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Brain Lair Books | 1005 Portage Ave | South Bend | We/Th/Fr 11a-6p | Sa 11a-4p | Su 11a-4p | Mo/Tu CLOSED | 574-207-6514

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Bookshop dedicated to developing empathy and building a community centered around the discussion of inclusive books. And fun.

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        1. Coming Soon: Black Boy, Black Boy, Ali Kamanda
        2. Coming Soon: Ways to Share Joy, Renée Watson
        3. Coming Soon: Laboratories of Autocracy, David Pepper
        4. Coming Soon: In the Wild Night. Jeff Zentner
    • Book Clubs
        1. Reading While Adulting - YA Book Club
        2. BLB Kids Book Club
        3. Relevant Reads Book Club
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        1. BLB Partnership Event: Ashley Flowers, We Are All Good People Here
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Welcome to Brain Lair Books! A black-owned, woman-owned chidlren's bookstore. We're in South Bend, Indiana in the Near Northwest Neighborhood Center. We partner with local schools and universities to help build an inclusive, welcoming community.  We specialize in  juvenile and young adult literature written by/for the BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and Disabled communities as well adult nonfiction about ending white supremacy, promoting anti-racism, and becoming a social actiivist. We can help you find the books you need.

We are open 5 days a week for in-person shopping!

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Book Of the Month

Weekly Top Sellers

  • Staff Pick Badge
    The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School By Sonora Reyes Cover Image
  • How Are You Feeling? Shaped Ring Flash Cards By Galison Mudpuppy Cover Image
  • Being Kind to the World By Elanor Best, Scott Barker (Illustrator) Cover Image
  • A Soft Place to Land By Janae Marks Cover Image
  • Finding Me: A Memoir By Viola Davis Cover Image
  • Sir Ladybug By Corey R. Tabor, Corey R. Tabor (Illustrator) Cover Image

Upcoming Events

  • BLB Partnership Event: Ashley Flowers, We Are All Good People Here
    08/15/2022 - 8:00pm
  • Reading While Adulting - YA Book Club
    08/21/2022 - 2:00pm
  • Relevant Reads Book Club
    08/31/2022 - 7:00pm to 7:45pm
  • Coming Soon: Laboratories of Autocracy, David Pepper
    09/14/2022 - 7:00pm
  • Coming Soon: In the Wild Night. Jeff Zentner
    09/29/2022 - 7:00pm
  • Coming Soon: Ways to Share Joy, Renée Watson
    10/08/2022 - 2:45pm
more

Coming Soon (click for full page)

  • Black Boy, Black Boy By Ali Kamanda, Jorge Redmond, Ken Daley (Illustrator) Cover Image
  • Big Rig By Louise Hawes Cover Image
  • How You Grow Wings By Rimma Onoseta Cover Image
  • Abuelita and I Make Flan By Adriana Hernández Bergstrom, Adriana Hernández Bergstrom (Illustrator) Cover Image
  • Pre-Order Now Badge
    The Lies We Tell By Katie Zhao Cover Image
  • Blood Like Fate (Blood Like Magic) By Liselle Sambury Cover Image
  • Rick Riordan Presents Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky, The Graphic Novel By Kwame Mbalia, Olivia Stephens (Illustrator) Cover Image

Last Read

  • Staff Pick Badge
    Just Your Local Bisexual Disaster By Andrea Mosqueda Cover Image
  • Pre-Order Now Badge
    You Only Live Once, David Bravo By Mark Oshiro Cover Image
  • The Road Back to You: An Enneagram Journey to Self-Discovery By Ian Morgan Cron, Suzanne Stabile Cover Image
  • Black Boy, Black Boy By Ali Kamanda, Jorge Redmond, Ken Daley (Illustrator) Cover Image
  • The Bodyguard: A Novel By Katherine Center Cover Image
  • Pre-Order Now Badge
    Love on the Brain By Ali Hazelwood Cover Image
  • Staff Pick Badge
    On Rotation: A Novel By Shirlene Obuobi Cover Image

SouthAsian KidLit

  • American Desi By Jyoti Rajan Gopal, Supriya Kelkar (Illustrator) Cover Image
  • Sunflower Sisters By Monika Singh Gangotra, Michaela Dias-Hayes (Illustrator) Cover Image
  • A Mermaid Girl By Sana Rafi, Olivia Aserr (Illustrator) Cover Image
  • I Love My Body Because By Shelly Anand, Nomi Ellenson, Erika Rodriguez Medina (Illustrator) Cover Image
  • Pre-Order Now Badge
    Basking in My Brown By Fatima Faisal, Anain Shaikh (Illustrator) Cover Image
  • This Is Music: Drums By Rekha S. Rajan, Tania Yakunova (Illustrator) Cover Image
More selections

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Brain Lair Books |  South Bend, IN 46616 | 574-207-6514

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