BOOKMARK THIS EVENT. Five independent bookstores in the state will participate in the second annual Western Wisconsin Book Crawl. Here in the Valley, locals can pop by Dotters Books, Amanita Bookshop (pictured) and Dragon Tale Books. 

Calling all book lovers, bookworms and bibliophiles, it's time for a road trip around the Chippewa Valley and beyond! This is your sign to grab a friend, hit the road and shop local in the second annual Western Wisconsin Book Crawl from Friday, April 17 through Saturday, April 25.

Organized by the American Booksellers Association (ABA), the nationwide effort – known as "Independent Bookstore Day" – celebrates the unique, personal touch that independent bookstores bring to their communities, distinguishing them from large chain retailers.

More than 1,600 independent bookstores in the United States will join in the week-long event this year; five independent bookstores in the region will participate in the Western Wisconsin Book Crawl.

Here in the Valley, locals can pop by Dotters Books (307 S. Barstow St., Eau Claire), Amanita Bookshop (1500 S. Hastings Way, Eau Claire) and Dragon Tale Books (216 Main St. E, Menomonie). 

Additional bookstores in the roundup include Chapter2Books (226 Locust St., Hudson) and Fox Den Books (117 S. Main St., River Falls).

Ongoing updates on the Western Wisconsin Book Crawl – and nation wide "Independent Bookstore Day" – can be found online via Facebook.

Gillette Kempf, the owner of Chapter2Books along with Ann Vogl, owner of Dragon Tale Books, spearheaded the inaugural Western Wisconsin Book Crawl event in 2025.

With the same five participating indie bookstores reporting in, the inaugural year was a huge success.

According to the organizers, the first year built awareness, increased foot traffic and sales, as well as excitement and fun for small businesses.

"I’ve been a bookseller (and) bookstore owner for 20 years," Kempf said. "The thing I love most about the indie bookstore world is the collaborative spirit between bookstores."

Western Wisconsin often gets overlooked, Kempf added, as it's caught between larger metropolitan areas including Madison and Milwaukee; Chicago, Ill. to the East, along with Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn. to the West. 

"I wanted to highlight that we have a vibrant literary environment right here," Kempf said. "You can see the collaborative nature at work with this event. I had an idea. Ann Vogl reached out and brought the other three bookstores into the loop – and Fox Den Books took the lead in promoting this year’s event."

Vogl weighed in on the importance of indie bookstores in the Chippewa Valley, noting "Collections are curated to meet individual community needs; supporting a local independent bookstore is supporting your neighbor and keeping money in the community."

Jaimie Marshall, co-owner of Amanita Books, agreed. 

"We believe independent bookshops serve as both a refuge and a resource, providing space for unique and niche voices and helping create a literary culture in the community," Marshall added.

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WE DON'T NEED AN ALGORITHM TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT ART.

We offer so much that a company like Amazon never can. ... We sell books because we love them, value them and learn from them.

MARGARET LEONARD

OWNER, DOTTERS BOOKS

Patrons who participate in the Book Crawl are eligible to enter raffles for bookish prizes and enjoy 10% off a purchase at each store. Snag the event postcard – to be stamped at all five bookstores – for a chance to win $250 in gift cards from the combined Western Wisconsin shops.

Depending on each store, other fun activities will be offered: author meet-ups and talks, bookmarks, new merchandise, raffles, stickers, treats and more.

Margaret Leonard, owner of Dotters Books, emphasized the importance of supporting small businesses as a means to keep funds close to the community. In a world where small shops are under direct threat from Amazon and big-box retailers, independent booksellers represent more than a "capitalist endeavor that exists to make money."

"We are community gathering spaces where ideas flourish," Margaret Leonard, owner of Dotters Books (pictured) said. "You know us and we know you – each time you visit, it makes our day."

The book crawl and these entrepreneurs are here to remind patrons of the impact one local purchase can make to your neighbors and community members whose livelihoods are rooted in each storefront.

"When we sell a book, not only are we selling a whole world, a whole experience, we’re helping support the author who wrote it, and the press which published it," Leonard said.

"We don’t need an algorithm to talk to you about art," she continued. "We offer so much that a company like Amazon never can. We genuinely want you to come back and tell us whether you loved or hated the book you bought.

"We sell books because we love them, value them and learn from them."

The Western Wisconsin Book Crawl will take place April 17-25, featuring five total bookstores: Amanita Books, Chapter2Books, Dotters Books, Dragon Tale Books and Fox Den Books. For more information about the event, head to its Facebook page.