June 2025
Independent Bookshop Week – Bear Bookshop
Bear Bookshop Bio
We are a welcoming, engaging and children’s bookshop in the heart of Bearwood, a place that develops and encourages a child’s enjoyment of reading, love of learning and sense of wonder.
More than just a bookshop, we are a community resource, a place where your children can listen to stories and find books and resources to nurture their interests and help them to learn about the world around them.
Bear Bookshop is an energetic space where there is always something exciting happening. We have created a space where children are free to explore and learn, while families relax. Where people can enjoy time together, connect with art, literature and community and where everyone is welcome and included.
What inspired you to open your bookshop, was it a lifelong love of reading?
A lifelong love of reading definitely sparked the idea! But I was also very inspired by my own children too and my experiences of reading to them when they were very small and playing games around books and making up our own stories. I wanted to build a space that captured this joy for other families too.
Do you have any particularly memorable moments from your time as a bookseller, such as author events or release days?
Events are absolutely my favourite part of bookselling, and what’s always so special to me is hearing how much our visitors, especially the children love our space. I always love it when the children don’t want to leave because they love it so much. (but I imagine the parents feel differently when it’s time to go!)
Is there any genre within children’s publishing that you feel publishers should focus on more and if so, why?
I think there could be more out there for young children who are very strong readers. A lot of the books aimed at higher reading ages can have themes that are too scary or inappropriate for younger children. I’d like to see more titles that stretch reading skills but are still age-appropriate.
If you could have any fictional character visit your bookshop, who would it be and why?
I’d love to spend the day with Mula – She would help us slow down, solve all our problems, be a great friend to us all and we could all finish the day with some lovely relaxing yoga amongst the bookshelves.
Do you have a favourite book that you would recommend to young readers and their families?
Anne of Green Gables is my childhood favourite and I have read with all my own children. I think it’s such a lovely, warm and enduring story. Anne is a great model for optimism and resilience too.
What has been the most rewarding part of running your bookshop?
Watching our readers grow. We have been open for nearly 5 years now, so some of the little babies who first started coming to us for story times are now confident readers with their own favourite books and genres. It’s to think we have been part of that journey since the very beginning.
Finally, why is it more important than ever for readers to support indie bookshops across the UK and Ireland?
Independent bookshops bring character and passion to communities. I think we are at a real risk of high streets becoming very generic but every independent bookshop exists because of someone’s passion for reading. We’re not just selling books…we really do believe in the magic of reading!
