The Philly Bookstore Crawl is back for its fourth year on August 22

This year boasts special highlights, including industry events for aspiring authors at American Grammar (“How to Pitch and Sell a Memoir” on Friday night), and a tour bus from local lit mag Philadelphia Stories (currently sold out). While there are many familiar spots returning, including the iconic PAT @ Giovanni’s Room and Wooden Shoe Books (grab a free adult coloring book), the Crawl is welcoming dozens of new shops this year.

Among them is Little Yenta, a second-hand bookstore that began as a pop-up in the back of a Passyunk Avenue children's dress shop but has grown by popular demand into its own store just down the street. We spoke with Ariel Censor, who co-owns Little Yenta alongside her husband Simon Censor, about participating in this year’s event.

Freeing books from corporations and big tech

“We’re really excited,” Censor says. The couple had been participating in the Bookstore Crawl as shoppers for years and have no shortage of other stores on the Crawl to shout out, such as their neighbor a few blocks to the north, A Novel Idea, and Molly’s Books and Records in the Italian Market (don’t miss a bonus fair of poetry and small presses outside Molly’s featuring a bevy of local writers, including BSR’s own C.M. Crockford with his latest poetry collection).

Now, they’re undertaking their first year as an official stop with their own storefront. Despite their newness, Little Yenta has already been warmly welcomed by local readers.

“I live just a few blocks away from the store,” Censor explains, “so I see a bunch of my customers around all the time. So many people show up just to talk books with us. The sustained love and support has been so encouraging.”

Little Yenta exclusively sells used books, making it a uniquely sustainable stop, with most books priced under $10. “We try to make sure books are affordable and accessible for everyone,” Censor says. “There’s a permanence to owning a book, it’s such a tangible way to engage with things that you love. In a world where AI is destroying books, to have that on your shelf and not have your interaction with it mediated by a corporation or technology, is really important.”

Showing up for your bookstore

This year’s Crawl includes shops in every corner of the city, from Mt. Airy’s Big Blue Marble to West Philly’s Bindlestiff, to Fishtown’s Harriett’s Bookshop, to South Street’s Wooden Shoe Books (grab a free adult coloring book). Suburban bookstore crawlers can check out events in Narberth, Exton, Havertown, Wayne, Swarthmore, Jenkintown, and more. Check the full list of participating shops. There’s no particular program or route for the crawl: book lovers can choose their own adventure throughout the day.

“People love to show up for their bookstores,” Censor says. “For Philly in particular there’s a lot of excitement around showing up in person, alongside other readers, maybe finding an excuse to stop in a store you haven’t been to before. You can really make a day of it.”

At top: Little Yenta bookstore on East Passyunk Avenue will participate in this year’s Philly Bookstore Crawl. (Photo by Ariel Censor.)

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