In 2009, two bookshops a week were closing in the UK and the days of physical books seemed numbered. Now, indie stores are booming. What explains the turnaround – and can it be sustained?When Sarah Mullen was asked to set up a children’s book festival in a leafy suburb of Birmingham in 2012, she couldn’t find an independent bookseller to run the bookstall. “So we all rolled up our sleeves and did it ourselves,” she says. Pregnant with her third child, she had recently given up her job as a solicitor to work for the Bournville Village Trust. Mullen’s task was to set up the Bournville BookFest, which ran for 10 years before being brought to a halt by the Covid pandemic. But far from accepting defeat, she rolled up her sleeves once again and “pivoted the whole thing into a bookshop”. Two years on, the Bookshop on the Green is thriving – a living rebuttal to the once widely held idea that the digital era meant certain death for the neighbourhood bookstore.When I visit early on a Friday morning, a turquoise vintage Smith Corona typewriter holds centre stage in the Bookshop on the Green. Beside it stands Bradley Taylor, a poet whose job is to write poems on demand for anyone who asks. He has composed a lot of Batman and football poems for the children who pile in on Saturdays, he says, before sitting down to tap one out for me about the joy of bookshops. In the multitasking tradition of small retailers, Taylor also works in the shop. He made his cosplay debut last month as the... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'
[ The Guardian | 2023-07-27 09:00:32 UTC ]
The Swiss-themed town of Midway is now home to Folklore Bookshop. Co-owned by children’s author Lindsey Leavitt, Audrey Lind, and Alison Russell, Folklore welcomed customers on October 5 and held a grand opening October 26. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-12-04 05:00:00 UTC ]
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This month’s column is my twelfth for Lit Hub, which means I’ve been sharing new children’s book releases with you for a full year now. And 2024 has been a wonderful year for young readers! As I’ve reviewed each month’s new releases, I’ve found some of my own favorite new books, and I hope I’ve […] Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2024-12-02 09:56:42 UTC ]
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Booksellers chose true-crime inspired Butter by Asako Yuzuki as book of the year, while Ross Montgomery’s fun adventure I Am Rebel took the children’s prizeA novel about a serial killer and a children’s book about a dog are the books of 2024, according to Waterstones booksellers.Butter by Asako... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2024-11-28 06:01:34 UTC ]
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From tales of alienation to comforting novels set in bookshops, Japanese authors have written nearly half of this year’s bestselling translated novels in the UK. What’s their secret?• Read an an exclusive Q&A with Haruki MurakamiAnyone who has been in a bookshop in the last few years will... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2024-11-23 09:00:37 UTC ]
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Another novel written by a UK author has been withdrawn as publishers and booksellers grapple with the issues of First Nations culture and history as plot pointsGet our weekend culture and lifestyle emailWhen British crime writer Elly Griffiths released her fourth novel in the bestselling Ruth... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2024-11-22 23:00:25 UTC ]
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The 11th China Shanghai International Children's Book Fair saw 32 world markets represented among its 497 exhibitors this year. The post Shanghai’s Children’s Book Fair Draws 41,263 Attendees appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2024-11-19 20:12:13 UTC ]
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On Friday, author Daniel Kibblesmith posted a series of screenshots on Bluesky in order to share a concerning email he received from the agency who’d repped him on his children’s book Santa’s Husband: the book’s publisher, HarperCollins, was offering $2,500 (non-negotiable) for the right to use... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2024-11-18 13:36:53 UTC ]
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The Shanghai Children's Book Fair expects 45,000 visitors and opens its professional programming organized in cooperation with the Bologna Book Fair. The post Opening Day Programs at Shanghai’s Children’s Book Fair appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2024-11-14 22:18:38 UTC ]
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The Duolingo owl is single-wingedly rewriting the modern mascot playbook and unlocking new business along the way. On a Friday morning in mid-October, crowds of people—many in elaborate costumes—poured into the Jacob Javits convention center on Manhattan’s far west side. They were attending day... Continue reading at Fast Company
[ Fast Company | 2024-11-14 11:00:00 UTC ]
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Black queer girl superpowers, a classic middle grade mystery, a magical library, and more of today's best children's book deals. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2024-11-13 15:45:00 UTC ]
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The celebrity chef’s second children’s book, “Billy and the Epic Escape,” faced accusations that it stereotyped First Nations people in Australia. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2024-11-11 15:31:00 UTC ]
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Billy and the Epic Escape to be withdrawn worldwide after First Nations groups say fantasy novel trivialises complex and painful historiesFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastJamie Oliver has pulled his children’s book... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2024-11-09 23:13:35 UTC ]
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The collaboration of the Bologna and Shanghai book fairs on their emphases in children's content leads our November Rights Roundup. The post Rights Roundup: En Route to Shanghai Children’s Book Fair appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2024-11-08 21:15:54 UTC ]
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'Dedicated to the trade in rights and the promotion of content for children,' Shanghai's fair stresses its Italian Bologna collaboration. The post Bologna and Shanghai Children’s Book Fairs: Collaboration appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2024-11-07 22:27:40 UTC ]
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Projects for young scientists, magical libraries, a celebration of fry bread, and more of today's best children's book deals. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2024-11-06 15:53:00 UTC ]
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Halloween with Curious George, the Great Migration historical fiction, ghosts at the ranch, and more of today's best children's book deals! Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2024-10-30 14:46:00 UTC ]
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On the afternoon of 18 March 2018 my family and I visited Book Soup in West Hollywood, CA. We had arrived in town earlier that day, having driven down from the Bay Area, and walked to the bookshop from our hotel. My wife and daughter, who was almost three at the time, went to the … The post On... Continue reading at The Millions
[ The Millions | 2024-10-24 17:05:10 UTC ]
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Ghost friends, nature crafts, how to be a changemaker, and more of today's best children's book deals. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2024-10-23 14:55:00 UTC ]
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In the Central Eastside Industrial District of Portland, Ore., Patrick Leonard has opened Postcard Bookshop, a store featuring global literature and culture, children’s titles, and sidelines including journals and games for people on the move. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-10-21 04:00:00 UTC ]
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