The Global Book Crawl is coming to Mparntwe/Alice Springs!

From Mon 20th until Sun 26th April, 2026

What is the Global Book Crawl?

The Global Book Crawl is an international event celebrating independent bookshops, reading and community.

It started in 2025, encouraging people to explore local bookstores on foot. In 2026, it’s expanding with more cities, countries, and participants. The idea is simple: visit bookshops, discover new books, meet people, and enjoy the shared experience of reading.

We're doing things a little different in Mparntwe/Alice Springs. With just one bookshop in town we are taking a broader community approach and the invitation has been extended to businesses that sell books. Our focus being books, art, culture, and local businesses!

Participating in this year's Global Book Crawl locally are the following 8 businesses:

Red Kangaroo Books
IAD Press
Araluen Arts Centre
Tjanpi Desert Weavers
Sugar & Spice
Novita Gifts
The Paper Shoppe
Olive Pink Garden Gift Shop

How it works:

Pick up a Global Book Crawl passport at any of the participating shops
Visit each location and get your passport stamped
Explore at your own pace, visit 2 shops or visit all of them!
Share your experience online using #GlobalBookCrawl, #penguinpersonas and tag @global.bookcrawl.australia, @penguinbooksaus

Rewards & Perks during book crawl week: Mon 20th to Sun 26th April, 2026:

✅ Collect 6 stamps → get a free audiobook (Libro.fm)
via Red Kangaroo Books
🛍️ Spend $100 at selected stores → receive a free tote bag or buy one for $19.99
(*while stocks last)
📖 Purchase a Penguin/Puffin book → to receive a free ultra collectible Penguin Persona card pack (*while stocks last) from Red Kangaroo Books.
Collected the full set? Penguin would love to see your collection → Share a photo here of the full set for your chance to win a special book pack valued at $350 from Penguin Random House
👨‍👩‍👧 Families who complete the crawl → receive a free copy of Andy Griffiths The Land of Lost Things
(*while stocks last and one copy per family) from Red Kangaroo Books
⭐For a chance to win a $200 Australian Booksellers Association voucher → share your crawl on Instagram with the hashtag
#GlobalBookCrawl and tag @global.bookcrawl.australia

And, if you complete the Crawl visiting all eight shops, you are eligible to go into the draw for the grand local prize pack! See in-store for details.

The spirit of the Global Book Crawl

The Mparntwe chapter goes beyond books, there will be other discoveries along the way, you'll be supporting local businesses, all while creating and sharing experiences with others ... and, you just never know who you'll bump into along the way!

Competition terms and conditions

Penguin Persona Cards will only be available at Red Kangaroo Books and only while stocks last.
The Land of Lost Things by Andy Griffiths will only be available to collect on completion of the crawl at Red Kangaroo Books and only while stocks last.
You can purchase Book Crawl 2026 bags at Red Kangaroo Books, Olive Pink Botanical Gift Shop, Sugar & Spice, The Paper Shoppe and Tjanpi Desert Weavers
Competition ends 26 April 2026. Competition will be drawn on 5 May 2026 at random. Only the winner will be notified. The winner must respond within 48 hours or another winner will be chosen. Staff and their family members are not eligible

Please RSVP here to help us plan.

Note - trading hours will vary from business to business.

A big thank you to the major sponsors re Libro.fm and Penguin Random!

Contact the host of Global Book Crawl Mparntwe/Alice Springs