Just in case you missed it, last Saturday (October 12) was Love Your Bookshop Day. Created by BookPeople, the Australian booksellers association, LYBD celebrates bookshops across the country and highlights what makes local bookshops great. This year's theme was "Giving the Gift of Imagination," in recognition of the crucial role bookshops play in inspiring imagination.
BookPeople CEO Robbie Egan summed up the festivities in this week's association newsletter: "Love Your Bookshop Day was a lot of fun, and from many reports, a good day of sales for many of you. I visited local bookshops Nice Stack of Books (Meeniyan) and the Hare & Tortoise (Korumburra) and there were lots of smiling locals rolling through the doors in support of their local bookshop. I even witnessed a young fellow finding the Libro.FM Golden Ticket. He had a huge grin and was negotiating with his mum about whether they would be sharing. Thanks Libro.FM for that promotion.
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| At Turning Page Bookshop | |
"It was a big day of social media and while there is no universal experience, feedback has been very positive. Thank you all for putting in such amazing efforts in your bookshops. Following the activity across the day was super fun and we hope you enjoyed yourselves. I got arthritis from liking so many posts! Thanks again to publishers for helping out with giveaways, helping get authors into bookshops, and for excellent amplification on socials. And who knew so many people wanted a little penguin? Not me, but PRH backed this one in big time."
Ah, the penguin. I love the penguin. I half-considered flying to Australia just to nab one of Penguin Random House Australia's Personal Penguins.
Author Yumiko Kadota shared a video of her own penguin quest to Sydney's Constant Reader Bookshop: "Support your local bookshop by purchasing a book today. If you're like me and you're a sucker for ridiculously cute merch, some bookshops are offering a Penguin figurine! I already know this little guy is going to look so stinkin' cute on my bookshelf!"
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| At Bookshop Bowral | |
Even before LYBD, the Bookshop in Darwin had heralded the arrival of the bookish birds, noting: "After a long journey the Personal Penguins have arrived.... They're turning up all over the shop in weird and wonderful places... Can you help us give them some Top End homes?"
BookPeople noted that it had "heard about book lovers who traveled far and wide to purchase books and grab a little penguin. There have been tales of customers trying to pre-order a penguin and someone emailed the office with offers of cash in exchange for a 'huddle' of Penguins. Bookshops have reported ending the day with empty classics shelves."
Ah, but enough about the penguins. No, wait. The penguins just kept showing up in social media posts. I couldn't resist them:
The Bookshop Bowral, Bowral: "Just one of the giveaways we have in store for Love Your Bookshop Day.... Thanks @penguinbooksaus. See you in the bookshop!
Shakespeare's Bookshop, Blackwood: "@mikelucasauthor with his book suggestions to get a Penguin figurine.... Thank you to everyone who came out and supported us on Love Your Bookshop Day.... Many books have gone to new homes, many cupcakes and biscuits were eaten and many little penguins have waddled into new homes."
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| At Bookshop Darwin | |
The River Read, Noosaville: "Did you know it's Love Your Bookshop Day?!? Celebrate with us today by purchasing 2 Penguin Random House books and get your own personal penguin. Available til we run out so don't miss out!"
Bookgrove, Ocean Grove: "Connie... its time to say goodbye to this ace vibrant person who has been an integral member of Bookgrove for almost 4 years.... So if you LOVE your bookshop and want to say goodbye to Connie and get one of the penguins that she is holding, get into Bookgrove this Saturday."
Chestnut Tree Bookshop, Melbourne: "This Saturday is Love Your Bookshop Day and to celebrate we're giving away these super sweet penguin figurines to the first 25 individuals to purchase a penguin book in store!... Can't wait to see you there."
Farrells Bookshop, Mornington: "Meet the Personal Penguin--a 5 cm figurine that embodies the magic of reading! You can snag yourself one of these adorable companions by purchasing any two penguin books this Love Your Bookshop Day (Saturday 12th October). Don't miss out, this only applies while stock lasts!"
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| At The River Read | |
The Bookshop, Darwin: "Thanks to those who joined our Love Your Bookshop Day celebrations today! We had an absolute blast and we hope you did, too. Whilst the decos are coming down and the Personal Penguins are being packed away, our Pay It Forward for youth initiative will remain."
BookPeople summed up LYBD nicely: "As the sun sets on LYBD 2024, we want to say the biggest THANK YOU to Australia's literary community.... Thank you to Penguin Books Australia for those adorable collectable LYBD penguins, the perfect way to celebrate books and welcome people inside bookshop doors.... And of course, thank you to the BOOKSELLERS! An essential artery of Australia's literary heart, you have the power to change the lives of little readers, big readers and authors everywhere. LYBD is all about you, so if no one said 'Thank you' on the day, here it is now: THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO!' "
And, from this side of the planet, thanks for all the penguins.