a poignant tribute to the bonds of familial love across history, geography, and political and personal challenges. --Katie Noah Gibson, blogger at Cakes, Tea and Dreams

Shelf Talker: In this memoir, Cuban American historian Ada Ferrer delves into her family's complicated history.

Operating under the perhaps dubious theory that nobody gets enough of--or gets sick of--April Fool's Day jokes, pranks, and general tomfoolery, I give you some highlights from independent bookstore social media posts yesterday celebrating #IndieAprilFool'sDay:

Parnassus Books, Nashville, Tenn.: "We're so excited to share that we're rebranding! After a years-long coordinated and intense lobby from the shop dogs, we are officially changing our name to Pawnassus. It's about time the dogs get their due! Stop by the store today and congratulate them on their hard earned victory."

Kepler's [Kepler s] Books and Magazines, Menlo Park, Calif.: "As part of our 70th anniversary rebrand, we have followed ChatGPT's advice to remove the possessive apostrophe in our name to optimize it for versatility and practical use in digital environments."

Buffalo Books & Coffee, Buffalo, Minn.: "Good morning and Happy April 1st! There will be no April Fools jokes about coffee, because that's just mean. Our poor little plants in the window boxes are really hoping the forecast is a joke, but alas... anyway, stop in and try an Easter Egg Latte this morning. Grab a fresh scone, because breakfast is important. See you soon!"

Reedmor Books & Brews, Portsmouth, N.H.: "Due to over-barking, Luna has been fired from her position, effective immediately. Letters of farewell may be directed to hello@reedmorbooks.com..... APRIL FOOLS! Loony's a yapper, but she's our yapper."

Anthology for Books, Geneseo, Ill.: "Yo, bros! Anthology is going in a new, more masculine direction. We welcome your dude energy and ideas as we make this transition. What belongs in our manly plans?"

Dickson Street Bookshop, Fayetteville, Ark.: "Starting today, April 1st, 2026, instead of alphabetizing our shelves by author, all of our books will now be alphabetized by Arthur. He has devised a somewhat unorthodox alternative order for the alphabet that we think y'all will really like. He's a bit odd, but he's a good guy. You may occasionally see him scurrying to-and-fro, pay no mind. He's just doing his thing."

Woolly Bear Books, Carnegie, Pa.: "Blind dates with a book. You know 'em, you love 'em... but they're a little blah, right? That's why we're introducing something new in the shop: Blind Date With a Book AND BIRD. Now you get a book plus a reading buddy, all in one portable package. We are admittedly still working out some kinks (so if you see a confused cardinal or a befuddled goldfinch hanging around the neighborhood, please let us know.) These are quite literally flying off the shelves, so stop down and get one before they're gone!"

Neighborly Books, Maryville, Tenn.: "Something new is in the air at Neighborly Books! We believe reading should engage all five senses. That's why we are thrilled to announce a new book format coming soon to the store... SCENTED BOOKS. Every chapter now comes with its own immersive aroma experience. The first titles to release include: Moby Dick: salty ocean breeze smells; Little Women: comforting whiffs of tea and lavender; The Hunger Games: smoky campfire aroma; The Great American Cookbook: fresh cinnamon roll scent."

Downtown Books, Manteo, N.C.: "We are THRILLED to share--we finally realized what downtown was missing and we're going to make it happen! You can now rent DVDS and VHS tapes at Downtown Books! Thanks Blockbuster!"

The Gutter Bookshop, Dublin, Ireland: "Don't Judge a Book By Its Cover--to encourage our customers to be more spontaneous with their reading choices we will now be shelving our books like this."

Griffin Books, Penarth, Wales: "The rumours are true, we're expanding the shop... AGAIN!... The new GRIFFIN BOOKS BELOW section will open after Easter and will be accessed via a trapdoor at the front of the adults shop. At just 110 cm high it will provide a unique opportunity to crawl through the shelves offering a book browsing opportunity like no other. Titles in this section will focus on horror and dark romance. Keep an eye on our socials for updates!"

Búho, Brownsville, Tex.: "A.I. is the super-duper future and Búho will not be left behind!... Introducing, HootGPT for iOS & Android--all of the world's books, Sparknotes & Goodreads reviews, an 'empalagante' yet soulless flyer creator, as well as your impromptu digital therapist--ALL IN ONE APP!!..." 

And finally, in the spirit of the moment:

Good Neighbor Bookstore, Lakewood, N.Y.: "Congratulations to our President, Donald J Trump, on being the honored recipient of Good Neighbor Bookstore owner Bob Lingle's childhood prize of a BOOK IT! Medal for being an All-Star Reader.... Good Neighbor Bookstore presents this prestigious honor in hopes that if Congress passes the Nationwide Book Ban Bill, HR 7661, and it makes its way to the President’s desk, it will be vetoed. Don’t be an April Fool, please contact your representatives in Congress. Thank you for your attention to this matter."

West Side Books, Denver, Colo.: "I was going to post an April Fool's joke but the world we live in is enough of one. Choose kindness, peace & joy. Read books."