Where to find the bookseller in Stardew Valley
New books and a shiny bookseller are part of the patch 1.6 content for Stardew Valley. While Stardew Valley previously featured “lost books” — blue books that added lore to Pelican Town’s library — these new books have a different purpose.
These books are part of the new “Special Items and Powers” inventory screen and provide little bonuses for various things. Below, we explain where to find the bookseller in Stardew Valley, how to find more books, and what they do.
Where’s the bookseller in Stardew Valley?
Twice a season on random days, a bookseller comes to the town via a hot air balloon. You can see these dates on the calendar outside of Pierre’s shop and the game will give you a little “The bookseller is in town today” notification on the side.
The bookseller is at the northeast of town, above Joja Mart:
Once there, you can buy a plethora of books at various prices. Some may be as cheap as 3,000 gold, but others will be as expensive as 25,000 gold. Some books can be obtained from other methods (see below), but if you don’t find them by Year 3, they’ll show up for sale in the bookseller’s shop.
Where else can I find books in Stardew Valley?
You can get books as rewards for many things. We’ve found books from chopping trees and from fishing treasure chests. As you play, you’ll find these books around naturally, though some of them have to be purchased from the bookseller.
We’ve compiled a complete list of books, their effects, and their locations based on our playthrough, with the additional help of the Stardew Valley Wiki.
Book title | Description | Location and Cost |
---|---|---|
Animal Catalogue | You can access Marnie’s shop when she’s not around. | Marnie’s shop (5,000g) starting in Year 2 |
Bait and Bobber | Read this to gain some fishing experience. | Bookseller (5,000-10,000g), mystery boxes, fishing treasure chests, artifact dig spots, shaking or chopping treets, slaying monsters, Lewis’ prize machine, Traveling Cart |
Book of Mysteries | You have a slightly greater chance to find Mystery Boxes. | Golden mystery boxes |
Book of Stars | Read this to gain some experience in all skills. | Bookseller (15,000g), raccoon side quest reward, mystery boxes |
Combat Quarterly | Read this to gain some combat experience. | Bookseller (5,000-10,000g), mystery boxes, fishing treasure chests, artifact dig spots, shaking or chopping treets, slaying monsters, Lewis’ prize machine, Traveling Cart |
Dwarvish Safety Manual | Bombs deal 25% less damage to you. | Dwarf’s shop (4,000g), Bookseller from Year 3+ (20,000g) |
Friendship 101 | You become friends with people a little faster. | Lewis’ prize machine reward, Bookseller from Year 3+ (20,000g) |
Horse: The Book | You gain a little extra speed when riding a horse. | Bookseller (25,000g) |
Jack Be Nimble, Jack Be Thick | Gain +1 Defense. | Artifact dig spots, Bookseller from Year 3+ (20,000g) |
Jewels of the Sea | Fishing treasure chests have a chance to yield roe. | Fishing treasure chests, Bookseller from Year 3+ (20,000g) |
Mapping Cave Systems | You get a 50% discount on Marlon’s item retrieval service. | Inside a gift box in the back of the Adventurer’s Guild, defeat 1,000 monsters to enter, Bookseller from Year 3+ (20,000g) |
Mining Monthly | Read this to gain some mining experience. | Bookseller (5,000-10,000g), mystery boxes, fishing treasure chests, artifact dig spots, shaking or chopping treets, slaying monsters, Lewis’ prize machine, Traveling Cart |
Monster Compendium | Monsters have a small chance to drop double loot. | Dropped from monsters, Bookseller from Year 3+ (20,000g) |
Ol’ Slitherlegs | You will now run a lot faster through grass and crops. | Bookseller (25,000g) |
Price Catalogue | You can now see the value of your items. | Bookseller (3,000g) |
Queen of Sauce Cookbook | Learn any Queen Of Sauce recipes that you don’t already know. | Bookseller (50,000g) after finding 100 Golden Walnuts |
Racoon Journal | Weeds have a greater chance to yield mixed seeds. | Racoon side quest reward, Raccon Wife’s Shop for 999 fiber, Bookseller from Year 3+ (20,000g) |
Stardew Valley Almanac | Read this to gain some farming experience. | Bookseller (5,000-10,000g), mystery boxes, fishing treasure chests, artifact dig spots, shaking or chopping treets, slaying monsters, Lewis’ prize machine, Traveling Cart |
The Alleyway Buffet | You have a greater chance to find items in the trash. | Found in the gold trash can east of the blacksmith and Joja Mart, Bookseller from Year 3+ (20,000g) |
The Art O’ Crabbing | Crab pots have a 25% chance to yield double. | SquidFest reward, Bookseller from Year 3+ (20,000g) |
The Diamond Hunter | All stones have a chance to drop a diamond when mined by hand. | Volcano Dungeon Dwarf shop (10 diamonds) |
Treasure Appraisal Guide | You will fetch a better price when selling artifacts. | Artifact troves, Bookseller from Year 3+ (20,000g) |
Way of the Wind pt. 1 | You run a little bit faster. | Bookseller (15,000g) |
Way of the Wind pt. 2 | You run a little bit faster. | Bookseller (35,000g), only available after buying the first book |
Woodcutter’s Weekly | Read this to gain some foraging experience. | Bookseller (5,000-10,000g), mystery boxes, fishing treasure chests, artifact dig spots, shaking or chopping treets, slaying monsters, Lewis’ prize machine, Traveling Cart, Calico Egg Merchant (100 eggs) |
Woody’s Secret | Felled trees have a 5% chance to yield double the wood. | Randomly dropped when cutting trees, Bookseller from Year 3+ (20,000g) |