Book lovers looking for fun ways to indulge their literary souls will find plenty to do at libraries, bookstores and beyond this spring and summer, from book signings to vineyard lunches — with your favorite cookbook author! — to a cozy read-aloud spot on wheels. Here’s just a sampling of possibilities. Find more at your favorite independent bookstore or library.
Bookstore & Chocolate Crawl: 1-6 p.m. May 19, starts at Moe’s Books, 2476 Telegraph Ave., Berkeley. Stroll through some of the city’s best bookstores with fellow book lovers, complete with stops along the way for chocolate. Free. http://bit.ly/2W1zEiP
Thank-o-Rama! Bus Tour: 4:30-6:30 p.m. May 19, Books Inc., 1875 Bascom Ave., Suite 600, Campbell. Featuring photo ops with Elephant & Piggie, a cozy reading corner and a craft station with themed activities. Free. http://bit.ly/2UBGiee
Cookbook author event: 6:30-7:30 p.m. May 23, Omnivore Books, 3885a Cesar Chavez St., San Francisco. Meet Nandita Godbole, author of “Roti: 40 Classic Indian Breads & Sides,” as she chats about roti and chapati, as well as classic festive dishes. http://bit.ly/2VlrXXJ
Poetry reading: 7-9 p.m. May 24, Moe’s Books, 2476 Telegraph Ave., Berkeley. Award-winning poets Jericho Brown and Dexter L. Booth will read from their latest volumes. Brown is an associate professor and director of the creative writing program at Atlanta’s Emory University. Booth teaches poetry and English composition at Arizona State University. http://bit.ly/2GqzbjD
Book talk: 2 p.m. May 25, Oakland Asian Cultural Center, 388 Ninth St., Suite 290, Oakland. Gordon H. Chang will talk about his newest book, “Ghosts of Gold Mountain,” the story of the Chinese laborers who built the Transcontinental Railroad and helped remake America. A Q&A and book signing follows. Free, $5 donation appreciated. http://bit.ly/2VinEfN
Book signing: 7 p.m. May 28, Books, Inc., The Pruneyard, 1875 S. Bascom Ave., Suite 600, Campbell; and noon June 15, Book Passage, 1 Ferry Building, San Francisco. Renowned florist and floral designer Teresa Sabankaya, founder and owner of Santa Cruz’s Bonny Doon Garden Company, is releasing her first book, “The Posy Book,” which explains how to create floral designs with Victorian appeal. www.teresasabankaya.com/
Pok Pok Noodles event: 6-7:30 p.m. May 31, San Francisco Cooking School, 690 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco. Join Andy Ricker, the owner of Portland’s Pok Pok restaurants and author of “Pok Pok Noodles,” as he talks about his love for Thai culture and cuisine and what drew him to noodles specifically. Enjoy wine, a cooking demonstration and book signing. $40. http://bit.ly/2DtTpZp
Book exchange: 2-5 p.m. June 1, Novel Brewing Company, 6510 San Pablo Ave., Oakland. If you enjoy books and beer, bring a copy of a favorite novel and exchange it for a new favorite novel and a chance to chat over suds. http://bit.ly/2Uva6JE
Kids’ ‘Sparky and Spike’ book event: 1 p.m. June 1, Charles M. Schulz Museum & Research Center, 2301 Hardies Lane, Santa Rosa. Meet Barbara Lowell, author of the new picture book “Sparky & Spike: Charles Schulz and the Wildest, Smartest Dog Ever,” based on the childhood of Charles Schulz and his dog Spike. http://bit.ly/2XBojq3
Writers with Drinks — Special Latin American Night: 7 p.m. June 8, Make Out Room, 3225 22nd St., San Francisco. Writers With Drinks is a frisky variety show that combines literature, stand-up comedy, science fiction, mystery, romance, rants and “other.” $5-$20. www.writerswithdrinks.com
Contra Costa County Library Summer Reading: June 8-Aug. 8. This summer reading program for kids of all ages includes summertime activities and a reading time tracker, plus prizes. guides.ccclib.org/srf
Children’s book, toy and puzzle swap: 9-11 a.m. June 9, Albany Community Center, 1249 Marin Ave., Albany. Help your family pick out books, toys and puzzles that they no longer use and bring them down to the community center to swap for a few new-to-you items. http://bit.ly/2KQKreG
Author talk: 7:30 p.m. June 13, Mrs. Dalloway’s 2904 College Ave., Berkeley. Louise Aranson’s book “Elderhood: Redefining Aging, Transforming Medicine, Reimagining Life” is a look at a vital stage of life. https://www.mrsdalloways.com/events
Cookbook talk: 6-9 p.m. June 13, Room & Board, 685 Seventh St., San Francisco. Join Teri Turner, the Whole30-endorsed author, and Danielle Walker as they launch Turner’s new cookbook, “No Crumbs Left: Whole30 Endorsed Recipes for Everyday Food Made Marvelous.” The evening includes nibbles, bites, cookbooks and a Q&A. $35. http://bit.ly/2US0nCd
An Evening with Shannon Watts: 7-9 p.m. June 14, Rakestraw Books, 3 Railroad Ave., Danville. Watt’s book “Fight Like a Mother” is about one mother’s cry for change and the driving force behind gun safety progress. $29. http://bit.ly/2Pqmt8Q
Cannabis and CBD book event: 6:30-8:30 p.m. June 14, Salvio Residence, 3158 Gloria Terrace, Lafayette. Meet the authors of the new book “Cannabis and CBD for Health and Wellness” by Ellementa CEO Aliza Sherman and Dr. Junella Chin. Learn how cannabis interacts with your body so you can identify what you need to feel better. $15-$30. http://bit.ly/2VdPzgQ
Kids’ rainbow reading event: 10 a.m. June 22, Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera. Celebrate Pride at a special story time for tots to kids up to age 8. Storyteller Clare will be joined by guest author and clinical psychologist Michael Genhart to read picture books for children on the theme of LGBTQ families and Pride and make rainbow flags. www.bookpassage.com
San Francisco Art Book Fair: 6-10 p.m. July 19, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. July 20 and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. July 21, Minnesota Street Project, 1275 Minnesota St., San Francisco. Browse the booths of artist books, art catalogs, monographs, periodicals, artists, collectors and enthusiasts and enjoy live performances at this festival. https://sfartbookfair.com
Long Novel Weekend 2019: 9 a.m. July 27-1 p.m. July 28, Vallombrosa Center, 250 Oak Grove Ave., Menlo Park. This year’s book discussion will be about Fyodor Dostoevsky’s “The Brothers Karamazov,” a novel that includes a murder mystery, courtroom drama and a series of triangular love affairs. This weekend event includes lodging, three discussion periods, four meals, a wine and cheese reception and a showing of the 1958 movie version of the book. $200-$250. https://conta.cc/2UrGIUs
Books by the Bridge authors event: 11 a.m. July 27, Fairmont, 950 Mason St., San Francisco. This book-signing event showcases more than 40 local and international authors. Come for the door prizes, raffles and, of course, the chance to chat with your favorite author. $27-$50. http://bit.ly/2L4Er1U
Boots to Books literary walking tour: 12:45-3 p.m. Aug. 10, City Lights Books, 261 Columbus Ave., San Francisco. This one-mile excursion through North Beach covers more than 60 years of literary history on a free, two-hour tour. Maps and posters available for purchase. http://bit.ly/2W5XiuV
Pasta Friday cookbook event: 2 to 4 p.m. Sept. 28, Market Hall Foods at Rockridge Market Hall, 5655 College Ave., Oakland. A lively book signing with Allison Arevalo and the Market Hall Foods culinary team sampling recipes from Arevalo’s new “The Pasta Friday Cookbook: Let’s Eat Together.” Free. rockridgemarkethall.com
