{"id":284469,"date":"2026-04-24T22:24:10","date_gmt":"2026-04-24T22:24:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/284469\/"},"modified":"2026-04-24T22:24:10","modified_gmt":"2026-04-24T22:24:10","slug":"independent-bookstore-day-2026-in-southern-california-gets-pet-friendly-event-orange-county-register","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/284469\/","title":{"rendered":"Independent Bookstore Day 2026 in Southern California gets pet-friendly event \u2013 Orange County Register"},"content":{"rendered":"

April 25th is Independent Bookstore Day<\/a>,\u00a0and many of us readers honor and celebrate it by making pilgrimages to our favorite local shops to add more books to our already teetering TBRs.<\/p>\n

And you know what? A day devoted to books, bookstores and\u00a0booksellers, somehow \u2026 just got better.<\/p>\n

The reason? Dogs.<\/p>\n

SEE ALSO:\u00a0Like books? Get our free Book Pages newsletter about bestsellers, authors and more<\/a><\/p>\n

\"DogsDogs and books are a great combination. (Getty Images)<\/p>\n

But before we get to the pups, have you made your plans for IBD: The store(s) you want to visit, the books you\u2019ll be shopping for, the\u00a0T-shirts<\/a>, bookmarks<\/a>, totes\u00a0and merch\u00a0you\u2019ll be carrying out of the store?<\/p>\n

If not, check out the map I put together of more than 90 independent bookstores<\/a> from Santa Barbara to San Diego. Start planning now.<\/p>\n

OK, so\u00a0last weekend at the LA Times Festival of Books, I spoke with Lauren Salerno, the owner of The Undead Bookshop, about her plans for Independent Bookstore Day. And these plans involve adoptable dogs.<\/p>\n

The Undead Bookshop<\/a> is a traveling bookstore specializing\u00a0in horror, sci-fi and fantasy, and it pops up all over Los Angeles and the surrounding areas, including Pasadena, Whittier, Long Beach, Highland Park and more.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe will basically go anywhere, honestly,\u201d laughs Salerno. \u201cWe just like to talk about books. We like to be around people who are excited about books.\u201d<\/p>\n

SEE ALSO:\u00a0Where\u2019s the nearest bookstore? See our map of 90 SoCal bookshops<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Lauren Salerno, the owner of the Undead Bookshop, at the Los Angeles TImes Festival of Books on April 19, 2026. (Photo by Erik Pedersen \/ SCNG)<\/p>\n

The six-month-old store isn\u2019t a bookstore on wheels like The Fleuria<\/a>, Orphan Books<\/a> or All Booked Up<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe move around; we just haul everything. We set up the shelves, we set up the tables, we put the books on the shelves and haul everything back out when we\u2019re done,\u201d says Salerno, a former librarian just like the folks at Black Cat Fables in Monrovia<\/a>.<\/p>\n

So,\u00a0I can hear you through the computer: WHAT ABOUT THE DOGS, ERIK?<\/p>\n

\u201cApril 25th is Independent Bookstore Day across the nation, and as a part of that, we\u2019re also participating by popping up at Pup Culture Dog Rescue in Pasadena<\/a>,\u201d says Salerno.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re going to have all of the adoptable pets coming over, so people can come pet some puppies. We\u2019ll have our whole bookstore set up so you can shop for books. We\u2019ll have a coffee vendor, some tarot readers, some signing authors. So it\u2019s gonna be a really fun afternoon from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.\u201d<\/p>\n

And to catch up with the Undead Bookshop in the future, check out its schedule online<\/a> to find one of the shop\u2019s upcoming events.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re kooky, we\u2019re a little weird,\u201d says Salerno. \u201cI mean, I think everyone\u2019s a little bit weird at heart. Everybody has a little curiosity they would like to satiate, and books are the best way to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n

SEE ALSO:\u00a0Get book recommendations and stories about bestsellers and authors in our book section<\/a><\/p>\n

\"IndependentIndependent Bookstore Day 2026. (Courtesy of IBD \/ ABA)<\/p>\n

There are plenty of other Independent Bookstore Day events<\/a> to check out, and even another map, too<\/a>! So whether you fancy morning mimosas in Manhattan Beach<\/a> or a bookstore crawl across the San Gabriel Valley<\/a>, find something that sounds good to you<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Also, once again, Libro.fm is sponsoring its Golden Ticket event<\/a> with\u00a0more than 1,500 golden tickets\u2014each good for 12 free Libro.fm audiobooks\u2014 hidden in\u00a0participating bookstores (including around Southern California<\/a>).\u00a0And they are having a sale on audiobooks. Go to\u00a0libro.fm\/ibd<\/a>\u00a0for more info.<\/p>\n

And if you enjoy this free books newsletter, please consider sharing it with someone who likes books or getting a $1 digital subscription<\/a>\u00a0to support local books coverage.<\/p>\n

Thanks, as always, for reading!<\/p>\n

Map: 90 independent bookstores in Southern California<\/a><\/p>\n

Jason Reynolds says teen lives are complex. His books honor these struggles<\/a><\/p>\n

\"(Courtesy(Courtesy of The Undead Bookshop and Pup Culture Dog Rescue)<\/p>\n

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