08/07/2026
Welcome to the BobzBlog — Bobzbay Books' weekly roundup of news!
Check out the new releases from this week, including the paperback releases of Carl's (https://bobzbay.square.site/product/carl-s-doomsday-scenario-dungeon-crawler-carl-2-by-matt-dinniman/14549?cp=true&sa=false&sbp=false&q=false&category_id=K4E6I2HFZRGXTLJ5Y4KJ4I7J) Doomsday Scenario (https://bobzbay.square.site/product/carl-s-doomsday-scenario-dungeon-crawler-carl-2-by-matt-dinniman/14549?cp=true&sa=false&sbp=false&q=false&category_id=K4E6I2HFZRGXTLJ5Y4KJ4I7J) by Matt Dinniman, Play (https://bobzbay.square.site/product/play-nice-by-rachel-harrison/7HM73Z3MJCE37XRHCUCNUEGY?cp=true&sa=false&sbp=false&q=false&category_id=K4E6I2HFZRGXTLJ5Y4KJ4I7J) Nice (https://bobzbay.square.site/product/play-nice-by-rachel-harrison/7HM73Z3MJCE37XRHCUCNUEGY?cp=true&sa=false&sbp=false&q=false&category_id=K4E6I2HFZRGXTLJ5Y4KJ4I7J) by Rachel Harrison (a Liz + Sydney staff pick), signed copies of Th (https://bobzbay.square.site/product/the-lion-the-deathless-dark-book-1-of-the-bloodborn-duet-by-carissa-broadbent-signed-/LZJZ6UZLKSMPO7KDBCRWIG4P) e (https://bobzbay.square.site/product/the-lion-the-deathless-dark-book-1-of-the-bloodborn-duet-by-carissa-broadbent-signed-/LZJZ6UZLKSMPO7KDBCRWIG4P) Lion (https://bobzbay.square.site/product/the-lion-the-deathless-dark-book-1-of-the-bloodborn-duet-by-carissa-broadbent-signed-/LZJZ6UZLKSMPO7KDBCRWIG4P) & (https://bobzbay.square.site/product/the-lion-the-deathless-dark-book-1-of-the-bloodborn-duet-by-carissa-broadbent-signed-/LZJZ6UZLKSMPO7KDBCRWIG4P) the Deathless (https://bobzbay.square.site/product/the-lion-the-deathless-dark-book-1-of-the-bloodborn-duet-by-carissa-broadbent-signed-/LZJZ6UZLKSMPO7KDBCRWIG4P) Dark (https://bobzbay.square.site/product/the-lion-the-deathless-dark-book-1-of-the-bloodborn-duet-by-carissa-broadbent-signed-/LZJZ6UZLKSMPO7KDBCRWIG4P) by Carissa Broadbent, and one of Liz's favorite non-horror books of the year Kitten (https://bobzbay.square.site/product/kitten-a-novel-by-stacey-yu/L57MEDQC42WSIZSHO5LI2Y32?cp=true&sa=false&sbp=false&q=false&category_id=K4E6I2HFZRGXTLJ5Y4KJ4I7J) by Stacey Yu!
Find all August releases (so far) here (https://bobzbay.square.site/shop/august-2026-new-upcoming-releases/K4E6I2HFZRGXTLJ5Y4KJ4I7J?page=1&limit=30&sort_by=created_date&sort_order=desc) .
Upcoming Events
Check out all of our upcoming events (https://bobzbay.square.site/events) on our website!
A reminder for the Bobzbay Bingo-ers: attending an event at the shop is one of the bonus challenges! If you're attending one of our upcoming events, don't forget to bring your bingo sheet to be stamped!
Swing by Bobzbay Books Thursday, August 6th through Sunday, August 9th for another Dollar Days $1 Book Sale! (Plus, you'll have some extra time to browse on Friday, August 7th because we'll be open late 'til 8pm for First Friday!)
In this sale you'll find lots of manga, graphic novels, comics, & young adult books in addition to nonfiction and fiction books in a variety of genres -- all for $1 each! We'll have two sale tables up front filled with great books to browse. Come grab a stack for summer reading or to stock a Little Free Library and help us make some room to refresh our shelves! (To help us keep costs down, we're encouraging shoppers to bring their own bag(s) and cash for the dollar books please!)
We hope you'll join us -- we're excited to see you (and see what you find!)
If you are looking for a laid back place to meet new friends, share your love of spoken word, or just listen to some great poetry, please join us at Bobzbay Books (419 N. Main St. Bloomington, IL) on Saturday, August 8th from 4pm-5pm for our monthly Open Mic Poetry series! Open Mic Poetry takes place in the children's room in the back, seating & sign-ups will be available around 3:45pm.
Shop for a good cause at Bobzbay Books on Tuesday, August 11th and help raise money to support the Child Protection Network!
10% of all sales made at Bobzbay Books (in-store or online) on Tuesday, August 11th will be donated to Child Protection Network.
The Child Protection Network (CPN) is a volunteer-driven 501(c)3 organization established in August of 1990 by the McLean County State’s Attorney, along with a grassroots group of community leaders. Their mission is to support the treatment and prevention of child abuse and neglect in central Illinois by providing financial resources to local agencies engaged in fighting child abuse and neglect. For more information on CPN, head to their website (https://mcleancpn.org) .
Can't make it in store but still want to support? Online purchases made on 8/11/26 between the hours of 12:01am-11:59pm qualify for the profit share too...and we ship! :) Shop online here (https://bobzbay.square.site/s/shop) .
Staff Corner
Check out past staff picks & read about our fantastic crew here (https://bobzbay.square.site/about-us) !
Other News!
This month we're getting in the back-to-school spirit with a selection of curated book ̶d̶i̶s̶p̶l̶a̶y̶s̶ curriculums featuring fiction and nonfiction books centered around specific topics 📓 We've got some classic 'classes' featured (Art History, Linguistics, Human Sexuality, etc.) as well as some subjects that are a little more off the beaten path (Death Studies, Housing: Haunted and Otherwise, What If?: Speculative Futures & Fictions, etc.). Check out all of our mini syllabus' (syllabi?) in the center room or on our 'Curated Curriculums' page online (https://bobzbay.square.site/bts) !
We're also highlighting two Book Bingo (https://bobzbay.square.site/bookbingo) categories in-store right now: Books with a One-Word Title (https://bobzbay.square.site/shop/books-with-a-one-word-title/D3KM6GEUPMISJC23CBCMRCUP) ( #4) and Books Published by an IPC Member Press (https://bobzbay.square.site/shop/books-published-by-indie-press-caucus-member-publishers/DDJA4AFCXQLBTNCX2C57GYXE) ( #7)!
Come see us in person to check out all the great titles we're displaying, and shop our past in-store displays online by clicking here (https://bobzbay.square.site/shop/store-displays/362) !
Construction Update: A (Red) Raccoon's Eye View of the 400 Block
Shout out to Jamie Mathy, owner of Red Raccoon Games (https://www.redraccoongames.net) who snapped this great photo of the 400 block while on the roof of his building!
The roads are still under construction, but it looks and feels like we're making progress. Thanks again to everyone who's supported us during construction! We appreciate you! 🫶
New to the newsletter or need an update about where to park during construction? Visit this page (https://bobzbay.square.site/construction) on our website!
See you next week!
I hope to see you in-person soon (we're open 10-6 weekdays, 9-5 Saturdays, & 11-5 Sundays). You can always text us at 309-434-9515 if you'd like a book recommendation or if you want to place a special order.
Keep loving one another, be patient, and spread kindness.
Local Events!
Have an event you'd like us to include? Email us and we'll be sure to include it!
8/27 NPL Dine to Donate @ Pizza Payaa "Grab a Slice, Support the Library!
Mark your calendars for Thursday, August 27th! The Normal Public Library Foundation is partnering with Pizza Payaa for a special Dine to Donate event. Whether you are dining in or ordering online, you can help raise vital funds for NPL. Pizza Payaa will donate 20% of all qualifying sales back to the NPL Foundation—and if we collectively exceed $1,000 in receipts, they will boost their donation by an additional 10%!
How to participate: Dining in? Mention the "Normal Public Library Fundraiser" when ordering. Ordering online? Use the promo code Fundraiser at checkout.
Enjoy some delicious pizza and support your community library at the same time."
For more information visit this link (https://www.facebook.com/share/195NoMg8tg/) .
All month long: Facing Frida: A Multimedia Exhibition in Three Parts @ Art Vortex Studio “Facing Frida is a collaboration of Latinos en Blono, Go Piñata, hej creative, and Art Vortex Studio. The opening reception will include a meet-and-greet with the artists and refreshments.
“Facing Frida” was born in part from the dual-language photo exhibition, “Lele, la muñeca mexicana - Lele, The Mexican Doll," by artist, journalist, and Mexican mom Yolanda Alonso of Latinos en BloNo hosted at Art Vortex Studio from September to November 2025.
The exhibit features the visual explorations of three local women responding to the work and life of Frida Kahlo in ways specific to their artistic practices and lived experience. Coinciding with the week of Kahlo’s birthday (July 6, 1907) and extending through Latinx Heritage Month 2026, this dual-language exhibition offers opportunities to consider the sur/realism of life, love, language, lore, and more through portraiture, paper, and photography.
Other dates to view Facing Frida: A Multimedia Exhibition in Three Parts include First Fridays August 7, September 4, and October 2 from 4-8 p.m., Saturdays July 11, July 18, July 25, and August 8, with a closing reception on October 17 from 10am - 2pm, and by appointment."
For more information visit this link. (https://www.facebook.com/share/1JLaM56u3F/)
Best Ways to Support Bobzbay Books
- Write a review on Google (https://g.co/kgs/EESqb8T) , Yelp (https://www.yelp.com/biz/bobzbay-books-bloomington) , and/or TripAdvisor (https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g35691-d20376181-Reviews-Bobzbay-Bloomington_Bloomington_Normal_Illinois.html) .
- Grab an audiobook from libro.fm.
- Buy an ebook or physical book from bookshop.org (https://bookshop.org/shop/Bobzbay) .
- Shop with us in-store or online.
- Trade-in your books (find info about how to do that here (https://bobzbay.square.site/book-trade-ins) !).
- Subscribe to our email newsletter (https://squareup.com/customer-programs/enroll/ufyNpMuJtjLS?utm_medium=qr-download&utm_source=in-store) if you aren't already
Bobzbay Books Pet of the Week
Click here for an update from Bobzbay!
