Attention bookworms: It’s time to show local bookstores some love.
Independent Bookstore Day is Saturday, April 25, and to celebrate, eight local shops are hosting the fourth annual Rock Cities Book Crawl.
What is a book crawl? It’s similar to a bar crawl, but instead of drinks, you hop from store to store to grab books. The goal is to visit all local indie bookstores before the end of the day while enjoying special events and perks along the way. A prize basket drawing with book-related gifts from local businesses and makers awaits those who make it to every location and get their book crawl passport stamped.
The theme of this year’s event is “A Spectrum of Stories,” and it will be the biggest one yet, with twice as many participating bookstores as last year.
“As independent booksellers, we aren’t in competition with each other,” Beautywood Books said in an Instagram post about the 2024 crawl, “but are colleagues in the work of bringing together our respective communities to share in and celebrate the love of stories.”
The book crawl takes place all day for book lovers and readers of all ages, so be sure to get the kiddos involved. Plus, you’ll get the best book recommendations from a variety of genres. Pick up a passport at any of the participating locations and get to reading.
Here are the participating bookstores:
Beautywood Books // The NLR bookstore is bringing the book crawl back after another successful year. Beautywood has hosted special storytimes and vendors in the past, so follow the shop on social media for updates. This month, Beautywood Books, part of the new Iron & Ink Collective, recently opened a new bookstore in downtown Little Rock. (More information below.)
1701 N. Main St., North Little Rock | 501.487.4323 | Instagram | Facebook
Paper Hearts Bookstore // Paper Hearts will offer plenty of activities during the book crawl, with details to be announced at a later date. The Pettaway store has an expansive reading room next door that serves as a reading nook, book club meeting room, art gallery and pop-up space.
408 E. 21st St. | Website | Instagram | Facebook
WordsWorth Books // The Heights’ favorite cozy bookstore is also participating in this year’s book crawl. Stop in and peruse the shelves from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. on April 25. WordsWorth hosts many author conversations throughout the year, so be on the lookout for upcoming events. Plus, you’ll get to see the newly renovated space.
5920 R St. | 501.663.9198 | Website | Instagram | Facebook
Pyramid Art, Books & Custom Framing // Find all genres from classics to new releases at this Dunbar Neighborhood store. The shop has a large selection of books by Black authors and cultural gifts, and it’s definitely a book crawl can’t-miss. Plus, peruse Hearne Fine Art’s latest installation while you shop.
1001 Wright Ave. | 501.372.5824 | Website | Instagram | Facebook
The Book Store // The Book Store in North Little Rock has served the community since 1976 with a wide range of books and wonderful customer service. The indie shop often has a large sale in tandem with the book crawl, so pack a bag or box and be prepared to stock up.
3832 John F. Kennedy Blvd., North Little Rock | 501.753.1879 | Website | Facebook
The People’s Bookstore at Iron & Ink Collective // The People’s Bookstore is one of Little Rock’s newest indie shops, dedicated to amplifying BIPOC voices in radical literature, movement history and liberatory storytelling. It’s located inside Iron & Ink Collective, a new community space and bookstore offering secondhand books from Beautywood Books.
112 S. Cross St. | Instagram | Facebook
Iron & Ink: Instagram | Facebook
Pocket Dimension Bookshoppe // Also new to the book scene is Pocket Dimension Bookshoppe in Argenta. Here, you’ll find shelves dedicated to fantasy and science fiction. Pocket Dimension started as a mobile truck but has since grown into a brick-and-mortar shop, offering an inclusive space where people can browse books, hear from guest authors and more.
713A N. Main St., North Little Rock | Website | Instagram | Facebook
Sammy’s Bookshelf // This marks the first Rock Cities Book Crawl for the bookshop on Rodney Parham. Sammy’s Bookshelf offers something for every reader, including kids and lovers of the classics, along with plenty of great gifts and small joys. Don’t miss it on April 25.
11121 N. Rodney Parham Road #13A | Website | Instagram | Facebook
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