Magical Forest Bookstore celebrated its grand opening last month in the Stone Hill Shopping Center at 902 Ill. Route 22, Fox River Grove, Ill. Shaw Local reported that owner Susan Kelly, a former grade-school English teacher, "remembers how magical books were for her growing up. Now she's aiming to pass on that same feeling in her newly opened independent children's bookstore." The shop sells children's books and toys and hosts programs like story times and dance parties.
"A bookstore has always been my dream, and Magical Forest is truly a reflection of my passion for stories and the power they hold," Kelly said. "I wanted to create a space where children and their families could experience the wonder of reading together, discover new favorites, and feel part of a community built around creativity and connection."
The bookstore's book collection is chosen by Kelly to match a "certain vibe," she said, noting that the bookstore "is small so I have to be selective." The idea for the store's "magical forest" theme came to her in the middle of the night: "Every good story happens in a forest."
The original idea "was solidified when Kelly... came across three large metal mushrooms that now anchor the store," Shaw Local wrote. "Kelly's bookstore is colorfully and whimsically decorated with paint in shades of yellow and green on the walls to mimic the feeling of walking through a forest. Plenty of children-sized seating is placed around to encourage families to stick around."
"I love when toddlers come in and immediately grab a toy or a book. That's exactly what I wanted," Kelly said, adding, "Reading should be fun. I want this to be a fun, safe place to be."
Ultimately, she hopes to expand the store and sell fiction titles for all ages, but for now she is looking into getting a bookshelf this winter to sell a small section for "grown-up fiction," as she described it.