We have met many friends, encountered several surprises, and welcomed countless queries between 2008 and 2018. The moments that follow are both unique, single memories and reoccurring wonders, each a stand-out over the last decade as powerful moments we won’t forget.

1. Being told Thank You by a person accustomed to not finding self in books; having instinct to respond “i am sorry.” and instead offering, “you are welcome.” you are.  

Much has changed since 2008, when I asked an experienced librarian for children’s books in which non heteronormative relationships were incidental rather than driving force of story, whether there were fresh, fantastic graphic novels featuring characters of color, and where all the new bilingual picture books could be found. I came up scarce on these requests in ’08, and can point to many more hitting these marks well in ’18. Still, we have a long way to go as a store, as an industry, and as a community, to demonstrate authentic welcome, service, and celebration of the fullest, richest human story possible. This intention was a founding principle of our store and remains a guiding force in all we do.

2. Being Told a Reader Was (re) Born.

Every child is born a reader. There is no newborn not intrigued by the rhythms, movements, and scenes of story and no human not driven by its hold. There are, though, many children led to believe reading is not for them: letters on a page are confusing or uncompelling, the act of reaching story via text strange or unwanted, especially in the way–or at the rate–expected. We have always believed that removing such expectations and focusing on what makes receiving story intriguing and joyful is the only matter. This is why we show kids of all ages and reading abilities books overflowing with pictures, with hilarious, interactive, relatable text, books others say are beneath or above them, and then, sometimes we hear the story return that we love most of all: a reader is (re) born.

2 1/2. A toddler giving art direction to an author/illustrator, as needed.  

All great illustrators to visit our store have engaged kids in the act of creating character, action, and scene, but there was something about Bob Shea, his jelly bean start to every picture and his full embrace of a resolute toddler that will remain in our hearts forever.

3. Being cautioned by a conference organizer that people may not want books.

In defense of this caution, the most experienced among us have no crystal ball on demand for anything, ever. It’s a truth indistinguishable from others’ in the business of offering goods, but formulas of prediction do reveal themselves in time and in a few marked circumstances. Nerd Camp Michigan is one such instance, and the formula revealed itself immediately in 2014:

joy-driven book passion + genuine friendship + free gathering place + innovative authors + radically compassionate educators = ALL THE BOOKS WILL BE WANTED.

This photo (taken that first year) was our modest, plentiful table upon load-in. Within hours, each book was gone from this table. Every year since, we bring higher broader stacks, and they always fly away on the wings of this formula.

4. Hearing a mother giggle at her toddler in loving insistence that the Girl Power book was not for him.  

This is a specific memory, yes, but also a moment reflecting something ubiquitous in our 10 years years: the expressed (or acted upon) assumption that books prominently featuring confidently gendered girls are not (or in some cases, should not be) interesting to boys.  It is a quiet, well-intended, devastating form of sexism that we hope to see change dramatically in our next ten years.

5. Offering Presence to a Grieving Loved One.

There are many ways to be present to a dear friend or known acquaintance processing unbearable loss. In the bookstore this experience has taken many sacred shapes: placing loved words into trembling hands, searching unknown stories for small comforts, allowing a kindred reader the distance and dignity of the shelves to self, remembering a detail of the loved-one in store, hugging, crying, being open, being here–it has been a great honor and an amazing grace.

6. Watching an unknown customer weep upon entering a new space.

I didn’t know her. She didn’t know me. We both cried.

7. Being the background to moments

There are many customers who have chosen our store as place to document their own stories: the marking of engagement or marriage, new and grown families posing for photo, a mother&daughter in musical accompaniment. Our shelves are a grateful background to these live, beautiful stories.

8. Being Gifted Unexpected Inspired Art

It is one thing to be caretaker, advocate, and carrier of art, it is another to be recognized and celebrated in it itself. This chair, gifted in surprise to our story time leader is one of the many offerings the store has been gifted in celebration of its very being. Each of these gifts and times of their offering are among our most memorable.

9. Being spotted away from home

One of my fondest early memories is being recognized by a child in the grocery and hearing: “Look Mom, it’s the book lady. What’s she doing here?” Since then, being spotted–and building book community–beyond our walls has grown more intentional and joyful. Waldo’s summer wanderings in Kalamazoo are one way we thank our town for spotting (and appreciating) us away from our home.

10. Being told: “I am surprised you are still open.”

This hasn’t tapered much in 10 years and takes many different forms:

“How can you compete?”

“I thought you were all dead.”

“Do people still read books?”

“You’re still here in this corner?”

And, nevertheless…