Upcoming
Events
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!
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”
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!
Independent Bookstore Day!
Join us for Independent Bookstore Day!
Freebies!
Discounts!
Drawings!
Fun activities and more!!
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.
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.
Closed
We will be closed so that our employees can spend some time with their families!
Teen Art Market
Join us during First Friday’s for our very first “Teen Art Market”!
More details to come!
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?
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”.
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.
Closed for the Holidays
Closed for the holidays!
We will resume normal hours on Wednesday, January 8th!
Ian Jake Robleza Performs
We are excited to welcome back Ian Jake Robleza for some tunes on First Friday!
BIO: Ian Jake Robleza is a 23 year-old Filipino American singer-songwriter/audio engineer from Aurora, IL. Alongside the self-release of his first two albums and a handful of singles, Ian has recently graduated from Columbia College Chicago, majoring in Audio Arts and minoring in Philosophy. His latest EP is the turn of a new leaf- "How I've Been" is an oddly personal insight into a new chapter of his young adult life. This next collection of songs sees Ian at his most professional, yet most lighthearted, taking the listener through this brief moment in the beginning of his 20s. Follow him on socials to get the inside scoop! - Music and Socials: https://linktr.ee/ian_jake_robleza - IG: ian_jake_robleza - FB: Ian Jake Robleza
First Friday: "Winter Magic"
Local artists: Show us what you find magical about winter!
Local art reception Friday, December 6th
Art will be on display throughout December.
In partnership with APLD, Randy Shilts: Aurora's Trailblazing Gay Journalist
The Aurora Public Library will be hosting Michael G. Lee who recently published, When the Band Played On: The Life of Randy Shilts, America's Trailblazing Gay Journalist. Yellow Bird Books is proud to partner and offer a pre-sale of the book!
Follow this link to pre-order your copy of the book prior to the event! Yellow Bird Books will bring your order to the event!
https://randyshiltsaurorastrailbl.rsvpify.com
For more about the event itself, please check out the library page: https://www.aurorapubliclibrary.org/event/11988475
Mini Market
Come do some special holiday shopping with our local artisans! Lisa and Mari will be set up inside the store with art and giftables!
Small Business Saturday
Come out and shop local! Find amazing gifts for the upcoming holiday season.
Winter Lights
We are extending our hours for Aurora’s Winter Lights Celebration! Yellow Bird Books will be open until 9pm!
Poetry Book Group
For this month’s poetry book group, Cynthia Marie Hoffman, author of “Exploding Head” will join us via Zoom to read some her poems and answer questions! Get the book from Yellow Bird, or order here https://bookshop.org/shop/yellowbirdbooksaurora
First Friday: "Put A Bird On It"
Local artists: Check out the episode from Portlandia! Now, put a bird on it! Preferably our bird!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNpIOlDhigw
Local art reception Friday, November 1st
Art will be on display throughout November
Hemp Leaf Binding Workshop
Learn a form of Japanese Stab Binding that creates lovely designs using waxed thread. Hemp Leaf Binding refers to the design we will sew into the book during this workshop.
Both fun and beginner friendly, it also includes a kit of tools to bind at home!
*CAUTION: contains sharp objects like and awl and binding needles not suitable for children.
Limited spots available, $30/person (purchase in-store)
Workshop 1: 12:00pm-2:00pm
Workshop 2: 3:00pm-5:00pm
Downtown Trick or Treat
Swing by for some sweet treats during the downtown Aurora trick-or-treat event!
Big Birthday Blowout!
Can you believe we have been open for a FULL YEAR! Swing by for fun, food and activities throughout the day!
Help us wish Yellow Bird Books an amazing Happy Birthday!
11am: Stories with Rory, the Aurora Public Library Mascot
Noon-2pm: Balloon animals with Z&Z Balloons
3-5pm: Yellow Bird Face Painting with Lisa Lentz Manning
6-8pm: Evening at the bookstore
*Live music with Ian Jake Robleza
*Refreshments
*Blind date with a book sale
8pm-?? After Party at French 75
All Day:
*Free goody bag for the first 25 guests
*Bookmark Make and Take station
*Giveaways and Birthday Basket drawing entry with purchase
*Yellow Bird Books Selfie Spot
*Select specials throughout the store
Musician bio:
BIO: Ian Jake Robleza is a 23 year-old Filipino American singer-songwriter/audio engineer from Aurora, IL. Alongside the self-release of his first two albums and a handful of singles, Ian has recently graduated from Columbia College Chicago, majoring in Audio Arts and minoring in Philosophy. His latest EP is the turn of a new leaf- "How I've Been" is an oddly personal insight into a new chapter of his young adult life. This next collection of songs sees Ian at his most professional, yet most lighthearted, taking the listener through this brief moment in the beginning of his 20s. Follow him on socials to get the inside scoop! - Music and Socials: https://linktr.ee/ian_jake_robleza - IG: ian_jake_robleza - FB: Ian Jake Robleza
Author Event
Meet local author Heidi Bell in conversation with Kristin LaTour
“Signs Of The Imminent Apocalypse”