Plaid Elephant Books

Plaid Elephant Books Plaid Elephant Books is a magical, destination bookshop for kids and their grown-ups in Danville, KY What Is Plaid Elephant Books? But its more than that.

The short answer is that Plaid Elephant Books is a youth-focused bookstore. It’s a dream brought lovingly to life. It’s a place for wonder and delight and discovery. As I was dreaming Plaid Elephant Books into existence, three words inspired me. I hope that they inspire you, too! DELIGHT – There is something wonderful about discovering a new book with a child. If we are lucky, our children will read throughout their lives because they love it. Because every new book is an adventure, filled with new friends and incredible discoveries. We have curated a selection of top-quality titles – from board books to young adult – that will delight readers of all ages and stages. PLAY – Plaid Elephant Books isn’t just about books. We also stock toys, games, puzzles, and art supplies. Children learn through play. They have instinctively creative minds and wonderfully imaginative hearts. As supportive adults, our job is to nurture that inherent spark. CONNECTION – Children thrive on connection. Not just with their family, friends, and classmates – but with places, too. We carry memories of treasured places with us into adulthood and those connections shape us in powerful ways. From our location in historic downtown Danville, to the whimsical wall art, to the kid-friendly furnishings, Plaid Elephant Books is designed for children to love. Plaid Elephant Books is a dream many years in the making. I can’t wait to share it with you.

- Kate

New Release Roundup Part 2! Way too many to blurb them all, but we've got:- New Bakery Dragon!- New Millie Fleur!- New "...
10/06/2026

New Release Roundup Part 2! Way too many to blurb them all, but we've got:

- New Bakery Dragon!
- New Millie Fleur!
- New "Last Dragon on Mars"!
- New Baby-Sitters Little Sister!
- New Greenwild (set 10 years after the trilogy)

Plus...

📚 "Duel" by Shawn Harris - this is an incredibly inventive picture book where every spread is a mirror image and the text plays around with that convention. It's way cool.

📚 "That Beautiful Mind" by Tami Charles - with illustrations by Nikkolas Smith that are just gorgeous (as always!) This poetry-in-motion, sing-out-loud story follows the journey of one young boy as he navigates the challenges of his constantly running, brilliantly creative, and ever-so-busy brain.

📚 “Marionetta” by Miriam Bonastre Tur - From the bestselling creator of Hooky comes the first graphic novel in a thrilling young adult dark fantasy series about a teenage girl who is magically resurrected into a traveling circus by a sinister deity.

📚 "Doubles" by T.Z. Layton - From the author of the popular Academy soccer series! The first book in a new series for young readers and for sports fans of all ages, Doubles layers friendship, love, redemption, and high-stakes volleyball into a story that reminds readers they can bloom wherever they are planted.

📚 "Fatal Glitch: Let's Play a Game" by Erin Entrada Kelly - middle grade horror ala Black Mirror

📚 "The Worst Is Yet to Come" by Trish Lundy - a fresh YA mystery about a girl who survives a murder attempt and the boy who finds her bleeding on the side of the road as they team up to find out who is targeting teen girls in their small, Rust Belt community. Perfect for fans of Holly Jackson and Karen M. McManus.

📚 “The Memory of Borrowed Books” by Meg Anderson (grown-up) - A sweeping, magical ode to community and the stories we leave behind. The story follows one librarian who discovers a hidden room of unfinished memories—and must find the one that can save her beloved library from closing forever.

I'm breaking the New Releases post into two chunks today because there are a truly staggering number of books hitting th...
10/06/2026

I'm breaking the New Releases post into two chunks today because there are a truly staggering number of books hitting the shelves this week. Round 1 are the biggies - the books you might be anxiously waiting for! Round 2 will be more about discovery - the "ooh, that looks fun" books. Stay tuned.

📚 "Partita" by Barbara Kingsolver. Look, anytime Barbara Kingsolver writes a new book, you should read it. She's just one of those authors who is such an undisputed master of her craft that you don't even need a description of the book to know you'll love it.

But in case you DO want a description, this is a book about a classical pianist and the ripple effect of a passionate love affair. (And OMG the descriptions of music in this book are incredible.) But it's also about family loss and small town Appalachia and dysfunctional parents and aching loneliness and the pain and pleasure of great love. I'm about 60% through and honestly, you're lucky I am coming to work today because I just want to stay home and read.

📚 "The Witch" by Freida McFadden - I have 6 copies of the deluxe edition headed this way, but they haven't arrived yet. Holler if you'd like me to reserve one for you. This one is perfect for spooky season!

📚 "Life Out of Order" by Audrey Niffenegger - the long-anticipated sequel to "The Time Travelers Wife" - aka one of my favorite books of all time. Can't WAIT to read this follow-up, which brings us the story of Henry and Claire's daughter, Alba.

📚 "Devoured" by Jordan Stephanie Gray - sequel to last year's blockbuster YA romantasy "Bitten." Werewolves! Blood! Vengeance! Love triangles!

📚 "The Sixth Faction" by Veronica Roth - a new take on the Divergent story. I *believe* the premise of this book is "what if Tris had stayed in Abnegation"?

📚 "Spy School Goes East" by Stuart Gibbs - next installment in the middle grade action series.

📚 "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" - book 6 in the fancy illustrated versions is finally available, for those who have been collecting the series.

Quick reminder of the store hours this week! We'll be open 10am to 4pm, Tuesday through Saturday. Come see us!
10/05/2026

Quick reminder of the store hours this week! We'll be open 10am to 4pm, Tuesday through Saturday. Come see us!

I think we're close enough to the end of the year for me to safely declare that "Mad Mabel" by Sally Hepworth will be in...
10/04/2026

I think we're close enough to the end of the year for me to safely declare that "Mad Mabel" by Sally Hepworth will be in my Top 5 reads of 2026.

This is an absolutely delightful romp of a read. It has the tenderness of "A Man Called Ove"...if Ove had been a suspected serial killer.

Ha! Caught your attention, didn't I?

But that is absolutely the vibe. We have a grumpy octogenarian named Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick who spends her days side-eyeing her neighbors and fending off friendship overtures from a seven-year-old down the street. Elsie is witty, sharp, and deeply lonely. That's half the novel.

The other half takes place in flashbacks to Elsie's dismal childhood, when she was known as Mabel - or "Mad Mabel" - and was Australia's youngest convicted murderer.

It's a fantastic read. Go forth and enjoy!

10/03/2026

If you're buzzing around downtown this weekend, come see us! And maybe take home a new plush friend. We just got a shipment with grasshoppers, bees, ladybugs, and slugs!

So cute and so soft.

The queen of young adult romance has a new cozy fall love story - and we've got signed copies!"Trust Fall" by Lynn Paint...
10/02/2026

The queen of young adult romance has a new cozy fall love story - and we've got signed copies!

"Trust Fall" by Lynn Painter is on shelves now. Snag a signed copy to make your teen's heart happy. Lynn describes her books as "delightfully tropey and unapologetically romantic" and I just love that. They're a warm hug in book form.

This time, she brings us a rags-to-riches rom-com about a small-town girl whose family inherits a fortune and moves to New York City, where she meets a big-city boy hiding an explosive secret.

Enjoy!

🚨🧩REMINDER: Puzzle Swap at Plaid Elephant Books on Friday (10/2) and Saturday (10/3)! 🚨🧩The format is super simple and f...
10/01/2026

🚨🧩REMINDER: Puzzle Swap at Plaid Elephant Books on Friday (10/2) and Saturday (10/3)! 🚨🧩

The format is super simple and flexible. Bring in a puzzle (or multiple!) and leave it/them on the swap table. Then feel free to select an equivalent number of puzzles to take home with you. That's it. Easy peasy.

Puzzles of any piece-count are welcome, although the “adult” puzzles (500 piece+) are more in demand than kid puzzles. People are always keen for 750-piece puzzles, since they're a bit more uncommon. And we have found that older adults often enjoy 300-piece puzzles, especially if the designs aren't too “young.”

You can stop by throughout the day - and circle back to see if new things have come in. We're open 10am to 6pm on Friday and 10am to 4pm on Saturday. We have a stock of puzzles donated during the last swap to “seed” the table on Friday morning and get us off to a good start!

10/01/2026

Time for the Boozy Book Fair squishy report because, yes, we have new arrivals that will be making their debut this evening at the Boozy Book Fair!

Don't forget that the shop is closing at 3pm today as we head over to set up. See y'all at Morley's Backyard from 5pm to 8pm!

Hi Friends! Just a quick post to share some adjusted hours over the next week. With several off-site events on the calen...
09/30/2026

Hi Friends! Just a quick post to share some adjusted hours over the next week. With several off-site events on the calendar and fall break looming, here is when you can plan to visit your favorite indie bookstore!

⏰ Wednesday, September 30th - 10am to 5pm (closing 1 hour early)

⏰ Thursday, October 1st - 10am to 3pm
**The shop will close at 3pm so we can head over to set up for the Boozy Book Fair! Come see us at Morley's Backyard from 5pm to 8pm!)**

⏰ Friday, October 2nd - 10am to 6pm (normal)

⏰ Saturday, October 3rd - 10am to 4pm (storefront)
⏰ Saturday, October 3rd - 12pm to 5pm (pop-up at Obscurious Market event at The Showroom)

***********************************
FALL BREAK WEEK: October 5th through 10th
⏰ We'll be open 10am to 4pm, Tuesday through Saturday during fall break.

You already know you'll find great reads, delicious drinks, live music, and tasty food at the Boozy Book Fair on October...
09/30/2026

You already know you'll find great reads, delicious drinks, live music, and tasty food at the Boozy Book Fair on October 1st...but did you know there's also swag??

👻 The first 10 people to spend $40 at the Boozy Book Fair will get a FREE, reusable tote. (Just look at the little ghosties reading their books. So cute.)

💀 PLUS, anyone who comes in costume or otherwise seasonally-festive attire will get a FREE custom-designed vinyl water bottle sticker. The level of dress-up is up to you! Come in full costume or don a pair of spiderweb tights or just grab your punniest Halloween shirt. Express yourself!

We'll see you tomorrow (Thursday) from 5pm to 8pm at Morley's Backyard!

Address

116 N. 3rd Street
Danville, KY
40422

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 6pm
Thursday 10am - 6pm
Friday 10am - 6pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

+18594492010

Website

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