Young readers and their supportive grownups are invited to join us for a launch gathering for the debut issue of Chrysalis, a new literary magazine by trans youth, for trans youth. The evening will be hosted by award-winning author and National Book Award nominee Kyle Lukoff, a contributing editor to Chrysalis, and take place in the High Five Books studio.

Join us for an evening of family activism in celebration of Banned Books Week! This legislative session, two Freedom to Read bills are being voted on by the MA House and Senate. Similar to the bills recently passed in Rhode Island and Delaware, these pieces of legislation will grant protections to libraries, bookstores, and creators who write and produce books. We are lucky to have these bills being co-sponsored by local legislators, so let them know how much we appreciate it. Let’s flood the offices with our support for the freedom to read!

Join High Five Books for a Friday morning musical storytime for the launch of BABY BALLENA, the beautiful, bilingual new picture book from local musician and author MISTER G.

In celebration of Banned Books Week (October 5-11, 2025), please join us for a cozy, after-hours read-in at High Five Books! We have plenty of comfy spots to settle into and oodles of great books, of course: Bring your own, or browse our shelves.

Come together for International Astronomy Day on September 27th from 2-6:30 p.m. at Bombyx Center for Arts & Equity! This free community event brings cosmic adventures for the whole family to enjoy. Explore the wonders of the universe through live digital planetarium shows, hands-on activities in our mobile Space Trailer, science crafts and gizmos, and an amazing collection of space-themed books and resources.

Join High Five Books for a launch celebration for THANK YOU, OLD OAK, by local author, scientist, and professor Britt Crow-Miller! They’ll have reading, crafts, and signing. All are welcome and participation is FREE.

We're thrilled to celebrate the release of the latest book from the National Book Award-winning author of the Penderwicks series, Jeanne Birdsall: THE LIBRARY OF UNRULY TREASURES! On September 14 at 1pm, join us, Jeanne herself, and community star Monte Belmonte for an unforgettable celebration at Bombyx Center for Arts & Equity here in Florence.

Join us for a sweet kids' cookbook release: CUPCAKE CLASS! We’ll decorate cupcakes with local, best-selling children's baking authors Deanna Cook and Joy Howard.

Join High Five Books on Tuesday September 9th from 5-6pm for a FREE BOOK TALK at Daily Operation in Easthampton to celebrate the release of an amazing cookbook! Senior Literary Agent Sally Ekus will moderate a conversation between creators Jyoti and Auyon followed by an audience Q&A. After the book talk at Daily Op, a special Heartland Masala-inspired menu by chef Dave Schrier as well as copies of the book will be available for purchase!

Queer, trans, nonbinary, and gender expansive kiddos + families & friends are welcome to join us for crafts, popsicles, and movies this summer! At this second pop-up, we'll be screening episodes of GRAVITY FALLS and snacking (bring your own to share or eat ours!)

You bring the fabric items—t-shirts, bags, hats, pillowcases, etc.—and we’ll have blocks & ink! This is your family's chance to print amazing images from our wall mural (by local artist Sunny Allis) on the goodies you want. (Yes, we'll have our logo available, too!) Our instructor Corrie will have all the supplies ready for you to block print on our patio and bring your items home to rinse. Drop in anytime 10am-6pm on Friday August 8 and/or Saturday August 9 to come craft!

You bring the fabric items—t-shirts, bags, hats, pillowcases, etc.—and we’ll have blocks & ink! This is your family's chance to print amazing images from our wall mural (by local artist Sunny Allis) on the goodies you want. (Yes, we'll have our logo available, too!) Our instructor Corrie will have all the supplies ready for you to block print on our patio and bring your items home to rinse. Drop in anytime 10am-6pm on Friday August 8 and/or Saturday August 9 to come craft!

What screams summer fun more than tie-dye?! We’ll provide the drawstring book tote, you're invited to bring up to two additional items to tie-dye! Our instructor Talia will have all the supplies ready for you to tie-dye on our patio and bring your items home to rinse. Drop in anytime 10am-6pm on Friday July 18 and/or Saturday July 19 to come craft!

What screams summer fun more than tie-dye?! We’ll provide the drawstring book tote, you're invited to bring up to two additional items to tie-dye! Our instructor Talia will have all the supplies ready for you to tie-dye on our patio and bring your items home to rinse. Drop in anytime 10am-6pm on Friday July 18 and/or Saturday July 19 to come craft!

Get set for summer with these essential fantasy-themed accessories, as seen in The Big Book of Fantasy Kid Crafts! Instructor Talia will have all the supplies you need to make both a Burlap Adventure Bag AND a Leaf-Bound Notebook. Drop in anytime 10am-6pm on Friday June 27 and/or Saturday June 28 to come craft!

Get set for summer with these essential fantasy-themed accessories, as seen in The Big Book of Fantasy Kid Crafts! Instructor Talia will have all the supplies you need to make both a Burlap Adventure Bag AND a Leaf-Bound Notebook. Drop in anytime 10am-6pm on Friday June 27 and/or Saturday June 28 to come craft!

Grownups, come celebrate the hometown release of GAYSIANS by award-winning Northampton author-illustrator Mike Curato. In his adult book debut, the acclaimed author of the young adult graphic novel FLAMER comes a heartwarming story following four gay Asians navigating love, identity, and friendship—a celebration of queer chosen family.​

Everyone's favorite kindergartener, Junie B. Jones, is BACK in a new graphic novel series! And after school on Friday, June 6, 4-6pm here at High Five Books, we're excited to celebrate its release with illustrator, Colleen Venable (of Katie the Catsitter, Kitten Ninja, and Time Buddies fame)! Join us as we make super-smelly school bus collages. FREE! No registration necessary!

Readers have excitedly awaited the new novel by local award-winning and bestselling author and illustrator: 'The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon' arrives on May 6! This gorgeously full-color illustrated book tells the story of a lion cub and a girl who must open a portal for the spirits, based on Chinese folklore.

To celebrate, join the High Five Books team, plus Grace Lin herself in conversation with local Newbery Honor Award-winning author Lisa Yee for a special afternoon of storytelling, crafts, Reader's Theater, Chinese food, and more. High Five Books will have the DELUXE LIMITED EDITION of 'The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon' for sale―featuring stenciled designed sprayed edges, as well as a foil case stamp and designed endpapers. Readers are welcome to bring their own well-loved copies of Grace's past work for signing, as well.

Every child deserves a place to feel seen, supported, and celebrated. Doodle-a-thon is a celebration of youth art, fundraising for the Art is For Everybody Fund (AEF) to help youth + teens from low-income homes attend programs at RCA’s welcoming, affirming studio.

Author and poet James Crews will read from his new book LOVE IS FOR ALL OF US: POEMS OF TENDERNESS AND BELONGING FROM THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY. These compassionate poems of connection and affirmation are a celebration of all kinds of love: romantic, family, friendship, self-love, and love for nature. The poems are gathered from a diverse group of contemporary writers, both allied and part of the LGBTQIA+ community, with a special focus on queer, nonbinary, and transgender poets.

Join High Five Books at the Forbes Library for a Turtle Celebration! As part of Mass Kids Lit Fest 2025, award-winning author Mary Wagley Copp will read from her picture book YOSHI'S BIG SWIM and the Hitchcock Center for the Environment will bring a box turtle for you to meet!