Spotlight: Kinder Books
Meet Kinder Books
This is one of my absolute favourite places to buy books and gifts and everything lovely for children and families.
Kinder Books is located in the River Market at New Westminster Quay. It is a locally owned and proudly Canadian enterprise, specializing in children’s literature. But there is so much more going on!
Keep reading to learn more about Kinder Books and its owner and curator, Anne Uebbing.
Get to know Anne
The heart of Kinder Books
I asked Anne a few questions, here is what she shared with me:
Q. What do you love most about running your bookstore?
A. What I love most about running my bookstore is the opportunity to be creative. From curating programs and displays to selecting book collections, every day brings something new. I’m constantly inspired by the incredible variety of books, and there’s always something fresh being published. Being surrounded by books feels like engaging in a quiet conversation, and I find myself learning so much—especially from children’s books. They offer simple truths and little details that are often overlooked in the hustle of adult life.
Q. What inspires you to keep doing what you’re doing?
A. What inspires me to keep doing this are the incredible people I’ve met over the past 15 years and the amazing stories I’ve had the privilege of hearing. These stories remind me, time and again, that everything and everyone is connected in ways we often don’t realize. Who knows—maybe one day there will be a book titled Bookstore Stories from Kinder Books. I’ve even started compiling a list already!
Q. What do you hope people will feel when they visit your store?
A. I hope that will feel inspired and supported, seen and valued.
More than just a bookstore!
Kinder Books has an incredible selection of toys, gifts, games, puzzles, cards and puppets… anything and everything you can think of, Anne probably carries it. This is your one-stop shop for birthday gifts, collectibles, teaching supplies, or just something nice for yourself.
She has bookstore events happening weekly, everything from origami workshops and book launches to music concerts and family storytimes. Kinderbooks promotes local artists, authors and artisans and has regular showings of their works and accomplishments.
Anne herself is a valuable resource! She has been in the “book world” for many years as a teacher, merchant and curator, and is always happy to offer recommendations and ideas from her wealth of knowledge and first-hand experience with every book in her store.
Kinder Books and Little Words Studio Read & Reward Program
What happens when you mix a beautiful bookstore with a cute little baby studio? You get an amazing business collaboration and a heartfelt friendship!
We read lots of great books at Little Words Studio, and parents often ask me, “where can I get this book?” So I spoke with Anne about it, and she created a “Read and Reward” program specially for Little Words!
Here’s how it works: When you’re at Little Words and you see a book that you like, you can go to my curated collection on the Kinder Books website and order your book directly from Kinder Books. You can have your book delivered, or brought to the Studio so that you can pick it up next time you come to play! Ten percent of every purchase goes to Little Words (so that I can keep buying great books!)
We also carry a small portfolio of Barefoot books that you can purchase at the Studio and take home with you.
Anne has also graciously donated numerous books to our Little Words Lending Library, come on into the Studio and “take a book, leave a book, love a book”!
