Saturday, April 25 is Independent Bookstore Day, and Central California bookstores are celebrating in a big way – with a month-long Bookstore Crawl through the Valley. To join the crawl, simply visit one of the participating bookstores to pick up your free “passport” and get a stamp and other goodies from each store you visit during the month.
Independent bookstores – those cozy places full of charm and hyperlocal connection – have been booming in the Valley. Of seven bookstores participating in the Crawl, five have opened within the last two years. The American Booksellers Association estimates that there are more than 3,200 independent bookstores nationwide. To be an independent bookstore (or an “indie” as booklovers loyally call them), a store must be independently owned and not part of a corporate chain.
Crawl through the Valley organizer Lauren Dutch of Story Books and Toys in Oakdale had the dream of opening her bookstore in 2020, around the same time other book lovers were exploring similar ideas.
“This isn’t about competition. It’s about community. These spaces are stronger together, just like the towns they serve,” Dutch said.
That community aspect is central to the bookstore crawl. Dutch describes it as “something that could connect communities, support local businesses, and celebrate the growing love of reading” all at once.
Even in a tight economy, independent bookstores offer value beyond the latest new releases and a wide selection of physical books to browse. While it may be cheaper to shop from big box stores online, those local bookstores provide a space to read to your kids, might make you a cup of coffee, chat with you about your favorite authors, or host a poetry reading.
Bookstores participating in the Central California Book Crawl include: BK Bookstore (since 2025) 2943 Fourth St., Ceres @bkbooksandmore Monday-Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Bookish (since 2024) 811 W. Roseburg Ave., Modesto @bookish_modesto Tuesday-Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Caspian Books (since 2023) 48 W. 10th St., Tracy @caspianbookstracy Monday-Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Mountain Bookshop (since 1977) 1376-I Mono Way, Sonora @mountainbookshop Monday-Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Ripon Bookstore (since 2025) 204 W. Main St., Ripon @riponbookstore Tuesday-Friday 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Sunday 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Scrawl, Scribble & Smirch Bookshop (since 2025) 536 Fifth St., Gustine @scrawlscribblesmirchbookshop Tuesday-Friday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Story Books & Toys (since 2025) 150 S. Second Ave., Oakdale @story_books_and_toys Monday-Friday 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Most bookstores consider themselves to be “third spaces” – places outside of home and work where people can just be.
“Here,” Dutch explained, “people aren’t just scrolling past one another but they’re engaging with each other. They’re talking about stories, sharing perspectives, and connecting with people they may have never met otherwise. Families gather for story time, friends meet over book club discussions, and children discover the joy of reading in a way that feels meaningful and lasting.”
During April, residents throughout the region are invited to join the Crawl and see what these Central California indie bookstores have to offer.
