Gabe Kapler hits the books in Newton

Gabe Kapler is a big bookworm. While in town the other day with the Tampa Bay Rays, the former Red Sox outfielder spent hours browsing the stacks at the New England Mobile Book Fair, where he used to help run a reading program for kids (Kevin Youkilis now works with the youngsters).

On Friday, Kapler stopped by the Newton Highlands book nook with his wife, Lisa, and their wee ones. He returned Monday by himself. Steve Gans, operating officer of the Book Fair, says Kapler has always been a good customer and still makes purchases from the road. For instance, he recently ordered Malcolm Gladwell's "Outliers" so that he could put it in the locker of hot Sox prospect Lars Anderson. Kapler was Anderson's manager in 2007, when he worked for the Red Sox's Single-A affiliate in Greenville, S.C.