21+ book fair to benefit Girls Choral Academy

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — A book fair for grown-ups to encourage access to literature will be held for the second year in Grand Rapids this weekend.

Book.ish, which is free, runs from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday at the Center for Community Transformation on Madison Avenue SE at Cottage Grove Street.

Organizers say the goal of the book fair is to “uplift our community through representation and accessibility.” It has a community fund of $10 off per book so as many people as possible can get something. The books offer stories from Black, Indigenous and people of color and other marginalized communities, and merchandise from local BIPOC vendors.

The event will feature performers, a coffee bar and bloody mary bar.

“It’s 21 and up because we have bloody marys and mimosas and things like that, but anyone can come, any walk of life,” organizer Phalesha Kyes said. “And what’s amazing is that you’re probably going to find a book there that you can resonate with or learn something from, get a different perspective.”

“A lot of people past college stopped reading,” organizer Chinyere Aririguzo said. “So we’re hoping that we can help people reimagine their relationship with reading.”

Book.ish will benefit the Girls Choral Academy in Grand Rapids this year.

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