We didn’t just buy the home where I’ve lived these past several years, which the kids call The Big Red Barn (it’s neither big nor a barn, but it is red), because it was walking distance from the Children’s Book Shop, but I can’t say it wasn’t a motivating factor. And when it closed, about three years ago, I was devastated. What went with Terri’s shop wasn’t just the space, and wasn’t just the access to a curated selection of children’s books; it was a space to reach her long memory, her expertise, her exceptional skills as a bookseller. That was irreplaceable.

Even so, I was thrilled, albeit cautiously, to see the news that a new children’s book shop, to be called Turtle Books, was going to be opening right across the street from the old Children’s Book Shop. Clearly, I wasn’t the only one who felt the loss, and Bruce and Cathy Jacobs, the owners of the new shop, had decided to put their energy and efforts into this venture rather than simply lamenting what was gone.

This shop is absolutely brand new, but if it’s a baby book shop, it’s an adorable one.

Please observe, and note the little doorway.

Is the selection good? Yes, and it’s a broad selection– old and new books, generally good to very good ones. There are more novelty books, more gift editions, than Terri had.

Is it a nice space? See photos above! The small craft table with turtle colouring sheets and crafts behind that arch is a lovely touch. My small Spriggan got The True and Lucky Life of a Turtle by Sy Montgomery and Matt Patterson from the shop and made a Fire Chief snapping turtle at the table.

What do you think, Deborah? It’s a lovely new shop, and you’d better bet I’m going to be giving them every purchase I can. No, they do not (yet) have a long, deep knowledge of children’s literature, and the store hasn’t yet found the kind of character and identity of an established book shop. You know how you can tell when you’ve walked into a store with a story? That comes with time.

What Terri knew came with experience: she could size up a kid and a family in less than a second, and tell them the book they needed to get. She also told me what not to buy. “I’m not letting you get that,” she would say flatly, “it’s a terrible edition. Go find the old, out of print edition. It’s better.” Sometimes I’d find myself in there just because I felt– blah. I would walk out with a book (it’s rude to leave a shop without buying something) and the feeling of elevation that came with a story about Ashley Bryan and the history of all his bright colours on the page.

This isn’t the Old Children’s Book Shop, and it never will be. That was its own story. But Turtle Books has chosen an excellent mascot: Slow, with an old memory, and a long future, if properly cared for. That in itself shows knowledge of children’s books, and if they continue with that vision, they will create something beautiful here. I wish them all success, and I definitely think that if you’re local, and have any holiday shopping to do– go to Turtle Books, and browse and buy!