Kickstart This: A Diverse Kid’s Bookstore in Indiana
I think all of us at Book Riot (staff, contributors, and readers) understand and appreciate the power of books and reading. Books are avenues of escape and windows to other lives. They are tools that can improve literacy, communication skills, and empathy. And they can act as saviours for those who are lonely and isolated and marginalised, a little voice that says, ‘You’re not alone’.
This is why I was so excited to discover a Kickstarter campaign for The Book Lair Bookstore, one woman’s dream of opening a bookstore in South Bend/Mishawaka, Indiana. The bookstore will focus on children’s and young adult books and work with schools and community organisations to reach kids who need them the most.
Kathy Burnette, the woman behind The Book Lair Bookstore, worked as a teacher and school librarian for sixteen years. She says the bookstore will promote diverse books and voices. The bookstore will work with children, parents, and teachers to promote books and reading to as many kids as possible, and help them grow into lifelong readers.
From the Kickstarter page: ‘The Brain Lair Bookstore will focus on Children’s and Young Adult books and will work with schools and other community organizations to bring books to those who need them. We will work to bring in a variety of book creators, develop a teen literature festival, and to become the place to get books to read globally and connect locally.’
‘The Brain Lair Bookstore will actively pursue ways to get involved in and give back to the community of South Bend/Mishawaka, Indiana. We will donate books to underfunded youth organizations in our area. One goal will be to make sure everyone has the opportunity to own a book.’
This is a really great idea, and I do so hope that the bookstore is a massive success. The world needs more books and bookstores that promote diverse voices and stories, and getting books to anyone who might possibly want to experience their magic. As Kathy says in the video on the Kickstarter website, books save lives. Let’s help her reach even more young lives with books.
The link to the Kickstarter page is here, and the campaign ends on the 31st of August.
