Last week, booksellers from all around the country converged on Portland, OR for a conference on children’s books and bookselling, hosted by the American Booksellers Association. Some lucky participants registered for half-day and full-day bus tours of Portland area independent bookstores, hopping from neighborhood to neighborhood for 20-30 minute drop-ins (Woefully short!).
Here are some photos from the day’s adventures. Have you made some of these tour stops? Care to share with your fellow book lovers?
Broadway Books welcomed booksellers with a sign and treats… (photo by Rene Kirkpatrick)
… and fake tattoos! (photo by Tegan Tigani)
Here’s the scene as the half-day tour arrived at Broadway Books. (photo by Brian Juenemann)
The mood was lively and happy at Broadway! Most booksellers seemed to be shopping at every stop. (photo by Brian Juenemann)
Surprise author encounter at Broadway Books: Lyanda Lynn Haupt of Seattle happened to stop by to sign (pictured here with her latest, “Mozart’s Starling) before she headed home. You just never know who you’ll run into in bookstores! (photo by Tegan Tigani)
The full day tour stopped first at Art of STEM– a science/tech/engineering/math-themed bookstore for all ages. They have two connected storefronts. (photo by Tegan Tigani)
Jeannie Ruiz, one of the owners of Art of STEM, shared information about her shop at the 3-D printer station. (photo by Tegan Tigani)
One half of Art of STEM has the 3-D printer, virtual reality, lots of computers, a photography set-up, and adult books. This is the other side, with a child’s play space and lots of kid-friendly books and toys to fuel curiosity. (photo by Tegan Tigani)
The half-day tour included A Children’s Place. (photo by Brian Juenemann)
Booksellers got their wallets out at A Children’s Place, too! So many temptations. (photo Brian Juenemann)
The tour enjoyed browsing A Children’s Place and its colorful displays. (photo by Brian Juenemann)
The half-day tour converged on Vintage Books in Vancouver, WA– just across the bridge from Portland. (photo by Brian Juenemann)
Here’s Another Read Through. I wish I’d gotten a picture of their reading tree in the kids’ section, but there were too many booksellers to get a good shot! (photo by Tegan Tigani)
The steps to the second floor in Another Read Through were another popular photo opp.
The view from Another Read Through’s second floor is pretty stunning! Note the clever use of shower curtains. (photo by Tegan Tigani)
Speaking of clever, this section juxtaposition tickled my funny bone. (photo by Tegan Tigani)
Charming little Green Bean Books welcomed both tours. (photo by Rene Kirkpatrick)
There were cookies (masterfully decorated by a relative of one of the booksellers!) on the patio… (photo by Brian Juenemann)
… teeny tiny souvenir books… (photo by Tegan Tigani)
… and libations! (Enjoyed here by Madison Duckworth of Liberty Bay Books in WA) (photo by Brian Juenemann)
Inside, Green Bean’s cozy feel includes hand-made signage and creative displays. (photo by Tegan Tigani)
I particularly liked this sign. If you’re the bookseller who made it, give yourself a pat on the back in the comments! (photo by Tegan Tigani)
Outside Green Bean, Jeff Geiger, author of “Wildman,” gathered documentary footage, asking booksellers about books that changed their lives. (photo by Brian Juenemann)
Annie Bloom’s Award Winners display helped booksellers around the country see our regional award winners. (photo by Tegan Tigani)
The full-day tour enjoyed meeting Molly Bloom, the store cat at Annie Bloom’s. (photo by Tegan Tigani)
Mudpuddles Toy and Books was a lively penultimate stop for the full-day tour.
Mudpuddles gave the booksellers a scavenger hunt– and had a prize drawing!
Look at their festive wrapping! (Can you guess my prize?)
Another bookseller on the long tour proudly wore one of the prizes he won on our victory lap to the final stop, Powell’s. (photo by Tegan Tigani)
We made it! The tour buses dropped booksellers off at Powell’s. We were just a part of the big crowd making the pilgrimage to the City of Books. (photo by Tegan Tigani)
The day ended and the conference officially began with a welcome party upstairs in Powell’s Pearl Room, but many of us couldn’t resist the store’s charming Rare Book room. (photo by Tegan Tigani)
