Dear Bookstore, written by Emily Arrow and illustrated by Genevieve Godbout. Candlewick Press, Penguin Random House. 2025. $24.50 ages 3 and up

 

"On my next visit, I brought a friend. 

The bookseller gave us a big smile and a big book. 

"Do you believe in magic?" my friend asked. 
"Because I think this place is full of magic." 

And she was right!"

The little girl who narrates this praise for bookstores has my heart. We share a love of the comfort books bring and the connections books make in our lives. Lead me a soft chair in a well-stocked bookstore and I am there for the long haul. 

In her letter to the bookstore, she recalls her first visit and what happened as she walked through the front door. There was a pup to make her feel welcome, books for her to read, and a 'big cuddly chair' to hold her close as she read quietly. She had found her happy place. It was not her only visit. The next time she brought a friend, and met a bookseller who helped them see that this place was filled with magic. What more could two friends want? The next time, the bookseller met her at the door, made her feel welcome, and asked what she would like to see. 

"That day, I was looking 
for some twinkle ... 

But the next time, 
I wanted a mystery ... 

or an adventure!"

She found them all. Every time after, she saw how all visitors were finding exactly what they were looking for ... no matter what the request. The years flew by as she continued to visit. She gives the bookstore credit for changing her life, and for so many other reasons as it has done for countless others. When bookstores began closing because most people weren't reading books anymore, she ran back to check on her favorite one in a panic. Luckily it was the same as it had ever been!

In a note to readers, Emily Arrow explains her love for Parnassus Books in Nashville, Tennessee. The shop was her inspiration for a song, and for this book. She includes a QR code for readers who want to hear the lyrics. Genevieve Godbout created the magic of the store in pastel, colored pencil, and gouache. The warmth and comfort are evident throughout, and she illuminates the magic those books contain for all readers who visit.