Did you know that November is Shop Local, Give Local month at Bookmans? That means that we take this time to thank you for shopping locally and for giving back to the people, organizations, and animals that make up your community. Why? Because communities who support one another are strong and strong communities build vibrant cities!

We thought November would be the perfect time to tie in two of our favorite things – reading and giving – by working with local children’s organizations for ThanksgivingBACK. On Saturday, November 23 and Sunday, November 24, Bookmans stores will make it easier than ever for customers to donate a book to a child for the holidays.

We’ll have three books to choose from so you can simply add your $5, $6, or $11 book donation to your purchase at checkout and we’ll donate those books to children in need this holiday season. Whether you want to give a little one their first storybook, want to choose a pre-teen read to encourage young readers, or give a teen a Young Adult book to foster their love of reading, you can’t go wrong with ThanksgivingBACK!

Shop Local, Give Local month also features some incredible events both in and out of Bookmans stores. Stepping out into the community, Bookmans stores will be representing at Tucson Comic-Con, Arizona Fall Festival, Phoenix New Times’ NovemBEER, the Tucson Record Show, Glendale Glitters, the Desert Botanical Gardens, and of course, Dusk Music Festival. When you see the Bookmans crew out and about, come on by and say hello, then check out our tables where we’ve got tons of cool merch!

Bookmans Flagstaff has NAU studying covered with their Study Nights at the Bookmans Cafe each week. Sip a warm drink, absorb the chill vibes, and get your studying done in peace. If you’re taking on the National Novel Writing Month challenge, you can write your novel at Bookmans Flagstaff’s Write-In and earn a special reward for achieving your goals during NaNoWriMo! Ready to let your inner artist out? Creative Spirits is heading to our Flagstaff store for Studio Nights. Looking to make some magic? Magic the Gathering nights are the perfect place to play and find some killer opponents. Jewel and Revelucien will be rocking Drag Queen Storytime too.

Over at Bookmans East, they are cooking up some special treats in their Cookbook Club! If you’ve been looking for a friend to share all that delicious food with, you can find your new bestie the next day at Meet Your New Best Friend Adoption Day. Got a young writer at home? Encourage their passion for storytelling at our Pen to Paper: A Young Adult Writing Workshop. Know your Studio Ghibli facts? Prove it at Studio Ghibli Trivia Night at the Chicago Bar. Gamers of all kinds will have something to do at our East store because they’ve got a Pokemon PileUp, Magic: A Bookmans Gathering, and Super Smash Bros. Saturdays too.

Bookmans Mesa has some great gaming events too including a Magic the Gathering Social, RPG Night with Crit Hit, and Family Board Game Night. If you’re more the musical type, jam out at their Ukulele Party or listen in as The Sonoran Surfers rock on with a live show. Kids can sing along and party with some pretty chill real-life princesses at the special Frozen 2 Party and Meet and Greet! If you’re more the read-and-write-all-snuggled-up-with-a-dog-on-your-lap type, add these events to your calendar ASAP: Treat Your Shelf: A Young Adult Book Club, NaNoWriMo: Creative Writing Workshop, and Arizona Adopt A Greyhound (so you can find your snuggle buddy)!

Catching Bookmans at the Dusk Music Festival? Keep the music going at Bookmans Midtown’s Ambient Salon Showcase. Sign up to compete and you could win the Super Smash Bros. Tournament. Of course, if you’re more of an artist or writer, you’ll want to sign up for Studio Nights: Paint Edition, check out your local literary talent at the Fall Author Fair, and share stories of your own at the Story Swaps: Tellers of Tales writers meet-up.

Want to play board games with THE board game people? Join Bookmans Northwest for Boardgame Night with Binary Cocoa. The Northwest store will also be hosting Game Night at Button Brewery too. Video gamers, sign up for Super Smash Bros. Saturday and you can win prizes! If Dungeons & Dragons is more your speed, Dungeon Master Marty has a DnD night for you. Prefer to know the outcome before you play the game? You’ll love Tarot Card Readings with Kay.

Readers and writers can count on Bookmans Northwest to deliver on literary fun, and in November they’ve got Storytime with Sign, a special Frozen Storytime with Princess Snow Belle, and an extra-special Author Day where you can get to know your local authors! If you’re a writer, join Bookmans Northwest every second and fourth Thursday for a NaNoWriMo Write-In.

What’s going at our Phoenix store in November? A whole lot! They are kicking off November with a Dia de Los Muertos Candle Craft eventon November 1 and a Sesame Street Day craft the following week! Not ready to attempt a whole novel yet? Head to the Writing Workshop instead. Prefer to read instead of write? Meet some local authors on Author Day and discover some new favorite locals.

If magic is your game, join other players for a Magic the Gathering Social. Of course, if you make magic in the kitchen, join other local home cooks for a really cool Recipe Swap event where you can share your favorite recipes and discover whole new worlds of food too. You can always grab a ukulele and join the musical party on November 23 too at the Ukulele Jamboree. There’s nothing but fun in store no matter what your jam is!

Whatever your November brings, Bookmans will always be here to help you keep it local! We’ll see you at Bookmans!