Local bookstore + excellent children’s book + Emma O’Brien = just the right shop for Carey and me in downtown Lancaster City, PA. What a delight to have Emma and her family move from Brooklyn, where she worked as consultant for startups and non-profits, to Lancaster, where she decided to open n00kb00ks.
Her story includes several different chapters, which came together for her family’s good, as well as for our community: her mother’s love of books and Emma’s ongoing love for good books for children, having a baby during the pandemic, and finding a certain small quaint space, wondering where she can be creating, which all led to thinking “starting a bookstore seems rather natural.”
She and her husband love to bring people together, and as they were making plans to move here, they looked for places where they could place long tables with good food, and while on the hunt, they discovered this downtown space was for sale and the price was right. And from there, they bought the space and then a home with space to share meals with others. Then. . . their first child was born and a bookstore opened.
Emma’s desire is to stock n00kb00k’s shelves with hardback books that are long lasting, but also with books that are magical or offer empathy or highlight kindness. She enjoys finding stories that are the best quality—whether they are whimsical or thought provoking. As other indie-bookstore owners have learned along the way, she has been paying attention to “how to stay in my lane” while also catering to what people want. Her favorites include older classics, translated works, self-published books, and also new pictures books from different cultural backgrounds. Most of her books come from smaller book publishing houses that offer a variety of aesthetics, such as Enchanted Lion Books.
Wandering around n00kb00ks is a sweet journey of delight. A large front window with happy colorful images framing the glass beckons one to enter, and the sunshine flooding the space welcomes you in. Hardback picture book fronts face out on one wall of shelves, helping you find just the right book to look through. More shelves on another wall offer books in categories such as Nature, Art Appreciation, Local Authors, and Young Adult. There are cozy spots where one can lean up against the wall with several books to look through and fun art on the walls.
Carey and I have enjoyed our trips to n00kb00ks and our times talking with Emma about books and children. We share the love of some of the same writers and illustrators, and she has introduced us to new ones to investigate. Emma hopes to share books with children and adults because “everyone’s inner child should be allowed to live.”
Here are some books she loves and books I discovered while perusing her shelves. If you find yourself in downtown Lancaster City, make n00kb00ks a place to checkout. Say hi to Emma and ask her for some good ideas to share with the little people in your life.
Follow her on Instagram .
A Few, New Emma Favorites:
Watercress by Andrea Wang —“Beautiful and bittersweet”
Little One by Kiyo Tanaka (translated from Japanese by David Boyd) — “Happy find and about a little girl with an imaginary friend”
Pig and Horse and Something Scary by Zoey Abbot — “emotions, scary thoughts, friends, and tea”
What I found at n00kb00ks — Books for Inquisitive Minds and Perfect for Summer Time (or Books I Wish Had Been Around When My Girls were Younger)
Atlas of Adventures: A Collection of Natural Wonders, Exciting Experiences and Fun Festivities from the Four Corners of the Globe illustrated by Lucy Letherland — I’m just going to get this for myself because I love books about places with colorful little pictures and factoids spread around geographical maps. The companion book is
Curious about Crocodiles by Owen Davey with Flying Eye Books — This is part of a series such as Bonkers about Beetles and Passionate about Penguins and fun to look at and learn from. “Passionate about Penguins” just makes me smile!
The Big Book of Blooms by Yuval Zommer — This book has other companions like Big Book of Bugs, Big Book of Blue, and Big Book of Birds. It is another great one for looking at as well as reading. With titles like these I want to own every one.
Before spring ends officially and summer starts, be sure to check out And Then It’s Spring, written by Julie Fogliano and illustrated by Erin E. Stead — it’s a sweet story of a boy, his dog, and waiting for spring life. Carey love Erin E. Stead’s work and books.
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This post was written by Leslie Bustard, one of the co-editors of Wild Things and Castles in the Sky.
