Shortly after learning to drive, in 1984, I was slowly cruising the Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago, glancing at apartment buildings to left and right, looking for To Rent signs. The flashing lights of a police car lit up my rearview mirror. Since I’d been driving at twenty miles per hour I was confused to be pulled over. The officer responded to my humble query by informing me that I’d just run a stop sign. Since it was a moving violation, I’d have to appear before a judge. READ MORE

I am a murderer. Twenty-three years ago, in the basement of The Children's Bookstore in Chicago,

A few weeks ago I was returning from a trip to Nantucket and the evening ferry was nearly empty. An energetic three-year-old boy was rushing about uncontrollably. His anxious mother announced that she was downloading a book for him. A few minutes later I heard a cartoon voice narrating a pirate story. I looked over, and saw the mother holding her iPad with the screen facing forward, as the now-rapt, standing child watched the ?book? on the iPad screen tell its story. I admit I was appalled to understand that the machine had replaced the mother?s voice. READ MORE

It's hard to convince a bookstore to sell your book. Back in 1993 an editor I know was in Chicago for a sales meeting, and stopped by my store---The Children's Bookstore---with her marketing director. We went out to lunch. She told me that Barnes & Noble hadn't been stocking many of her children's books, so her team had come up with a clever strategem to bypass the B&N buyers. The editor and her marketing director had visited the B&N branch on the Upper West Side of New York City, and surreptitiously placed several books they had published right onto the B&N shelves. READ MORE

“Do you have any books about Charles Darwin?” the anxious customer inquired. “Yes,” I answered, “I have one by Peter Sis, one illustrated by Mary Azarian….” I realized that I wasn’t responding the way she wanted me to. READ MORE

I was working at the cash register on a busy Saturday a few weeks ago. I asked my customer, "Do you have a membership to the museum?" "Yes I do," answered the friendly man with glasses and graying hair, "but I've never been to the museum before. I live in Minneapolis."  He was buying a hundred dollars worth of books and toys. I gave him the 15% membership discount and said, "You're a member but you've never been to the museum?" READ MORE

A few hours ago Lisbeth Zwerger walked into the The Carle and I told her the fairy tale story of why she is responsible for me being here, running The Carle’s bookshop.  She was surprised, because we had never met before! READ MORE

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Hand-selling book time! I’ve noticed that the holiday shopping season brings more people asking for opinions and recommendations on books than any other time of the year.  And opinions and recommendations I’ve got!  It’s the time of year where people are kind enough to buy books for children of friends and far-away relatives. Not knowing these children very well, more often than not, customers need helping picking out the perfect gift. READ MORE

Tis the season of friends and  relations, when "What's good for a three year old?" may mean "I don't know anything about the child I'm shopping for." How's a bookseller to help? I ask about the parents. Personal interests, musical tastes, favorite vacation activities: clues to family lifestyle. Because these book-buyers are shopping for a family gift, and books they'll choose must match parental values. READ MORE