Tucked inside Vend Marketplace in Virginia is a little nook where you can be whisked away to magical places, meet inspirational characters, and be gently guided through some of life’s most important lessons – all with the turn of a page.
Love Books Bookshop showcases a collection of children’s storybooks written by a mix of Australian authors who come from a diverse range of professional backgrounds.
Founder Michelle Welch said each author brings a unique voice, but together, their stories span a wide range of meaningful themes.
“We cover everything from silly rhyming books to adventure and social topics like cancer, divorce and anxiety,” she said. “All fantastic for children to develop early literacy skills, and for creating opportunities to talk about some big things that go on in a child’s life.”
Authors and the Stories Behind the Books
Many Love Books authors found their way to writing through personal experiences or lessons from their professional lives.
Primary school teacher, Emily Serow, explained that her inspiration came from the short stories her mum wrote when Emily was a child.
“While reading through some of my mum’s stories, it sparked the idea to write one of my own,” she said. “At its heart, my debut book, Kirra and Coco, is about bravery. I wanted to show that everyone has different strengths and fears, and that those differences make us who we are.”
Another author, Rebecca Farrow, gradually found herself immersed in art and writing after leaving her job as a molecular biologist.
“I’m always looking for ways to explain the world to children, and storytelling is a fantastic way to do that,” she said. “My goal is to create stories that gently introduce environmental responsibility in a way that is engaging and age-appropriate.”
Clinical psychologist Lorren Arezio decided to use her writing to support the emotional well-being of children.
“I had long wanted to write before finally taking the leap,” she said. “My first book, Be With Me, is a story about how an echidna and his mum learn to manage big emotions.”
Michelle explained that it’s these diverse voices that form the heart of Love Books. With two of her own titles in the shop, Somewhere in My Garden and Who’s Coming to Tea, Michelle said she understands the care that goes into writing each story and the connections that the bookshop has created.
“Not many of the authors knew each other before,” she said. “New friendships have been made and every author feels great having their books on the shelf and supporting one another.”
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