Upcoming Events
February First Friday
Join us on First Friday for a FREE card crafting station! Create a card for a friend, neighbor, loved one…
Galentine's Day 2026
Join us for a evening dedicated to "ladies celebrating ladies"
Leslie Knope (Parks and Rec) defines Galentine's Day as "a day for ladies celebrating ladies, a gathering of female friends who leave their significant others at home to honor their friendships with personalized gifts, compliments, and waffle-filled festivities, emphasizing platonic love over romantic love."
Join us as we do just that!
Your ticket includes:
The store closed to the public for the private event
Snacks
Friendship bracelet making station
Candle decorating station
Wineglass decorating station
Henna (each person will receive hand henna!)
Goody bag from YBB
$40/person
https://www.eventbrite.com/.../2026-galentines-day-event...
Author Talk & Signing: Maureen McKane
Join us as we welcome local author Maureen McKane and her new book, Walters Way: A Coach, His Runners, and His Race.
This will be a talk with q&a followed by author signing.
About the book:
As the civil rights movement roils the nation, in a quiet Illinois city, Wilbert Walters goes solo to uplift his race by launching Aurora Sundowners Track Club for marginalized Black girls. He sets out to teach the fundamentals of excellence and to prepare his athletes to thrive in a world preset to believe they are extraneous. On the way, they take Junior Olympic Medals. Coach Walters chronicles the glories and defeats of his life to a White author as both set out to understand what it all means. It is his true story of living two lives simultaneously. In one, he is esteemed and awarded. In the other, where he is invisible, disaster hits twice. The second time, he is prepared. This complex, indomitable hero is Everyman. His truth belongs to anyone who has fought to be heard, anyone who is baffled by the story of race in America, and anyone who believes every child has potential.
Full Moon Novella Book Club - Grief is the Thing with Feathers - Max Porter
Here he is, husband and father, scruffy romantic, a shambolic scholar--a man adrift in the wake of his wife's sudden, accidental death. And there are his two sons who like him struggle in their London apartment to face the unbearable sadness that has engulfed them. The father imagines a future of well-meaning visitors and emptiness, while the boys wander, savage and unsupervised.
Part novella, part polyphonic fable, part essay on grief, Max Porter's extraordinary debut combines compassion and bravura style to dazzling effect. Full of angular wit and profound truths, Grief Is the Thing with Feathers is a startlingly original and haunting debut by a significant new talent.
Buy on bookshop.org - Grief Is the Thing with Feathers: A Novel
Poetry Book Club
Join the Poetry Book Club as they dive into Unrivered by Donna Vorreyer, local author!
Pre-Order "The Beheading Game"
Release date March 24, 2026
Ticket price includes a pre-order copy of The Beheading Game which will be signed by the author!
Bio: Rebecca Lehmann is an award-winning poet and essayist. She has an MFA in poetry from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, where she was a Maytag Fellow. She is the author of three collections of poetry: Between the Crackups; Ringer, winner of the AWP Donald Hall Prize (selected by Ross Gay); and The Sweating Sickness. Her writing has appeared in American Poetry Review, The Kenyon Review, NPR’s The Slowdown, and the Academy of American Poets’ Poem-a-Day. She lives in Indiana with her family, where she is an associate professor of English and Gender and Women’s Studies at Saint Mary’s College.
In her newest adventure, she explores magical realism and alternative history.
The Beheading Game - The Beheading Game begins in the hours after Anne Boleyn's beheading, when she wakes to find herself unceremoniously laid to rest in a makeshift coffin, her head wrapped in linen at her knees. Discarded by King Henry VIII for being unable to give him a male heir and reviled by Cromwell for being too smart for her own good, she was ultimately executed based on trumped-up charges of adultery, incest, and high treason.
Anne escapes the Tower of London, sews her head back on, then sets out on a quest to kill Henry VIII before he can marry her own lady-in-waiting Jane Seymour. The stakes are high--if Jane gives birth to a rival heir, Anne's daughter, Elizabeth, will lose her claim to the throne. Traveling the streets of London in the guise of a commoner, with the help of a prostitute who becomes a trusted friend (and perhaps something more), Anne soon realizes how little she knew about life in the real world.
A fantastical journey through the wilds of England and Tudor history, filled with danger and magic and steeped in Arthurian legend, The Beheading Game is a prescient reminder that "mouthy" women have always been punished. Now, thanks to debut novelist Rebecca Lehmann, nearly five hundred years after Anne Boleyn's death, one of history's most maligned women finally has the chance to tell her story.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pre-order-the-beheading-game-tickets-1969893728169?aff=oddtdtcreator
Full Moon Novella Book Club - Minority Report - Philip K. Dick
Many thousands of readers consider Philip K. Dick to have been the greatest science fiction writer on any planet. Since his untimely death in 1982, interest in Dick's works has continued to mount and his reputation has been enhanced by a growing body of critical attention. The Philip K. Dick Award is now presented annually to a distinguished work of science fiction, and the Philip K. Dick Society is devoted to the study and promulgation of his works.
Buy on bookshop.org - https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-minority-report-and-other-classic-stories-by-philip-k-dick-philip-k-dick/c2ccec99870275e5?ean=9780806537955&next=t
Full Moon Novella Book Club - Ella Minnow Pea - Mark Dunn
A hilarious and moving story of one girl’s fight for freedom of expression, as well as a linguistic tour de force sure to delight word lovers everywhere
Ella Minnow Pea is a girl living happily on the fictional island of Nollop off the coast of South Carolina. Nollop was named after Nevin Nollop, author of the immortal phrase containing all the letters of the alphabet, “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.”
Now Ella finds herself acting to save her friends, family, and fellow citizens from the encroaching totalitarianism of the island’s Council, which has banned the use of certain letters of the alphabet as they fall from a memorial statue of Nevin Nollop. As the letters progressively drop from the statue they also disappear from the novel. The result is "a love letter to alphabetarians and logomaniacs everywhere" (Myla Goldberg, bestselling author of Bee Season).
Full Moon Novella Book Club - Ballad of the Sad Cafe - Carson McCullers
One of the most celebrated and enduringly popular works in Southern literature, this collection assembles Carson McCullers's best stories, including her beloved novella "The Ballad of the Sad Café." A haunting tale of love and violence in a small Southern town, the novella introduces readers to Miss Amelia, a formidable woman whose home serves as the town's gathering place. Among other fine works, the collection also includes McCullers's first published story, "Wunderkind," about a musical prodigy who suddenly realizes she will not go on to become a great pianist.
Buy on Bookshop.org - https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-ballad-of-the-sad-caf-and-other-stories-carson-mccullers/f77a60880ce9b826?ean=9780547416601&next=t
Full Moon Novella Book Club - A Clockwork Orange - Anthony Burgess
In Anthony Burgess's influential nightmare vision of the future, where the criminals take over after dark, the story is told by the central character, Alex, a teen who talks in a fantastically inventive slang that evocatively renders his and his friends' intense reaction against their society. Dazzling and transgressive, A Clockwork Orange is a frightening fable about good and evil and the meaning of human freedom. This edition includes the controversial last chapter not published in the first edition, and Burgess's introduction, "A Clockwork Orange Resucked."
Buy on Bookshop.org - https://bookshop.org/p/books/a-clockwork-orange-anthony-burgess/91f779301de978ad?ean=9780393341768&next=t
Pre-Order: Mary Kubica
It's Not Her, the newest book from Mary Kubica, is releasing on Feb. 3, 2026
It's Not Her is apsychological thriller by Mary Kubica about a family vacation at a lake resort that turns deadly when a woman, Courtney Gray, finds her brother and sister-in-law murdered, her niece missing, and her nephew unharmed, leading her to uncover dark family secrets and question who to trust as she searches for the truth. The novel, inspired by the unsolved Keddie cabin murders, is known for its twists and suspense, keeping readers guessing until the end.
With her tour kicking off on the books release date, Mary has graciously accepted our offer to come visit our store prior to her tour! Pre-order your copy of her newest title today and save 10% off!
*Please note: the date of this event is our ordering cutoff date. This is NOT an in-person event. Books will be available for pickup on Wednesday, February 4th.
Unplug @ Yellow Bird Books
Join us for an hour of free "unplugged" reading time and book sharing! This event is open to readers of all ages, so bring the family, or bring a friend, or just come to connect with fellow book-lovers!
Here's what will happen:
1. Bring a book for 20 minutes of silent reading. Seating
is first come, first served, but feel free to bring a blanket or
cushion and make yourself comfortable anywhere in the
bookstore!
2. Read-aloud time from some of our favorite books. (content
appropriate for all ages)
3. Participants will be invited to share about the books they are
reading.
LGBTQ+ Advisory Board Book Club
Join the Aurora LGBTQ+ Advisory Board for their January read, Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid!
Full Moon Novella Book Club - The Summer War - Naomi Novik
The Summer War is a fantasy novella by Naomi Novik, published on September 16, 2025. It is a fairy tale about a young sorceress named Celia who accidentally curses her brother, Argent, and must then work with her other brother to save their land from the summerlings. The story explores themes of storytelling, power, and the influence of narrative.
Order on Bookshop.org - https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-summer-war-naomi-novik/def1d54bc98efa1e?ean=9780593984703&next=t
LGBTQ+ Book Club Presents The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet
All Book Club books are 10% off instore!
National Bestseller!
The acclaimed modern science fiction masterpiece, Hugo Award winner for Best Series!
Follow a motley crew on an exciting journey through space—and one adventurous young explorer who discovers the meaning of family in the far reaches of the universe—in this light-hearted debut space opera from a rising sci-fi star.
Rosemary Harper doesn’t expect much when she joins the crew of the aging Wayfarer. While the patched-up ship has seen better days, it offers her a bed, a chance to explore the far-off corners of the galaxy, and most importantly, some distance from her past. An introspective young woman who learned early to keep to herself, she’s never met anyone remotely like the ship’s diverse crew, including Sissix, the exotic reptilian pilot, chatty engineers Kizzy and Jenks who keep the ship running, and Ashby, their noble captain.
Life aboard the Wayfarer is chaotic and crazy—exactly what Rosemary wants. It’s also about to get extremely dangerous when the crew is offered the job of a lifetime. Tunneling wormholes through space to a distant planet is definitely lucrative and will keep them comfortable for years. But risking her life wasn’t part of the plan. In the far reaches of deep space, the tiny Wayfarer crew will confront a host of unexpected mishaps and thrilling adventures that force them to depend on each other. To survive, Rosemary’s got to learn how to rely on this assortment of oddballs—an experience that teaches her about love and trust, and that having a family isn’t necessarily the worst thing in the universe.
Your Dog Can Talk!
Your Dog Can Talk: An afternoon with Christina Hunger.
Christina Hunger will join us to share her newest book, Your Dog Can Talk. In conversation with Jana Topper.
Christina Hunger is the author of How Stella Learned to Talk. She is a speech-language pathologist and the creator of the project Hunger for Words. She is known for her groundbreaking work in being the first person to teach a dog to talk using a customized communication device and speech therapy techniques.
Join us in a conversation with Jana Topper.
Ticket includes a $5 off coupon for your next in-store purchase at Yellow Bird Books and a copy of Christina's newest book, Your Dog Can Talk: A Step-By-Step Guide to Button Training along with having the author sign it after the event!
Get your tickets while they last!
First Friday Art
Join us for another First Friday with local art! Our theme for this month will be "The Winter Solstice”.
Full Moon Novella Book Club - Foster, by Claire Keegan
A small girl is sent to live with foster parents on a farm in rural Ireland, without knowing when she will return home. In the strangers' house, she finds a warmth and affection she has not known before and slowly begins to blossom in their care. And then a secret is revealed and suddenly, she realizes how fragile her idyll is.
Buy from bookshop.org - https://bookshop.org/p/books/foster-claire-keegan/2f74f4b6707429b7?ean=9780802160140&next=t
LGBTQ+ Book Club Presents Learned By Heart by Emma Donoghue
A wrenching love story" (Chris Bohjalian, The Washington Post) based on the true story of two girls who fall secretly, deeply, and dangerously in love at boarding school in 19th century York, from the bestselling author of Room and The Wonder.
Drawing on years of investigation and Anne Lister's five-million-word secret journal,Learned by Heartis the long-buried love story of Eliza Raine, an orphan heiress banished from India to England at age six, and Anne Lister, a brilliant, troublesome tomboy, who meet at the Manor School for young ladies in York in 1805 when they are both fourteen.
Emotionally intense, psychologically compelling, and deeply researched, Learned by Heartis an extraordinary work of fiction by one of the world's greatest storytellers. Full of passion and heartbreak, the tangled lives of Anne Lister and Eliza Raine form a love story for the ages.
Poetry Book Club: Scream/Queens
Scream / Queen, CD Eskilson's debut poetry collection, examines queerness, mental illness, and transgender identity through the lens of thrillers and B movies. The Creature from the Black Lagoon, Michael Myers, and the Headless Horseman are just a few of the fright-film villains and monsters that populate this book.
Eskilson's formally innovative poems document how a body--a nonbinary transgender body, a chronically ill body, a body carrying trauma--can be understood, accepted, and healed even in a violent sociopolitical climate. Drawing on the language and images of horror cinema, the poems' speakers find strength and the means to survive both family legacy and the pain inflicted on them: "I want to behemoth, be the biggest / violence in the galaxy," says one who thinks about Godzilla and dreams of "learning how to roar."
Buy in store or bookshop.org
Dog Man Release Party
Stop in Yellow Bird Books and preorder your copy of Dog Man: Big Jim Believes! Then join us for our Book Release Party at 4:00 p.m. on November 11!
We'll have fun games, goodies, and giveaways!
A limited number of books will be available for sale at the event, so reserve your copy!
November First Friday: Author Stacey Montgomery & World Kindness
In addition to her book signing, Stacy is offering a drop-in “Kindness to the Community” station with a poster board on an easel where kids and adults can add sticky notes sharing how you can help or show kindness in the community.
Stacey Montgomery is a writer and educator who creates guided journals that help kids build confidence, self-awareness, and social-emotional skills. She is the founder of Believe and Be Brave, where she teaches self-esteem workshops and designs tools that help students feel strong, seen, and capable. Stacey is the author of several guided journals for kids, including How Can I Make A Difference? and What’s Your Super Power?Her work is inspired by her son, Isaiah, who reminds her every day of the power of believing in yourself. She lives in Aurora, Illinois, with her husband, Harold, and their son.
About How Can I Make A Difference?
How Can I Make A Difference? is a guided journal that helps kids see their worth and discover how they can make a difference. It supports self-esteem and encourages kids to explore volunteerism through writing, reading, and coloring activities that prompt reflection on their strengths, values, and experiences helping others. Whether kids are new to volunteering or already involved, the journal inspires goal setting, confidence, and meaningful action that makes a positive impact on the people around them.
Full Moon Novella Book Club - Train Dreams by Denis Johnson
Train Dreams is a 2011 novella by Denis Johnson about the life of Robert Grainier, a day laborer in the American West at the turn of the 20th century. The book is an "epic in miniature" that follows Grainier's life, marked by personal loss and the radical changes transforming America. It is a work of historical fiction that captures the disappearance of a specific American way of life through spare, powerful prose.
LGBTQIA Book Club Presents "The Dead of Summer"
The Dead of Summer is the first book in a young adult paranormal thriller series by Ryan La Sala. The story follows Ollie Veltman, a queer teen returning to his island home of Anchor's Mercy, only to find it threatened by a supernatural plague and a decades-old chemical spill. The book blends elements of body horror, eco-horror, and queer community themes, told through a unique narrative structure that includes narration, interviews, and text.
Yellow Bird Books 2nd Birthday Bash
Join us to celebrate our 2nd birthday!
Free Goody Bag for our first 25 guests!
Make and Take Bookmark Station!
Specials and Giveaways throughout the Store!
A Birthday Basket Drawing!
Blind Date with a Book!
Our special Programing includes…
12 - 2 pm
Balloon Animals by Z&Z Balloons
Face Painting by Mari
2 - 3 pm
Music by John Klatt
3 - 5 pm
Booksigning with Author McKenzie Burns
6 - 7 pm
Poet Donna Vorreyer & Kristin LaTour
Banned Books Read-In
YBB was chosen as a location to participate with Libro.fm for a silent read-in during banned books week! More information HERE
Author Signing: Amy Skala Tischmann
October 4th we will have award winning children’s book author Amy Skala Tischmann at the store.
Her new book is Love, Pal. She will be doing a reading of the book, book signing, and craft.
Learn more about Amy here.