Congratulations to Let's Play Books!, Emmaus, Pa., which is officially celebrating its three-year transformation from a children's bookstore to a store that carries a significant amount of adult titles with a "grand re-opening" this Saturday, September 15.
Among the changes at Let's Play Books!:
The adult section comprises about 35% of the store's shelf space, up from 10%. The YA section is on the first floor, along with a section for local authors that has grown rapidly, particularly following the change in management of the nearby Moravian Bookshop.
The second floor is now home to a Ju-Ju Monkey baby/toddler room, the Mariann Dana Younger Children's Room and a Middle Grade room. In addition, the third-floor Cattic, where author visits, birthday parties, summer camp sessions and youth book clubs take place, has been spruced up.
Owner Kirsten Hess commented: "The changes at Let's Play Books are aimed at expanding what we offer adults while improving products and services for children, historically our core mission. As a growing general-interest independent bookstore in the Lehigh Valley, we felt the need to increase our services to the community. We will continue to offer book fairs in area schools, fundraising events for local organizations and our Authors-to-Schools program. At Let's Play Books Bookstore, we strive to engage children and adults in the wonderful world of books, providing never-ending opportunities to stir one's imagination and creativity, to enhance one's understanding of our world. We are committed to promoting the values of knowledge, compassion, and social justice, all of which to serve to make our community a better place to live and work."