Upcoming Events
Author Reading/Signing: Stephanie Elizondo Griest
Join us for a reading and signing by Stephanie Elizondo Griest for her new book, Art Above Everything: One Woman's Global Exploration of the Joys and Torments of a Creative Life, which is releasing on June 10th!
Reception to follow offsite.
Pre-Order your copy today!
Owl Pellet Dissection
Come join us for another fun Owl Pellet Dissection! Learn about the owl’s eating habits and then “dig in” to a pellet and discover what your owl ate for dinner!
This workshop includes an owl pellet to take home for further exploration.
All ages welcome, but our little friends require parent assistance!
$15/person
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1376325579859?aff=oddtdtcreator
Drop In Activity
FREE Thursday Activity! Ages 8-12.
This week we will be discovering fossils!
Intro to Hand Quilting : Hexie Flowers
Join artist and author Teresa Fiehn Millies for a cozy, hands-on workshop to learn the basics of English Paper Piecing. This beginner-friendly intro to patchwork quilting is simple, portable, and perfect for book lovers and crafters.
Each participant will receive a one of a kind handmade Hexie supply pouch with everything needed to complete 4 Hexie flowers; including a handmade needle book, needles, needle minder, thread, fabric, paper pieces, thimble, embroidery scissors, binder clip, and glue stick.
$55
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1400145184939?aff=oddtdtcreator
Author Signing: Pat Green
About the author:
Pat Green is a columnist, author, artist, documentarian and freelance photojournalist. For over 20 years his writings and images have appeared in Patheos, Aquarius News, 22nd Century Media, Chicago Unheard and other spaces.
His art has been featured in many venues including the APO Cultural Center in Chicago, The Metro in Chicago, Flower of Life Gallery in Lockport, and ArtBar in Aurora.
The core of what drives Pat Green is activism seeped in kindness, equality, and opportunity. As an activist, Pat has worked with various groups for LGBTQIA+ Equality, Suicide Prevention, and important causes like SA/DV and Women’s Rights. To better empower himself and others, Pat is a certified Human Rights Consultant through the US Institute of Diplomacy and Human Rights based in Washington D.C.
When not doing all of this, Pat seeks solace and delight collecting watches, taking street photography, and getting lost in vintage nostalgia.
*An ASL interpreter will be present at the signing
One and Done: A Book Chat
Join us for our next One and Done Book Chat!
This month, we will be reading The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh.
Books can be purchased at Yellow Bird Books or on Bookshop.org.
Summer Storytime
FREE Summer Storytime and Activity. Perfect for ages 3-7 and their grown ups!
Thursday Drop In
FREE Thursday Summer drop in activity for ages 8-12!
This week, we will be rock painting!
Book Club - Lavender House
The Aurora LGBTQ+ Advisory Board invites you to a Book Club.
Lavender House by Lev AC Rosen with this months book!
Books are available at Yellow Bird Books or online at Bookshop.org
Painted Book Pavers
It’s the newest trend! At this workshop for ages 14+, we will use acrylic paints to transform an ordinary paver stone into a book for our garden!
All materials will be provided. Feel free to bring your choice of book for inspiration, any favorite brushes, and dress like you are painting!
$30/person
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1376334376169?aff=oddtdtcreator
Book Nook Workshop with Mari
It’s another Book Nook workshop! Join us as Mari helps us create our own Book Nook! Space is limited!
$30/person
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1376338699099?aff=oddtdtcreator
Thursday Drop In
FREE Thursday drop in activity for ages 8-12.
This week we will be making origami!
Closed
We will be closed so that our employees can spend some time with their families!
Macrame Book Mark
We are hosting a macrame book mark activity for anyone 14+! All materials will be supplied.
$15/person with limited spaces available!
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1376344345989?aff=oddtdtcreator
Bracelet Making!
Drop in during our open hours and make a beaded bracelet! Bring your friends and exchange them afterwards!
This activity is for all ages but we do ask that parents assist their little ones.
Pay $5 per bracelet at the register. No sign up required!
Teen Art Market
Yellow Bird Books is sponsoring a Teen Art Market for First Friday August. We will have artists between the ages of 13 and 19 selling their work outside on a beautiful summer evening.
Please mark your calendars to come support these young artists.
Call for Vendors is open!
If you make any kind of art and are 13-19 please fill out this form before June 29th to apply to table. All details are at this link. Contact Tech@yellowbirdbooksaurora.com with questions.
Back To School Bedazzled Bookmark
Pop in and design a bedazzled bookmark! This activity is geared towards ages 8+. Pop in the store during our normal hours and pay at the register, $15/bookmark.
Family Reading Night
Join us for a family reading night! We will close our doors 30mins early for participants. Wear your pjs, bring some bedtime books (or borrow ours) and set in for a cozy hour of reading. We encourage you to bring blankets or pillows to make yourselves comfy in whichever spot you choose in the store!
This event is FREE but will require registration to secure your space!
First Friday Art
Join us for First Friday’s as we celebrate “Back To School”!
Get inspired and share your art with us! What was your favorite book in school? What was the most popular book the year you graduated?
September Poetry Book Club
Join us this month as we read “Pork Fluff”!
Books will be available at Yellow Bird Books or
https://bookshop.org/p/books/pork-fluff/b8e58a1c4dd36b66?ean=9781951979737&next=t
International Peace Day
The International Day of Peace (or World Peace Day) celebrated annually on September 21 is devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples. At a time when war and violence often monopolize our news cycles, the International Day of Peace is an inspiring reminder of what we can create together. Peace. Let’s give it a chance!
First Friday Art
Join us for another First Friday with local art! Our theme for this month will be "The Winter Solstice”.
Drop In Activity - Flower Press
Welcome to our FREE Thursday Summer programming! No sign up necessary.
This week, we will be making a flower press! Ages 8-12.
Author Event: Donnell Collins
Join us for local photographer, photojournalist, photo-
archivist, storyteller, teacher Donnell Collins as he presents his new book, Dads And Daughters.
Author Signing: Jana Tropper
Join us in welcoming local author Jana Tropper and the release of her new book, Seeker Society! Jana will join us on First Friday from 5pm-7pm. Come grab her new book or order it ahead of time at Bookshop.org
The Aurora LGBTQ Advisory Board presents A Book Club
The Aurora LGBTQ Advisory Board invites you to A Book Club.
Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree will be the topic of the day!
Books are available at Yellow Bird Books with a 10% discount if purchased in store.
Otherwise, books can be purchased at
May Poetry Book Club
Join us this month as we read “Dad Jokes From Late in the Patriarchy”.
Books will be available at Yellow Bird Books or online at https://bookshop.org/p/books/dad-jokes-from-late-in-the-patriarchy-amorak-huey/17220689?ean=9781951979126&next=t
Game Night with Aurora RPG Club
Spooky Aurora: White City is about Occult Investigators patrolling the 1893 World’s Fair for supernatural problems.
Spooky Aurora: White City is a new tabletop role playing game designed for a “Three Hour Table.” 3-6 players will be able to start and finish an investigation in about 3 hours. Simple character creation, and an easy resolution mechanic, encourage a Table to learn the game as they play, dare each other to raise the stakes, and work together to create an exciting conclusion.
Charles Tuura will host a RPG Game Night at Yellow Bird books to premiere this new game. To celebrate T.S. Eliot and the theme of cats, a special adventure has been written for this session.
Limited seats available
$15/person
First Friday Art
In conjunction with The Paramount showing “Cats”, we at Yellow Bird Books have decided to celebrate that very animal! Come check out local artists and their rendition of cats of all kinds! Check out our T.S. Eliot collection as well!
Fun Fact:
The exact number of cats owned by T.S. Eliot is not known, but he had many cats. Some of them were named Jellylorum, Pettipaws, Wiscus, Bustopher Jones, Mungojerrie, Rumpelteazer, Bubbles, Xerxes, and George Pushdragon. Eliot was devoted to his many cats and catered to their every whim.
One and Done: A Book Chat
Join us for a book chat! We will discuss the book A Libertarian Walks Into a Bear by Matthew Hongoltz-Hetling.
Purchase the book in-store for 10% off the list price.
Independent Bookstore Day!
Join us for Independent Bookstore Day!
Freebies!
Discounts!
Drawings!
Fun activities and more!!
Blackout Poetry Workshop
Come out and celebrate poetry month with our very first “Blackout Poetry Workshop”!
Blackout poetry is a type of found poetry that involves erasing words from a text to create a new poem. It's also known as erasure poetry or redacted poetry.
$15/person
All supplies provided as well as tea & cookies!
Author Signing: Marilyn Huntman Giese
Join local author, Marilyn Huntman Giese, for a book signing!
“Nursery Rhymes Your Mother Never Taught You”
“The Eye of God - A Fisherman’s Tale”
“When the World Changed - A Revolutionary Peace”
First Friday
Let’s “Make ‘em Laugh”! Come celebrate the month of April with a spot of humor! April kicks off with “April Fools Day”. Paramount Theatre has the iconic David Sedaris coming. So…why not celebrate this hilarious month with some humorous books and art!
March Poetry Book Club
Join us this month while we discuss the book “All The Blood Involved in Love” by Maya Marshall.
An Evening For Teachers: 3 Tools to Strengthen Your Vocabulary Instruction
Join Sara Knigge, Bilingual Education Consultant, for a workshop to help strengthen your vocabulary instruction!
Registration fee: $15 (Includes handouts and $5.00 YBB gift certificate!)
This session will equip teachers with strategies to help students actively engage with new vocabulary words. Participants will explore practical ways to encourage students to use and retain vocabulary in meaningful contexts, thereby enhancing language acquisition for not only multilingual learners but all learners.
https://aneveningforteachers.rsvpify.com
First Friday
Help us celebrate Women’s History Month!
We invite you to bring in any art that depicts ways in which women have inspired, educated, and united society.
One and Done: A Book Chat
Join us for a book chat! We will be discussing the book “Linguaphile. A Life of Language Love” by Julie Sedivy.
Books can be found online at bookshop.org.
In-store purchases receive 10% at time of purchase!
Owl Pellet Exploration
Join us for a fun activity! Can you decipher what our owl friends ate by dissecting an owl pellet?
Includes: Book chat, owl pellet dissection and discussion, 10% off coupon, and an owl pellet to bring home for another exploration!
This activity is best for ages 6-10. $15/person. Limited seats available.
From Teacher to Writer
Are you ready to become the writer--and--teacher--your students need to excel in explanatory writing? In this hands-on, interactive workshop, you'll unlock the tools, strategies, and confidence to not only improve your own writing skills but also teach them in a way that will empower your students to become writers who may surpass you!
Galentine's Event!
https://galentinesnight2025.rsvpify.com
Our first ticketed Galentine’s Event! Let’s celebrate “girl power”!
First Fridays
Aurora Downtown has designated February’s theme as “Black History”. We invite you to bring in any art that highlights historic events including significant authors or books!
Narrative Writing Workshop
Ready to dive into the world of storytelling? Join us
for a fun, one-hour session all about narrative
writing! Whether you're a teacher, homeschooling
parent, or someone working on your own memoir,
this workshop has something for you. Grab your
favorite pen and notebook, and come prepared to
learn hands-on techniques that will leave you
feeling inspired and confident. By the end of the
session, you'll have a toolkit of resources, new
skills, and the know-how to help your students (or
yourself!) craft engaging stories. Plus, you'll walk
away with the ability to model your own writing
process, making writing more approachable for
everyone. Let's write our way to success!
Workshop Fee: $15 (includes handouts + $5.00 Yellow Bird Books coupon)
*Registration link coming soon*
2nd Annual Celebration of Poe
Join us for our second annual evening of the macabre!
Come out for a signing with local author Matthew Salinas!
6:00pm-7:00pm
Matthew Salinas is an Illinois native who currently resides in Aurora. He has over 50+ writing credits and publications to his name and has been included in numerous anthologies and literary magazines. He is also an active member of the Horror Writers Association and Chicago Writers Association, as well as was featured as a discussant/panelist for the American Library Association's first Book Club Panel on Horror. When he isn't writing, editing, interviewing fellow authors, narrating audiobooks, or doing book reviews, he spends his time with his loving and adorable wife Jordana, their unbelievably cute son Henry, and their beloved cats.
January Poetry Book Club
“The Under Hum” by Simone Muench and Jackie White
Pick up your copy to read before the @aurora_writers_workshop meets on January 15th at Yellow Bird Books, 7-8pm.