Greater St. Louis Book Fair

When: Thu., April 28, 4-9 p.m., Fri., April 29, 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Sat., April 30, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. and Sun., May 1, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. 2016

This is a great week to be alive if you're a book lover. Independent Bookstore Day is Saturday, and the Greater St. Louis Book Fair is back today with more books than ever. As always, the fair is chock-a-block with great bargains on paperbacks, hardcovers, comic books, graphic novels and related ephemera. This year's crop of rare and collectible items is deep and fascinating as well. There's a copy of Andy Warhol's 25 Cats Named Sam and One Blue Pussy, a 1914 edition of The Book of Friendly Giants and, for the Mr. Show fanatic in your life, a copy of Charles Francis Jenkins' biography of Button Gwinnett (he signed the Declaration of Independence). The Greater St. Louis Book Fair takes place from 4 to 9 p.m. Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday (April 28 to May 1) at West County Center (I-270 and Manchester Road; www.stlouisbookfair.org). Admission is $10 on opening night and free Friday through Sunday.

— Paul Friswold