The Little Book - Des Moines, IA

The Little Book, Des Moines, IA

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The greatest joy I get on this journey is meeting so many wonderful people along the way.  And even though I’ve met the majority of people just once, I STILL feel a special connection to all of them.  However, there is the rare occasion when I visit a bookstore that I meet and reacquaint with people that I met at a previous visit to another store.  My visit to The Little Book was a reunion of kindred spirits that I met previously at Reading In Public Bookstore, also in Des Moines.  Co-owner Bethany and bookseller Keriann were as enthusiastic for my visit as I was to see them again.  I can remember when I first met Bethany at Reading In Public, she said, “hey I’m leaving here pretty soon and opening my own bookstore.”  I don’t remember my response but I’ve been following them ever since and waited as long as I could until visiting today.  The results?  A beautiful bookstore open for 10 months that is showing growth in several ways and slowly finding its groove in the Des Moines bookstore scene.  Thrilled for the owners and the community, congratulations co-owners Bethany and David.

The Little Book began as a store for children with a focus on childhood literacy in a medium-sized space.  Since opening in February of 2024, they’ve slowly expanded in many ways including more adult titles, offering used books, and expanding into the space next door all the way to the end of the block.  The organization is basically kids books in the main room and adult books in the room to the right.  Beyond that adult room is the gigantic event space that would be the envy of any bookstore.  This space allows the store to offer it for community events to generate additional revenue. Vendor fairs, celebrations of all kinds, and artist galleries can be held here as well as a weekly story time to name just a few.

Can’t make it to the store?  Consider ordering online.  Want to bring in your used books?  Make an appointment and bring in one box or one sack/tote only and receive store credit in return.  And the used books they take in are on an inventory data base so they know exactly what they have.  Not a reader?  Puzzles, candles, stickers, games, greeting cards, and more make great gift ideas.

Hey Des Moines, time to wake up and smell the coffee.  This great bookstore in the historic Highland Park district is off and running and YOU need to visit and enjoy a fabulous bookstore visit.  Go to an indie and buy a book.  Bonsoir.

CURRENTLY READING:  All The Colors of The Dark, Chris Whitaker.  

RECENTLY PURCHASED:  The Best American Short Stories 2024, edited Lauren Groff. 

 

Storefront of the historic building. 

The bookstore is proudly located in the Highland Park Historic District. 

View looking into the the store from the front entrance.  Keriann will be happy to recommend your next great read. 

Go to the right after entering and browse the staff picks and an assortment of sidelines. 

Immediately to the left after entering is the checkout counter where you can enjoy the unique and large wall mural created by a very talented local artist.  Impressive. 

Beginning here on the left side of the store you can browse books for babies and toddlers.  As you progress along this side the books gradually ascend by age until you get to YA.  Clever organization. 

You'll be here awhile.  No sense in going thirsty. 

Directly in front of you after entering is a table display of various sidelines.  This store has something for everyone. 

I think this is probably a good book and I think it is also preaching to the choir. 

There are lots of stickers here and many to choose from. 

It's the holiday season and gift cards are a perfect gift. 

This sounds like a good idea.  Talk to any of the booksellers in the store.  

Just a few of the greeting cards available. 

On the right side of the store, this doorway leads into a room of adult titles.   Proceeding through this room and beyond is a very expansive events space. 

 

Looking into the room with adult titles. 

Look for this sale rack in the adult room. 

I love the "blind date with a book" promotions I see in many bookstores.  But I don't think I've seen it presented the way it is at The Little Book.  These are "blind dates" with a staff pick.  A great idea. 

A nice area to lounge with lots of natural light in the adult room

Another overview of the adult room. 

Just about every customer that comes here should get this book.  

Continuing through the adult book room you come to the entryway of this wonderful event space. 

Another angle and view of the event space. 

One of the several book nooks in the main room. 

The perfect area in the main room to relax and read.  If I were a regular, this would be my spot. 

For the kids, they can go to the back of the store for a comfy place. 

This is the wall space between the two bathroom doors.  Look at the book titles.  How creative is this?!

The store has a very active events schedule.  If you're in the Highland Park District, check it out. 

With Bethany on the left and Keriann on the right, two of the fine people you'll meet at The Little Book.  Thanks for a great visit. 

Green Feather Book Co - Norman, OK

Green Feather Book Co, Norman, OK

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I bought some books today on my visit to Green Feather Book Co.  I didn’t go online to get these or click submit, I bought them for the experience of the bookstore visit.  Sometimes these write-ups focus on the store, a staffer or an owner, or maybe some of both.  Today’s visit for me was a mini-course in adult education and the takeaway is an owner who is deeply passionate and knowledgeable about her ethnicity as a descendant of the Chickasaw Tribe.  Heather H. is the wonderful owner at Green Feather Book Co, named after herself, Green Feather, her Native name given to her by an aunt.  My experience here was a fascinating and riveting conversation (she is the story teller for her generation, descended from story tellers) about her family, her ancestors, and her culture.  My time with her should be a required class for all.  The Chickasaw people are not indigenous to Oklahoma, but Mississippi.  Her ancestors got to Oklahoma on the Trail of Tears and of course some didn’t survive.  One of her ancestors was a chief that led 5 tribes in the 1860 treaty agreement, still in place today.  It was an honor for me to be in her presence and in her store.

The strength of this bookstore is with Native American authors and subjects but you’ll find much more than that here.  They have two medium sized rooms filled with new and used books, all shelved together.  The great thing is they know exactly what used books are here thanks to a data base.  If customers don’t donate their books they can receive store credit in return, something all regulars should take advantage of.  In addition to the regulars, the store also sees customer traffic from the Oklahoma University community of faculty and students.  And if you can’t make it to the store consider supporting them online by ordering through bookshop.org.  They have frequent events, many of which feature local authors.  In their 2+ years of business, things are going reasonably well and as Heather told me all their projections are pointing up.  

As for sidelines, the stickers are hot and you’ll also find journals, buttons, bookstore candles, and miniature music boxes to name just a few.

If you want to visit a bookstore to be enlightened, to learn, this is the place.  Make a point to visit and meet Shae and Stacey, who along with Heather are the custodians of this wonderful oasis in Norman, OK.  Go to an indie and buy a book.  Bonsoir.

JUST FINISHED:  The Lion Women of Tehran, Marjan Kamali.  What a book!  Ellie and Homa become friends as 7-year olds growing up in Tehran.  Their lives include family tragedies and they are as tight as any friends could be until Ellie’s family moves.  They reconnect in high school but the volatility of Iranian politics in the 70s and 80s puts pressure on their friendship into adulthood.  A fantastic book and one of the best I’ve read in a long time.  This is a powerful tribute and example of women determined to fight for equality across generations.  Make sure one of the booksellers at your indie discovers this one.  Highly recommended.  

CURRENTLY READING:  All The Colors of The Dark, Chris Whitaker. 

RECENTLY PURCHASED:  Nail's Crossing, Kris Lackey.  An Indigenous Peoples' History of The United States, Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz.  Orbital, Samantha Harvey.  Not purchased but gifted, my very own Green Feather book tote.  Thanks Heather!

 

Green Feather storefront. 

Storytellers are sacred and you are welcomed. 

Beautiful display window. 

Let the browsing begin before you even enter. 

View looking into the store from the front entrance. 

View looking to the right from the front entrance. 

Attractive display of various items just inside the store. 

An example of the candles offered. 

Head over to the left side of the store and this super browsing area. 

I love this area in the center of the store.  A great place to relax and chat or sample a book. 

View looking into the room on the left side of the store. 

The room on the left has a perfect place to sit and relax. 

I think the lighting, the shelves, and the colors really create a nice atmosphere in this room. 

An overview looking from the back toward the front in the room on the left. 

Over on the right side of the store. 

A nice assortment of Antiquarian editions. 

A very, very small model of an old home library.  See if you can find it. 

Another overview of the store's main room. 

Bookish and writerly sidelines. 

Just a few of the books of local and regional interest. 

One of the long book aisles on the right side of the store. 

Every bookstore has unique stickers. 

Miniature music boxes. 

Filing system for incoming books. 

Another excellent place to get comfy with a book. 

With Heather, the fine owner at Green Feather Book Co.  Thanks for a great visit.