diff --git a/.github/workflows/notebooks.yml b/.github/workflows/notebooks.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c01295c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/notebooks.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+name: Notebook Tests
+
+on:
+  push:
+    branches: [main]
+    paths:
+      - "docs/examples/**"
+      - "xarray_subset_grid/**"
+      - "tests/test_notebooks.py"
+      - "scripts/run_notebooks.py"
+      - ".github/workflows/notebooks.yml"
+  pull_request:
+    branches: [main]
+
+jobs:
+  run-notebooks:
+    name: Run example notebooks (Python ${{ matrix.python-version }})
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    strategy:
+      fail-fast: false
+      matrix:
+        python-version: ["3.11", "3.12"]
+
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout repository
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+
+      - name: Set up Python ${{ matrix.python-version }}
+        uses: actions/setup-python@v5
+        with:
+          python-version: ${{ matrix.python-version }}
+
+      - name: Install package and notebook dependencies
+        run: |
+          python -m pip install --upgrade pip
+          pip install -e .
+          pip install pytest pytest-cov nbconvert jupyter matplotlib ipykernel
+          pip install fsspec s3fs h5netcdf zarr
+          python -m ipykernel install --user --name xsg-venv
+
+      - name: Run offline notebook tests via pytest
+        run: |
+          pytest tests/test_notebooks.py -v -k "offline"
+
+      - name: Run offline notebooks via standalone script
+        run: |
+          python scripts/run_notebooks.py
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/docs/examples/local_subset_example.ipynb b/docs/examples/local_subset_example.ipynb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2708468
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/examples/local_subset_example.ipynb
@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+{
+ "cells": [
+  {
+   "cell_type": "markdown",
+   "id": "915b3101",
+   "metadata": {},
+   "source": [
+    "# Local Subset Example\n",
+    "\n",
+    "Demonstrates subsetting using a bundled local NetCDF file.\n",
+    "No network access required."
+   ]
+  },
+  {
+   "cell_type": "code",
+   "execution_count": null,
+   "id": "ab62940a",
+   "metadata": {},
+   "outputs": [],
+   "source": [
+    "import xarray as xr\n",
+    "import numpy as np\n",
+    "from pathlib import Path\n",
+    "import xarray_subset_grid  # noqa: F401\n",
+    "\n",
+    "data_path = Path('../../tests/example_data') / 'AMSEAS-subset.nc'\n",
+    "ds = xr.open_dataset(data_path)\n",
+    "print('Dataset loaded:', ds)"
+   ]
+  },
+  {
+   "cell_type": "code",
+   "execution_count": null,
+   "id": "9cd58ce9",
+   "metadata": {},
+   "outputs": [],
+   "source": [
+    "print('Grid type:', ds.xsg.grid)\n",
+    "print('Grid vars:', ds.xsg.grid_vars)\n",
+    "print('Data vars:', ds.xsg.data_vars)"
+   ]
+  },
+  {
+   "cell_type": "code",
+   "execution_count": null,
+   "id": "6c79afb7",
+   "metadata": {},
+   "outputs": [],
+   "source": [
+    "lats = ds.cf['latitude'].values\n",
+    "lons = ds.cf['longitude'].values\n",
+    "lat_mid = (float(lats.min()) + float(lats.max())) / 2\n",
+    "lon_mid = (float(lons.min()) + float(lons.max())) / 2\n",
+    "bbox = (float(lons.min()), float(lats.min()), lon_mid, lat_mid)\n",
+    "ds_sub = ds.xsg.subset_bbox(bbox)\n",
+    "print('Subsetted dataset:', ds_sub)\n",
+    "print('Done.')"
+   ]
+  }
+ ],
+ "metadata": {
+  "kernelspec": {
+   "display_name": "Python 3",
+   "language": "python",
+   "name": "python3"
+  },
+  "language_info": {
+   "name": "python",
+   "version": "3.11.0"
+  }
+ },
+ "nbformat": 4,
+ "nbformat_minor": 5
+}
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 444f409..f47ee32 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -42,6 +42,9 @@ dependencies = [
 ]
 
 optional-dependencies.dev = [
+  "ipykernel",
+  "jupyter",
+  "nbconvert",
   "pre-commit",
   "pytest",
   "pytest-cov",
diff --git a/scripts/create_notebook.py b/scripts/create_notebook.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5cf6dc0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/create_notebook.py
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+import nbformat as nbf
+
+nb = nbf.v4.new_notebook()
+
+# Proper kernel metadata so nbconvert knows to write .py not .txt
+nb.metadata = {
+    "kernelspec": {
+        "display_name": "Python 3",
+        "language": "python",
+        "name": "python3",
+    },
+    "language_info": {
+        "name": "python",
+        "version": "3.11.0",
+    },
+}
+
+nb.cells = [
+    nbf.v4.new_markdown_cell(
+        "# Local Subset Example\n\n"
+        "Demonstrates subsetting using a bundled local NetCDF file.\n"
+        "No network access required."
+    ),
+    nbf.v4.new_code_cell(
+        "import xarray as xr\n"
+        "import numpy as np\n"
+        "from pathlib import Path\n"
+        "import xarray_subset_grid  # noqa: F401\n\n"
+        "data_path = Path('../../tests/example_data') / 'AMSEAS-subset.nc'\n"
+        "ds = xr.open_dataset(data_path)\n"
+        "print('Dataset loaded:', ds)"
+    ),
+    nbf.v4.new_code_cell(
+        "print('Grid type:', ds.xsg.grid)\n"
+        "print('Grid vars:', ds.xsg.grid_vars)\n"
+        "print('Data vars:', ds.xsg.data_vars)"
+    ),
+    nbf.v4.new_code_cell(
+        "lats = ds.cf['latitude'].values\n"
+        "lons = ds.cf['longitude'].values\n"
+        "lat_mid = (float(lats.min()) + float(lats.max())) / 2\n"
+        "lon_mid = (float(lons.min()) + float(lons.max())) / 2\n"
+        "bbox = (float(lons.min()), float(lats.min()), lon_mid, lat_mid)\n"
+        "ds_sub = ds.xsg.subset_bbox(bbox)\n"
+        "print('Subsetted dataset:', ds_sub)\n"
+        "print('Done.')"
+    ),
+]
+
+nbf.write(nb, "docs/examples/local_subset_example.ipynb")
+print("Notebook created successfully.")
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/scripts/run_notebooks.py b/scripts/run_notebooks.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cb3a752
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/run_notebooks.py
@@ -0,0 +1,182 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+"""
+Custom runner script for xarray-subset-grid example notebooks.
+
+Finds all example notebooks in docs/examples/, converts each to a Python
+script using nbconvert (as suggested in issue #106), runs the script in a
+subprocess, and produces a pass/fail summary report.
+
+Usage
+-----
+Run offline notebooks only (default):
+    python scripts/run_notebooks.py
+
+Run all notebooks including those that need network access:
+    python scripts/run_notebooks.py --online
+"""
+import argparse
+import os
+import subprocess
+import sys
+import tempfile
+import time
+from pathlib import Path
+
+EXAMPLES_DIR = Path(__file__).parent.parent / "docs" / "examples"
+
+# Notebooks that use only local data from docs/examples/example_data/
+# These can run without any network access.
+OFFLINE_NOTEBOOKS = [
+    "local_subset_example.ipynb",
+]
+
+# Notebooks that require network access (OPeNDAP, THREDDS, S3, AWS).
+# Only run these when --online is passed.
+ONLINE_NOTEBOOKS = [
+    "regular_grid_2d.ipynb",
+    "RegularGridTHREDDS.ipynb",
+    "fvcom.ipynb",
+    "fvcom_3d.ipynb",
+    "gfs_opendap.ipynb",
+    "nam_opendap.ipynb",
+    "roms.ipynb",
+    "roms_3d.ipynb",
+    "roms-compare.ipynb",
+    "rtofs.ipynb",
+    "selfe.ipynb",
+    "sscofs.ipynb",
+    "stofs_2d.ipynb",
+    "stofs_3d.ipynb",
+    "subset_from_ncfile.ipynb",
+]
+
+
+def run_notebook(nb_path: Path) -> tuple[bool, float, str]:
+    """
+    Convert a notebook to a Python script using nbconvert, then run
+    the script in a subprocess.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    nb_path : Path
+        Absolute path to the .ipynb file.
+
+    Returns
+    -------
+    success : bool
+    elapsed : float   seconds taken
+    output  : str     combined stdout + stderr from the run
+    """
+    start = time.time()
+
+    with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as tmpdir:
+        tmp_path = Path(tmpdir)
+
+        # Step 1 — Convert notebook → Python script
+        convert_result = subprocess.run(
+            [
+                sys.executable, "-m", "jupyter", "nbconvert",
+                "--to", "script",
+                str(nb_path),
+                "--output-dir", str(tmp_path),
+            ],
+            capture_output=True,
+            text=True,
+        )
+
+        if convert_result.returncode != 0:
+            elapsed = time.time() - start
+            return False, elapsed, (
+                convert_result.stdout + "\n" + convert_result.stderr
+            )
+
+        # Step 2 — Locate the generated .py file
+        scripts = list(tmp_path.glob("*.py")) or list(tmp_path.glob("*.txt"))
+        if not scripts:
+            return 1, "nbconvert produced no output file (.py or .txt)"
+
+        script_path = scripts[0]
+
+        # Use a non-interactive matplotlib backend so plots don't block
+        env = os.environ.copy()
+        env["MPLBACKEND"] = "Agg"
+
+        # Step 3 — Run the script; cwd = notebook's own directory so that
+        # relative paths to example_data work correctly
+        run_result = subprocess.run(
+            [sys.executable, str(script_path)],
+            capture_output=True,
+            text=True,
+            cwd=nb_path.parent,
+            env=env,
+        )
+
+    elapsed = time.time() - start
+    output = run_result.stdout
+    if run_result.stderr:
+        output += "\nSTDERR:\n" + run_result.stderr
+
+    return run_result.returncode == 0, elapsed, output
+
+
+def main() -> None:
+    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(
+        description="Run xarray-subset-grid example notebooks via nbconvert."
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--online",
+        action="store_true",
+        help="Also run notebooks that need network access (OPeNDAP / S3 / THREDDS).",
+    )
+    args = parser.parse_args()
+
+    to_run = list(OFFLINE_NOTEBOOKS)
+    if args.online:
+        to_run += ONLINE_NOTEBOOKS
+
+    results: list[tuple[str, str, float, str]] = []
+
+    print(f"\nRunning {'all' if args.online else 'offline'} example notebooks")
+    print("=" * 60)
+
+    for nb_name in to_run:
+        nb_path = EXAMPLES_DIR / nb_name
+        tag = "[online] " if nb_name in ONLINE_NOTEBOOKS else "[offline]"
+
+        if not nb_path.exists():
+            print(f"  SKIP   {tag} {nb_name}  (file not found)")
+            results.append((nb_name, "SKIP", 0.0, ""))
+            continue
+
+        print(f"  RUN    {tag} {nb_name} ...", end="", flush=True)
+        success, elapsed, output = run_notebook(nb_path)
+        status = "PASS" if success else "FAIL"
+        print(f"  {status}  ({elapsed:.1f}s)")
+
+        if not success:
+            # Indent the output so it's easy to read in the report
+            indented = "\n".join("    " + line for line in output.splitlines())
+            print(indented)
+
+        results.append((nb_name, status, elapsed, output))
+
+    # ── Summary report ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+    passed  = sum(1 for _, s, _, _ in results if s == "PASS")
+    failed  = sum(1 for _, s, _, _ in results if s == "FAIL")
+    skipped = sum(1 for _, s, _, _ in results if s == "SKIP")
+
+    print("\n" + "=" * 60)
+    print(f"Results: {passed} passed | {failed} failed | {skipped} skipped")
+
+    if failed:
+        print("\nFailed notebooks:")
+        for name, status, _, _ in results:
+            if status == "FAIL":
+                print(f"  ✗  {name}")
+        sys.exit(1)
+    else:
+        print("All notebooks ran successfully! ✓")
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    main()
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/test_grids/test_sgrid.py b/tests/test_grids/test_sgrid.py
index dce7379..cb4a69c 100644
--- a/tests/test_grids/test_sgrid.py
+++ b/tests/test_grids/test_sgrid.py
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ def test_grid_topology_location_parse():
 
 
 @pytest.mark.skipif(
-    zarr__version__ >= 3, reason="zarr3.0.8 doesn't support FSpec AWS (it might soon)"
+    int(zarr.__version__.split(".")[0]) >= 3, reason="zarr3.0.8 doesn't support FSpec AWS (it might soon)"
 )
 @pytest.mark.online
 def test_polygon_subset():
diff --git a/tests/test_notebooks.py b/tests/test_notebooks.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b1964ce
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_notebooks.py
@@ -0,0 +1,141 @@
+"""
+Pytest integration for auto-running example notebooks (issue #106).
+
+Each notebook is converted to a Python script via nbconvert and then
+executed in a subprocess, mirroring the approach described in the issue.
+
+Offline notebooks (local data only) run unconditionally.
+Network notebooks are decorated with @pytest.mark.online and are skipped
+unless pytest is invoked with --online (matching the existing convention
+in conftest.py).
+
+To run offline notebook tests:
+    pytest tests/test_notebooks.py -v
+
+To run all notebook tests (needs internet):
+    pytest tests/test_notebooks.py -v --online
+"""
+import os
+import subprocess
+import sys
+import tempfile
+from pathlib import Path
+
+import pytest
+
+EXAMPLES_DIR = Path(__file__).parent.parent / "docs" / "examples"
+
+# ── Offline: use only local files in docs/examples/example_data/ ────────────
+OFFLINE_NOTEBOOKS = [
+    "local_subset_example.ipynb",
+]
+
+# ── Online: require OPeNDAP / THREDDS / S3 / AWS access ─────────────────────
+ONLINE_NOTEBOOKS = [
+    "regular_grid_2d.ipynb",
+    "RegularGridTHREDDS.ipynb",
+    "fvcom.ipynb",
+    "fvcom_3d.ipynb",
+    "gfs_opendap.ipynb",
+    "nam_opendap.ipynb",
+    "roms.ipynb",
+    "roms_3d.ipynb",
+    "roms-compare.ipynb",
+    "rtofs.ipynb",
+    "selfe.ipynb",
+    "sscofs.ipynb",
+    "stofs_2d.ipynb",
+    "stofs_3d.ipynb",
+    "subset_from_ncfile.ipynb",
+]
+
+
+# ── Helper ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+def _run_notebook(nb_path: Path) -> tuple[int, str]:
+    """
+    Convert *nb_path* to a Python script with nbconvert, execute the
+    script in a subprocess, and return (returncode, combined_output).
+
+    The notebook's own directory is used as the working directory so that
+    relative paths to example_data resolve correctly.
+    A non-interactive matplotlib backend is set via MPLBACKEND=Agg so
+    that plt.show() calls do not open windows or hang the process.
+    """
+    with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as tmpdir:
+        tmp_path = Path(tmpdir)
+
+        # Step 1: notebook → Python script
+        convert = subprocess.run(
+            [
+                sys.executable, "-m", "jupyter", "nbconvert",
+                "--to", "script",
+                str(nb_path),
+                "--output-dir", str(tmp_path),
+            ],
+            capture_output=True,
+            text=True,
+        )
+        if convert.returncode != 0:
+            return convert.returncode, convert.stdout + "\n" + convert.stderr
+
+        scripts = list(tmp_path.glob("*.py")) or list(tmp_path.glob("*.txt"))
+        if not scripts:
+            return 1, "nbconvert produced no output file (.py or .txt)"
+        # Step 2: execute the script
+        env = os.environ.copy()
+        env["MPLBACKEND"] = "Agg"          # non-interactive backend
+
+        run = subprocess.run(
+            [sys.executable, str(scripts[0])],
+            capture_output=True,
+            text=True,
+            cwd=nb_path.parent,            # resolve relative data paths
+            env=env,
+        )
+
+    output = run.stdout
+    if run.stderr:
+        output += "\nSTDERR:\n" + run.stderr
+    return run.returncode, output
+
+
+# ── Tests ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("notebook", OFFLINE_NOTEBOOKS)
+def test_offline_notebook(notebook):
+    """
+    Notebooks that require only local data.
+    These always run as part of the normal test suite.
+    """
+    nb_path = EXAMPLES_DIR / notebook
+    if not nb_path.exists():
+        pytest.skip(f"Notebook not found: {nb_path}")
+
+    returncode, output = _run_notebook(nb_path)
+
+    if returncode != 0:
+        pytest.fail(
+            f"Notebook '{notebook}' failed (exit code {returncode}).\n"
+            f"Output:\n{output}"
+        )
+
+
+@pytest.mark.online
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("notebook", ONLINE_NOTEBOOKS)
+def test_online_notebook(notebook):
+    """
+    Notebooks that require network access (OPeNDAP, THREDDS, S3, AWS).
+    Skipped unless pytest is run with --online.
+    """
+    nb_path = EXAMPLES_DIR / notebook
+    if not nb_path.exists():
+        pytest.skip(f"Notebook not found: {nb_path}")
+
+    returncode, output = _run_notebook(nb_path)
+
+    if returncode != 0:
+        pytest.fail(
+            f"Notebook '{notebook}' failed (exit code {returncode}).\n"
+            f"Output:\n{output}"
+        )
\ No newline at end of file