In every place I’ve lived bookstores have been the first places to feel like home—especially Parnassus Books in Nashville, where I led weekly storytime sing-alongs for years, and Green Bean Books in Portland, Ore., where I spent countless hours soaking in the magic of a truly community-centered shop. Bookstores are havens for readers, writers, and dreamers who crave“discovery, community, and belonging. Dear Bookstore is my love letter to them.
― Emily Arrow, Interview, Publishers Weekly
What booksellers are saying about Dear Bookstore
- A love song to independent bookstores everywhere, but also inspired by the beloved brick and mortar indie bookstore, Parnassus Books, in Nashville, Tennessee. Arrow reminds readers and listeners of all ages of the mutual benefits of supporting local.
― Holly Kitchings, Court Street Books in Florence, Alabama | BUY
- Be still my beating heart! A love letter to bookstores and the people who inhabit them, I get teary eyed thinking about this story. Gentle and tender words paired with illustrations so soft they glow, obsessed is an understatement!
― Grace Sullivan, Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, Virginia | BUY
- Well, good lord. If my indie bookstore ever needed a marketing brouchure, I’d just buy these in bulk. Easiest pre-order I’ve ever made for my shop – oh, and I nearly cried towards the end when she runs to the store to make sure it is still there as so many use screens now…
― Alissa Redmond, South Main Book Company in Salisbury, North Carolina | BUY
- An incredibly sweet picture book that illustrates so well, in images and words, the vital role bookstores play in our lives.
― Beth Bissmeyer, Carmichael’s Bookstore in Louisville, Kentucky | BUY
About Emily Arrow
Emily Arrow (she/they) is an award-winning children’s songwriter, author, and educator known for crafting meaningful stories and songs. Her music albums include Sing Along with Emily Arrow and the Storytime Singalong series. Alongside her ukulele companion, Bow, Emily Arrow aims to inspire young minds, encouraging them to embrace and share their own unique voices. She enjoys going on walks with her dog and partner and finding cozy corners in independent bookshops for reading. Emily Arrow resides in Los Angeles.
Geneviève Godbout is the illustrator of many picture books, including The Pink Umbrella by Amélie Callot, Wherever You’ll Be by Ariella Prince Guttman, and If I Couldn’t Be Anne by Kallie George. Her work has appeared in the Society of Illustrators Original Art Exhibit in New York and on Christmas and holiday stamps for the Canadian postal service. Geneviève Godbout lives in Montreal.
