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Here’s how to celebrate your favorite Kansas City bookshop for Independent Bookstore Day

By Kynala Phillips
Cori Smith sits in her new bookstore BLK + BRWN, Friday, June 18, 2021, in Kansas City, Mo. “I always was surrounded by Black and brown literature. And so I always was just very interested in Black books, Black authors, stories about people that look like me. And so that’s kind of been steadfast throughout my life,” Smith said. The store will open Saturday, June 19, 2021.
Cori Smith sits in her new bookstore BLK + BRWN, Friday, June 18, 2021, in Kansas City, Mo. “I always was surrounded by Black and brown literature. And so I always was just very interested in Black books, Black authors, stories about people that look like me. And so that’s kind of been steadfast throughout my life,” Smith said. The store will open Saturday, June 19, 2021. Rebecca Slezak rslezak@kcstar.com

It’s Independent Bookstore Day on Saturday, April 30, which means it’s time to give your Amazon Prime account a well-deserved break and get ready to patronize your favorite local bookshops.

Local bookstores like Flagship Bookstore in Strawberry Hill and BLK & BRWN at 39th Street and Baltimore Avenue offer a wide variety of titles for customers to choose from. This weekend, there will also be a number of events in celebration of Independent Bookstore Day.

BLK & BRWN will also be hosting a poetry open mic night in partnership with The Kansas City Defender, on Friday, April 29 between 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.

On Saturday, April 30, Flagship Bookstore will offer 10% off storewide, plus a few giveaways from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. There will also be a bookmark making workshop from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and vegan barbeque from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The Green Door Bookstore & Gift Shoppe is hosting its own celebration for Independent Bookstore Day. There will be face painting, giveaways and more at 7713 W 151st St., Overland Park on Saturday, April 30, from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Here’s a map of independent bookstores in the Kansas City area to help you plan out your own Independent Bookstore Day celebration. Each purple book icon will include the shop’s name, address, website and more. If we missed your favorite indie bookshop let us know at kcq@kcstar.com.

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