Once Upon a Bookstore

One thing I aspire to creating is an adult book club. But until I get there, I want to share books I WOULD CHOOSE for my hypothetical bookclub. First up, ‘Ariadne’ by @jennifer.saint.author Ladies (and gentlemen)- this book is SO GOOD, and a dazzling choice if you want to escape into a historical fantasy (is myth fantasy? Sort of? You know what I mean...)... Ariadne is everything I want from a heroine whose story I’m escaping into- she’s smart, she loves her family, she has a strong moral compass, and she owns her culpability in bad choices. Plus she has the hots for a handsome Athenian Prince (can’t blame her there). When she makes a decision that will change everything about the life she’s known, you’ll be eagerly turning to the next page to find how her story ends. #greekmythology #yournextgreatread #bookclubpick #dontmissout

I know you’re not supposed to judge a book by it’s cover, but honestly, could anything be more beautiful than this new release from @joanhewrites ? If you need me I’ll be nose deep in this haunting novel about a girl who lives on an abandoned island and has a single memory- that she has a sister she is meant to find. #newbookrelease #asianheritagemonth #ownvoices #scifibooks #pageturners #grabthetissues ... @raincoastbooks

If you need something fun to do tomorrow, there are still a few spots left for our Outdoor Craft Corner! Send me a message or visit the website for details and to register.

I’m very excited about these new picture books and graphic novels by Vancouver illustrator @meditatingbunny Jeff Chiba Stearns (who told me he grew up in Kelowna) has drawn on his own experiences to write about exploring cultural identity and finding what feels good and right. Oh and delicious food. I hope you’ll check them out! #japanesecanadian #canadianauthor #canadianillustrator #culturalheritage #tellyourstory #sharingstories #connectingwiththepast

Bedtime reading..... and I can’t put it down!! Clue is one of my favourite board games, so I took a bit of a nostalgic whim on carrying this title and I CANT STOP reading it is so fun! #clue #mystery #loveagoodmystery #cozywinterreads #pageturner @abramskids @dpeterfreund

Closing at 3pm today to take bookstore daughter to an art class.Closing at 3pm today to take bookstore daughter to an art class.

While our adult section is highly curated, it has also been shelved (boringly) alphabetically by author. No longer! Here is an action shot of Marlene carefully organizing all the books into our new categories. Things like ‘not just a love story’ (romance), It’s a puzzler’ (mystery) ‘in those days’ (historical fiction) and ‘page turners’ (thrillers). Stay tuned for the final results! #merchandising #gettingorganized #somethingforeveryone #adultreads #booksforbigkids #mixingitup

Need an advent calendar that isn’t full of crappy chocolate? I have some truly beautiful ones- filled with pictures, messages, or ornaments to hang on the pop-up tree! #adventcalendar #popups #harrypotter #christmasiscoming #countdowntochristmas

New puzzles in stock from @firetheimagination I am very excited by these beautiful puzzles that are joining us from Spain. #puzzles #puzzlesforkids #beautifulartwork

Lately when customers were asking for great new books for middle grade boys, I’d been feeling like there were holes in my inventory. So I was happy to have my shipment from @cormorantbooks arrive yesterday- and here are some of the highlights! Some great reads for boys (and girls to) in this collection. @valeriesherrard @kateblairauthor @karmicangel @mahtab_narsimhan ... #canadianauthors #middlegradereads #mysteries #booksforboys

I am thrilled to be carrying these beautiful wooden playhouses and stables from @conifertoys I managed to get all of them set up and displayed in only a few minutes after they arrived today! These designed and made in Canada playhouses are really something to see in person. I was very impressed with the ‘how-to’ videos they have on their websites for the engineering challenged such as myself. I desperately wish bookstore daughter was younger so I could surprise her with one o...f these for Christmas. They will make such amazing gifts. #woodentoys #playhouses #madeincanada #locallymade #shoplocal #creativeplay #childrensbookstore

Have you met Gustavo? He’s a very shy ghost who just wants to make friends with the other monsters on Halloween! This sweet story about being true to yourself with resonate with anyone who just wanted to be special to someone else. #halloweenbooks #friendshipstories #ghoststories @candlewickpress

There is some next level cuteness going on with these @folkmanispuppets finger puppets. There was more squeaking and squealing then I would care to admit as I was setting them up and taking them out of their packages. @firetheimagination #socute #fingerpuppets #animalpuppets #stockingstuffers #collectthemall

I’m sitting on our mini second floor enjoying the birds eye view and making plans for new stock and displays! #snapshot #indiebookstore #insidethebookstore #somanybooks

I am completely in love with these hand puppets from @folkmanispuppets that I got from @firetheimagination Utterly lifelike and amazingly soft, they are in store now and you can browse them online too! They will make great gifts and we can find excellent stories to pair them with. #handpuppets #puppetsforkids #animalfriends #giftideas #christmasiscoming

The monsters are hanging!!! The Halloween display is Spook-tacular now!!! #halloween #halloweenbooks

Did you know about this amazing event on October 28th? Two treasured Canadian bakers will be doing a live event with Globe and Mail culinary expert Tara O'Brady. If you want to turn into this delicious event, purchase or pre-order a copy of either "Baking Day with Anna Olsen" or "Jenna Rae Cakes and Sweet Treats" from me, and I will send you a ticket to this exclusive event! You can purchase online, or in person- or send me a message and I can reserve for you!

I’m really excited to be carrying this new book which features stories and survival hacks from real-life working moms, including local mama Sharon Hughes-Geekie. You won’t be disappointed reading these journeys- they resonated deeply with me as a working mama myself. @marciamiatke @althorp_montessori_school @maryann.yourfitnessnurse @krystalee111 @chic_mamma @drexlertravel @thismamarunsoncoffee @lizmeekes @theplasticsurgerycoach @teresanocita @i.am.domenica @flxmelissak @buil...ding.our.beautiful @nancilozano_ifbbpro @coach.charleybrown @mslauramorris @bria_co_cookies_cakes @thewriterwithrednails @travelwithsharlene #workingmom #workingmomlife #workingmama #momssupportingmoms #supportinglocal

Getting the decorations and supplies ready for our Outdoor craft corner tomorrow!! #craftswithkids #communityevent #buildingcommunity #outdoorcraftcorner #halloween #festivefun

When bookstore daughter was a little (she’s 11 now, yikes) we used to love practicing her (our) fine motor skills by ‘playing’ and reading with these books and little bowls of Cheerios. Unpacking these today I got all the warm and fuzzy feelings remembering those special moments. #boardbooks #practicefinemotorskills #booksforbabies #specialmoments #playtogether #momandbabymoments #toddlerbooks #earlyliteracy

Packaging up preorders for @sylvesterartwork new series ‘Hockey Super Six’!! Each book comes with one of those amazing doodled and signed bookplates and a special surprise. Didn’t get yours? It’s not too late!! I still have a few copies that have not been spoken for.... #supportlocal #shoplocal #canadianauthor #signedbooks #hockeybook #bookswag #middlegradebooks @scholasticcda

The bookstore is closed all weekend so mom and I and bookstore daughter can attend a family member’s memorial. We wish you and all of yours a healthy, happy and hearty Thanksgiving weekend.

I aspire to be a #rebelgirl someday. This new iteration in the @rebelgirls series tells the story of 100 different immigrant women and how their actions changed the world. Do you have a favourite rebel girl story?... #changetheworld #rebelgirls #immigrantstories #getinspired #powerfulwomen