I love books.

No, no really.

I love books.

I love new book smell.

I love walking through a bookstore and spending time in the shelves and aisles.

And I love reading.

The only thing I might love more than all of those things is getting kids jazzed about great books.
Which is probably I became an English teacher 6 years ago and now spend my days coaching other English teachers.

Books are so my jam (and my husband’s)  that we got married in a library.

This is normally the time when people twist their face up a bit because they’re thinking about their neighborhood library down the street.

No, boo.
A library.
See for yourself: 

That’s me and my extra fine husband, Shamar, on our wedding day at the George Peabody Library in Baltimore, MD.

There is just something about being able to hold a book and flip through its pages that I just love. One day, I’d like to own a bookstore. A small shop with great reads and a space for people to just come together to create and share ideas, talk, laugh, and read.

But until then, I’ll tell you all about the bookstores I’ve been to and loved or want to spend the day exploring.

So let’s get started, shall we?

The Last Bookstore,  Los Angeles, California:

I have always loved California and I feel like it’s the only place I regret not living before settling down and getting married. You’re probably thinking, “Nik, what’s stopping you from moving there now?”

Honestly: My husband is lowkey tired of my moving antics (we’ve lived in three cities since we started dating  in 2012 all of which have been my idea) so I know I need to sit my butt down.

Anyhoo, back to task at hand: bookstores. On a trip to LA with a girlfriend, we found The Last Bookstore. It is a huge bookstore in the middle of Downtown LA with so many incredible reads. Here you can see the main floor of The Last Bookstore, but the magic is upstairs. If the Mad Hatter, from Alice in Wonderland had a library, I would imagine it would look a lot like the second floor of The Last Bookstore. It is seriously so cool that I actually don’t want to show you the upper half. I want you to wander into it just like I did and have the same kid like wonder I had.

 

Powell’s Books, Portland, Oregon:

Staying on the west side of the country next up on the list is Powell’s Books. Now, Powell’s is on my wish list of go to bookstores for a couple of reasons. 1. I’ve heard awesome things about Portland and really want to go. 2. This bookstore takes up an entire city block. Y’all. I. Would. Lose. My. Mind.

Imagine all of the magical reads just sitting in this place! You could literally spend all day in the place and still not see everything. I will definitely be checking Powell’s out the next time I travel back to the West coast.

McKay’s Bookstore, Nashville, Tennessee:

I started a project for my students this year called #OperationBookLove as a way to bring high interest reads to my students. The library in my building is outdated and I couldn’t get kids excited about reading without some quality books. A friend of mine donated some awesome finds to my kids and this was the first time I had heard about McKay’s. Being located in Atlanta, I have plans to take a weekend trip to McKay’s to go book hunting for my students…and myself.

McKay’s is on the list for the same reason as Powell’s, I just want to spend the whole day here, maybe break for some BBQ and then get right back to the books…maybe after a nap.

Strand Bookstore, New York, New York

Strand Bookstore has a really interesting history. Although today it is the only one left, it used to be one of 47 bookstores in this part of New York.

If you thought one bookstore taking up an entire city block was impressive, imagine 48 second hand bookstores taking up 6 blocks of New York real estate, giving it the name Book Row.

Besides being in another awesome city, Stand’s Bookstore makes the lis because of it’s interesting history and quirky instagram page.

I am traveling to New York for work next month and am definitely spending some time at Strand’s.

 

 

Busboys and Poets, Washington, DC

Busboys and Poets is an example of a bookstore that is small but mighty. Having lived in DC for a few years, this is a place Shamar and I frequented quite often. While there are many locations, they’re all in the DMV area.

Busboys and Poets was named after Langston Hughes. Hughes was a busboy before becoming known for his poetry. This is a place that has it all: coffee, food (bomb brunch!), a bar, wifi and great books through the Teaching for Change Program. Teaching for Change strives to create social justice through bringing representative literature to kids.

Seriously, great mission, great brunch, great books about dope people of color.

What else do you need?!

Charis Books & More, Atlanta, Georgia

I now call Atlanta home so you know I had to end the list with some gems from my own backyard. Charis Books & More is a charming little bookstore located in a purple house. Um, isn’t that reason enough? If the answer is no (I don’t know why it would be) then their speciality will be the selling point.

Charis Books and more is an independent feminist bookstore that prioritizes carrying feminist and cultural studies books. Like Busboys and Poets, it also ensures that kids are able to see themselves in literature. Charis Books prides itself on having a wide range of children’s books that speak to different experiences and characters. From books on adoption to ways to cope with illness and death, Charis Books has something for both kids and adults.

Little Shop of Stories, Decatur, Georgia

Little shop of stories is a quirky little children’s bookstore in downtown Decatur, Georgia. One of my favorite things to do is grab some ice cream and wander around the streets of downtown Decatur before finally ending up here. This place is uh-mazing for anyone with kids in their life or a love for YA Fiction (don’t sleep on young adult fiction, ya’ll).

In addition to their awesome selection of kid/young adult books, one of my favorite things is the events they put on at their bookstore and the surrounding area. They have hosted book talks with authors like John Greene, Angie Thomas, and Nic Stone (all of whom wrote some bomb books, get hip) as well as fun holiday events and parties.

A quaint little location, a great ice cream parlor down the street, and awesome events for kids and the adults in their life?!

You can’t beat it!

What other bookstores do I need to add to my list? Let me know in the comments below!