Six Black women-owned bookstores are teaming up for the Black Girl Book Fair on Saturday, July 11, at Brave + Kind Bookshop, 722 West College Ave., in Decatur.
The collection of booksellers from across metro Atlanta is bringing back the nostalgia of a childhood book fair: the smell of fresh markers, stacks of new journals, and must-have posters. The first book fair took place in spring 2025.
The bookshops will gather outside of Brave + Kind for the return of “Black Girl Book Fair: Books, Bites + Beats Summer Edition,” an outdoor celebration mixing books, music, food and community for readers of all ages. The free, all-ages event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Participating bookshops are The Book Worm Bookstore, Powder Springs, owned by Julia Davis; All Things Inspiration, Mableton and Marietta, owned by LaVonya Williams; The Book Cellar, Conyers, owned by Tamara Brown; 44th and 3rd Bookseller, West End, owned by Cheryl Lee; and A Small Place Books, Avondale Estates, owned by Enkeshi El-Amin.
Host Bunnie Hilliard, founder of Brave + Kind, said the idea was to combine a classic school book fair with the feel of a summer block party.
“This event is about joy, representation, nostalgia, and creating spaces where Black stories and Black-owned bookstores are celebrated loudly,” Hilliard said. “We wanted to bring back the feeling we all loved as kids and turn it into a community experience rooted in culture, creativity, and connection.”
Attendees can expect curated books for all ages, meet-and-greets with award-winning authors, live music, and classic book fair staples like journals, stickers, and markers. The event will also feature handmade goods from Black women-owned vendors and food from a neighboring restaurant partner.
Organizers built in a charitable component as well. The restaurant next to the event will donate 10% of its proceeds to the Brave + Kind Friends Foundation, which funds literacy programs and inclusive activities for children and families in the Brave + Kind community.
For those looking to take home a memento, this year’s fair includes a limited-edition mini tote bag and T-shirt designed specifically for the event.
