Congratulations to Books of Wonder, New York City, which is celebrating its 45th anniversary this weekend, with a sale on everything in the store that starts today and runs through Tuesday, September 2. Books, toys, and merch are 20% off, and posters, all treasures in the old rare collection, and more are 30% off.
Owner Peter Glassman wrote to customers, "This Tuesday will mark the 45th anniversary of the day I opened the doors of the first Books of Wonder store at 444 Hudson Street in New York City's famed Greenwich Village. As a matter of fact, it also happened to be a Tuesday! So much has changed over the years since September 2nd, 1980, but one of the constants I am most grateful for has been that the outpouring of wonderful children's books continues.
"Today, we have more diversity and representation in young people's books than ever before, as well as an abundance of exciting ways to tell stories--from classic prose to novels in verse, from interactive books to to graphic novels, and each year brings new talents who continue to create tales that inspire.
"But even as we forge forward, old challenges continue to provoke. At the beginning of this year, a study was released indicating that 33% of eighth graders and 40% of fourth graders are at below basic reading skills, the largest in decades. These declines are echoed in tests of adults' skills encompassing the same time frame.
"More than ever, it is so important to put books kids will love into their hands! No one disputes that children who read for their own enjoyment have great vocabularies, comprehension, creativity, and empathy. And helping young readers, their parents, and everyone who loves them find the books that will create a lifelong love of reading is what Books of Wonder has been here to do for the past 45 years!...
"I have continued to be astonished by and grateful for the spectacular community of book lovers--from authors and illustrators to young readers and the grown-ups who foster their love of reading to those adults who just never stopped reading and loving great kids books--that we have built. Thank you for continuing to trust us to introduce you to the best in books for young readers of all ages!"