SCBA Offers Tour to Children's Bookstores

On Saturday, July 22, the Southern California Booksellers Association (SCBA) will hold its fourth bookstore tourism event. The "'I Feel the Need to Read' Children's Independent Bookstore Tour" will visit four stores in the Los Angeles area, as well as the Kidspace Children's Museum in Pasadena. SCBA describes the event as an opportunity for children and booklovers of all ages to visit "some of the country's most knowledgeable and inspiring children's bookstores to meet authors, fellow book lovers, and new friends."

According to SCBA Executive Director Jennifer Bigelow, the tour is designed for children, families, teachers, librarians, and "readers with an interest in opening up the wonderful world of children's books." Bigelow described the event as both an educational tool for the industry and a fun way to spend the day. "I hope that readers will join us to discover these very special, locally owned book havens that reflect each owner's unique personality and love of children's books and literacy," she added.

The tour includes visits to Mrs. Nelson's Toy and Bookshop in La Verne; Once Upon A Time in Montrose; Storyopolis in Studio City; and The Frugal Frigate, A Children's Bookstore in Redlands. Featured authors are Dawn Barnes (Night on the Mountain of Fear, Scholastic) at Mrs. Nelson's; Michele Dominguez Greene (Chasing the Jaguar, HarperCollins) at Once Upon a Time; and Diane Adams (Zoom!, Peachtree) at The Frugal Frigate. Tourist participants will also be able to see some of the best in storybook illustration and editorial art at Storyopolis' unique art gallery.

The tour begins at 9:00 a.m. at the Kidspace Children's Museum, where coffee, juice, and pastries will be served, and returns for lunch prepared by Wolfgang Puck's catering.  After lunch, children will have an opportunity to explore Kidspace, while adults can listen to publisher representatives discuss fall books. The tour will then continue, with buses returning to Kidspace Children's Museum at 4:00 p.m.

Reservations are required by July 17. The price -- $50 for adults and $30 for children 12 and under -- includes the tour, goodie bag, lunch, and refreshments.  Information about the tour is available from the participating bookstores and from the SCBA office at (626) 793-8435 or office@scbabooks.org.