It’s the chime of a bell at the top of the front door and the smell of books that beckon you further inside to be surrounded by stories. From classics to picture books to even chapter books, bookstores are designed to satisfy those who walk through the doors expecting a new adventure. But what about the times you can’t visit the bookstore and need to feel the love of such a magical place? What if you need to surround yourself in a bookstore to reignite your imagination?
We’ve gathered seven books that give children the same warmth of walking inside a bookstore and let them become a part of the quiet escape. Take a look at the exclusive list below to give kids a chance to live inside the calming atmosphere of a bookstore without taking a step out of the house.
The Bookshop Cat by Cindy Wume
Cindy Wume has a passion for storytelling and a vision of sparking imagination through the power of stories. Wume is a new, exciting talent who has taken on the task of bringing a joyful and exciting style to children’s books. The Bookshop Cat is one of her fresh takes that awakens the community inside of bookstores and showcases the power of reading.
Wume helps children fully immerse themselves in the idea of what bookstores are all about and embrace the power of the stories. This book takes children on a journey with a bookstore cat who must navigate a disaster that strikes, prompting friends and family to help bring the Bookshop back to life. At the end of it all, children can discover the power of bookstores and the feeling of being in a community much like the ones in books.
The Bookshop of Dust and Dreams by Mindy Thompson
The Bookshop of Dust and Dreams is a spellbinding story about a magical bookstore that breaks through the odds placed against it. The store itself shapes the community and can help those across generations. This book is the perfect way to introduce children to the magic of bookstores by bringing the creation of stories to life and inspiring their imagination. Thompson is a writer known for making a book lover’s dream come true and embraces her concept of making words on a page magical. She combines whimsy and magic on the pages, creating a new world of strengths and the hidden power inside books in her novel.
Curious George Goes to a Bookstore by Margret and H.A.Rey’s
Classic children’s books featuring characters we can easily recognize can bring a sense of comfort and warmth that is reminiscent of bookstores. Characters much like the infamous Curious George can help bring to life stories and wonders that can never fail. Curious George Goes to a Bookstore not only has his name that brings the feeling of the shops, but the premise itself that explores the place that houses a myriad of stories. This tale is for book lovers — lovers of curiosity — to keep the spark of passion for books.
The Bookstore Ghost by Barbara Maitland and Nadine Bernard Westcott
Taking reading step by step is all a part of the process. Whether you are new to reading or seasoned, this book can help you get into the world of books and bookstores. As an introduction to the world of books, it carries a journey with fun and a whole lot of silliness that will drive you to read all the way to the end. The Bookstore Ghost is about a bookstore that sells ghost books, manifesting its own ghost in the store. Despite the ghosts, the customers and the community surrounding the bookstore bring to light the joy of the shop and the stories inside of them.
The Bookshop Girl by Sylvia Bishop, Illustrator Poly Bernatene
This isn’t your typical book about a bookstore and is one that comes with some baggage. With this book, the main character is deeply connected to bookstores, as she grew up in them. She never really felt as if she had a place in the world and found a sense of comfort and stability inside bookstores despite not being able to read. She spends her time developing in a place where stories and curiosities come to life and where she can defy the odds. The Bookshop Girl breaks beyond the typical story and dives beyond the usual allure of the comfort place for many readers.
Good Night, Little Bookstore by Amy Cherrix, Illustrator E. B. Goodale
Looking for a new bedtime story, this book is part lullaby and part love song to the power of tales and the places where they are held. It holds the classic ideals of local community-filled bookstores and encourages local engagement in areas that matter. Good Night, Little Bookstore reminds us that books are to be treasured and a gift that becomes a comforting treasure to all. This book is a cozy tribute to neighborhood bookshops and their power in their communities.
Bookstore Burglar by Barbara Maitland; Illustrator Nadine Bernard Wescotte
Barbara Maitland creates a new avenue for children book lovers who crave adventure and fall in love with the world of bookstores. In writing about the Black Cat Bookstore, Maitland brings to life the experiences that can happen inside the place filled with stories and takes them on journeys they never want to fall out of. This book is perfect for young readers and provides readers with another look into the friendly neighborhood bookstore.
It’s time to become a part of the community of bookstores and to bring in the fold of children who value them just as much as adults. Books about bookstores can bring to life the community of readers and reignite imagination in children without requiring them to step out of their comfort zone. Hopefully, these recommendations will help them bring a piece of the bookstore home with them.
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Find these books and more on our Rainy Day Children’s Books bookshelf on Bookshop.org.
