Saturday
Gordon McAlpin will sign copies of “Multiplex: Enjoy Your Show” at 4 p.m. at Third Coast Comics, 6234 N. Broadway; free. The signing will be followed by the Chicago Comic Book Meetup at 7 p.m., which McAlpin will also attend.
Adam Golaski and Jennifer Karmin will be featured readers at the Myopic Poetry Series at 7 p.m. at Myopic Books, 1564 N. Milwaukee Ave.; free.
Sunday
The annual 57th Street Children’s Book Fair is back. The fair will run 1-6 p.m. with a kickoff parade at 1 p.m. Vendors and activities will be set up in an L-shape on 57th Street between Dorchester and Kimbark avenues, and along Kimbark from 57th to 56th streets; free. Call 773-684-1300 or visit 57cbf.org.
Monday
Essay Fiesta, a monthly reading series of personal essays, will feature Ian Belknap, Noelle Krimm, Andrew Reilly, Rebecca Rine-Stone and Chicago Magazine’s Scott Smith at 7 p.m. at the Book Cellar, 4736-38 N. Lincoln Ave.; free. A raffle will be held after the event to benefit Howard Brown Health Center.
Douglas Perry will discuss his book “The Girls of Murder City: Fame, Lust, and the Beautiful Killers Who Inspired Chicago” and, yes, he means the world-famous Bob Fosse musical “Chicago.” The program will start at 7 p.m. at the Frankfort Public Library, 21119 Pfeiffer Road, Frankfort; free.
Tuesday
Lovers of both anime and manga will meet from 4 to 5 p.m. to read, discuss and blog about the newest titles over Japanese food at the Harold Washington Library Center, 400 S. State St.; free.
Heather McElhatton will sign copies of her novel “Million Little Mistakes” from12:30-2:30 p.m. at the Columbia College Chicago bookstore, 624 S. Michigan Ave.; free.
Wednesday
Daniel P. Smith will discuss his new book “On the Job: Behind the Stars of the Chicago Police Department” 6:30-7:30 p.m.at the Roosevelt branch library at 1101 W. Taylor St.; free.
Keir Graff, novelist and senior editor of “Booklist Online,” will tell personal stories about navigating the publishing world and give advice on how to see your name in print at noon in the video theater at the Harold Washington Library Center, 400 S. State St.; free. Registration is requested; call 312-747-4300 or visit chipublib.org.
Author Robert K. Elder will pair a discussion of his book “Last Words of the Executed” with clips from Steve James’ new documentary “At the Death House Door.” James will also attend the 7 p.m. talk at Oak Park Library, 834 Lake St., Oak Park; free.
Thursday
The Art of Reading club will discuss this month’s book selection, “Bad Apple” by Laura Ruby, and then do an art project based on the book starting at 6 p.m. at the Mount Greenwood branch library, 11010 S. Kedzie Ave.; free. The event is recommended for ages 14-18.
Joe Meno will read from his story collection “Demons in the Spring” at 7 p.m. at the Book Cellar, 4736 N. Lincoln Ave.; free.
Friday
Danielle Dutton will read from her debut novel “Sprawl” at 7:30 p.m. at Women & Children First, 5233 N. Clark St.; free. Kate Zambreno will also read from her novel “O Fallen Angel.”
Richard Poplak will present “The Sheikh’s Batmobile: In Pursuit of American Pop Culture in the Muslim World” at 7 p.m. at the Book Cellar, 4736 N. Lincoln Ave.; free.