Hooray! The Midwest Indie Bookstore Roadmap is on the way! Our printer in Minneapolis is shipping them today, so they'll start arriving at our bookstores early next week. Here's highlights for booksellers to get acquainted with for Independent Bookstore Day promotions and beyond.

Our Roadmap and Shopping Guide resources are found on the following pages...

Combining inspiration, humor, and entomology, Instagram artist Ali Beckman (@SoFlyTaxidermy) is the internet's go-to gal for bug-related content that makes you a happier human. Bee a Good Human features the best of Beckman's art. With 106 color illustrations, many of which have never appeared online, this gift of a book will make you consider the bigger picture—and laugh a little too—as she shares her thoughts on self-love, body positivity, joy, and much more.

To celebrate Independent Bookstore Day, when readers spend at least $15 USD (or the local equivalent) at their local bookstore between April 24th and 26th, they’ll get to select a free audiobook from Libro.fm! Get the list of audiobooks and details at libro.fm/ibd and find both graphics and social copy on the Libro.fm Bookseller Hub.

Check out our new calendar. Members get free event listings.

April 24: Independent Bookstore Day

May 5-5: Spring Forward, MIBA's spring event (registration coming soon)

May 25-27: U.S. Book Show (register for the event)

May 3-9: Children's Book Week

May 12: Macmillan Fall Preview

June 8-9: Edelweiss BookFest (Register for $30 until April 1. Receive an additional $5 discount if you register by March 20 using the discount code "Bookfest Community")

August 21: Sign up for Bookstore Romance Day

April 15: Application deadline for BINC's higher education scholarships; apply here

Jerry Cowley from the regional Book and Toy chain has two news items to share.

Via Craigs List post; located in Quincy, IL

"Local independent Bookstore for sale; Owners retiring. Good local staff still on board. Approx. 4300 sf; great location on busy thoroughfare, with Hobby Lobby and Hy-Vee anchors. Presently sells Books, magazines, Toys and gifts. Product mix could be shifted to new owners taste.

Fixtures from Borders, nice golden oak finish; good condition. Other ancillary spinners and displays. Booklog Inventory & POS software. Price negotiable; Would sell for inventory at cost.

Via Craigs List post; located in Warrensburg, MO

"Bookstore closing; All fixtures for sale. Hastings style dark walnut and brown; good condition. Also good general purpose slat-grid fixtures, wall units and gondolas. Many peg-hooks and acrylic shelves.

Price negotiable."

Subterranean Books new digs via Shelf

Subterranean Books, St. Louis, Mo., hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony Saturday in its new, expanded space at 6271 Delmar Blvd.

Doing good at EyeSeeMe via Shelf

Earlier this month, St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Jack Flaherty made a surprise donation to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis: "thousands" of books purchased from EyeSeeMe African American Children's Bookstore in University City, Mo., the St. Louis Business Journal reported.

"I'm returning to The Yellow House by Sarah M. Broom, which has been sitting in my TBR for since it became a National Book Award Finalist. I'm in the middle of a big renovation of the kitchen in my own yellow house, which was built in 1905, so I'm enjoying thinking about the history of the spaces we live in and the lives of the people who inhabited them." —Carrie

"Jo Jo Makoons: The Used-to-Be Best Friend led to a very lengthy discussion with my 6-year-old about the nature of ARCs and book publishing. My daughter is so excited about this book that we now have May 2022 marked on our calendar in the HOPES that there will be more Jo Jo Makoons books by then. This is the best of all books for young girls, featuring a confident girl who is proud of her Ojibwe heritage and whose voice anyone will recognize after hanging out with a 7-year-old. This series will be a staple in our house." —Kate

939 Seventh St W

St Paul MN 55102