THERE'S NOTHING MORE DELIGHTFUL about parenthood than cuddling with your child and sharing a book. Over the years, I've spent many hours sprawled on the carpet at Adventures for Kids in Ventura, reading books, playing with puppets and leaving with a purchase or two tucked under my arm.
So my heart really sank when I learned our beloved local children's bookstore would be closing by the end of July. I knew they were struggling a bit. But I didn't really know just how much until I spoke to store owner Barbara O'Grady. She's devastated.
"Books aren't a lucrative business," she explained. "I'm just barely surviving. It's just all over the book industry. It's a bad business to be in right now."
Adventures for Kids has been a local literary fixture since 1979. It was a labor of love for the store's previous owner, Jody Shapiro. She sold the enterprise to O'Grady two years ago who at first had high hopes for the business. "I told Jody the other day it wasn't part of the dream to close the store," O'Grady said. But after months of just barely squeaking by, she knew she had no other choice.
IT WAS NO ORDINARY bookstore. Over the years, the biggest luminaries in children's publishing passed through those doors. "Harry Potter" author J.K. Rowling's visit brought huge crowds. My children met Daniel Handler, otherwise known as Lemony Snicket, author of "A Series of Unfortunate Events." Gifted illustrator Jan Brett signed books for us as well as humorist Dav Pilkey and "Princess Diaries" author Meg Cabot. And the store held the best midnight Harry Potter parties around.
Adventures for Kids was also stellar about giving back to the community, participating in numerous fundraisers for the local schools.
Tell me, what has Amazon.com done for you lately?
O'Grady's not shy about blaming that particular online book business for the death of local bookstores. "But I know times are changing and people choose to shop differently for a number of reasons," she said with a sigh.
But I have always seen great value in a business where a salesperson goes out of her way to pick out just the right book for my child, which always happened when I visited Adventures for Kids. You can't get that online. This store was special.
"If people want to have unique communities, people have to support the uniqueness of it," O'Grady said.
Ironically, since Adventures for Kids announced its "going out of business" sale, the shop has been busy again. "There were days when nobody came in," O'Grady told me. "I think to myself, 'Where were all you people before?' "
Shop local. It's my mantra. Don't let another gem slip away.
Oh, terrible sadness!
As a Ventura Education Partnership board member I just want to thank Adventures For Kids for being such an active participant in our fundraising activities. All of the money we raise goes directly back to the schools in the form of grants. They have always been there to do whatever they can to help with our cause. Kay Giles, an employee for Adventures and a board member, has been an integral part of consummating our partnership. Kay chaired the StoryFest literary event that helps encourage kids to read as well as raise money for the schools. It was a wonderful time for all where parents, teachers, supervisor, and even authors read to the kids. Adventures For Kids provided all of the reading material as well as their connections to the authors. We will sincerely miss this wonderful business that helps kids to use their creativity and imagination.
I'm saddened by this article. It would be a terrible loss for Ventura if Adventures for Kids closes its doors. I've been taking my children there for years. I admit that I sometimes forget about them, but it's the first place I go for special occasions like birthdays, etc. Obviously, I need to go more often. I'm going today!
This is very sad news. My two kids spent many a happy hour at Adventures for Kids. I don't even want to tell them.
"Goodnight Gorilla" by Peggy Rathmann was the first book my (then) two year old picked out all by himself. It took him two hours of joyous browsing, but it became a bedtime favorite for years.
"My Father's Dragon" by Ruth Gannett, the first book that Jody steered us to when our youngest was ready for longer stories at age three.
"Big Pig, Little pig", by David McPhail, the first in a series of wonderfully written first read books that my younger son tackled in kindergarten.
The Brio corner which allowed me to browse for hours.
The silly Harry Potter Wizard who always made midnight come a little sooner for awaiting fans.
"The Book Thief" by Marcus Zusak, one of many favorite adult/YA books that was recommended by Barbara, or Kay, or Pam, and the impromptu book discussions during each visit.
Adventures for Kids was there at each of these precious moments for our family & I know that anyone reading this has many stories and moments of their own.
I am grateful to Barbara (and the rest of the wonderful staff) for sticking it out for two more years so we could have access to such an awesome collection of books and staff knowledge. As a parent, a teacher, a librarian and as a book club member, I am so sad.
Would the next person who wins the lottery please save the store?? I would if I could!
They ship used books directly to my house.
But you are correct Amazon doesn't draw people together.
Sometimes this is such a chick blog.
But I agree with the sentiment of buying local. Keep your tax dollars at home.
There's plenty of testosterone on the other Star blogs. :-)
This story is hard to comment on. Maybe if you make it an issue of lefties for right wing people.
Sad to see a god book store close.
My writing goal has never been to put up pieces solely to generate comments. Sometimes I'm more interested in finding little nuggets that the Star doesn't cover.
Don't forget about Bank of Books on Main Street in Downtown Ventura. Support your local bookstores!
I can't believe that you guys have missed how much of right wing conspiracy this closure represents! Why this has Bush-Cheney written all over it.
Maybe if Amazon customers had to pay sales tax on their purchases, the playing field would be more level.
I wouldn't necessarily claim that Amazon is the sole reason that Adventures for Kids is shuttering it's doors. People still like to go to bricks & morter book stores like Barnes N' Noble and Borders. Although you can easily access Amazon, Barnes, & Borders and review their public filings and see that all 3 are struggling. Barbara is right, the book industry is a tough business to be in right now. While I haven't been to this store before and while it does sound like she was creative in coming of with unique offerings like her Harry Potter nights, it is a competitive business. It's important for retailers to adapt and really get to know and understand their market. Look at the size and the environment that those two big stores create. Think of how they offer Starbucks in their stores now. Lastly and most importantly, parents need to read to their children and encourage it. Less unproductive time spent on the internet and watching crummy television would go a long way to keeping the book store industry a healthy business.