A Huddersfield bookshop loved by generations of children is now in new premises in a move that will end up costing £20,000.

But incredible support by kind-hearted donors, friends, relatives and a couple of businesses has meant the Children’s Bookshop is staying in Lindley and officially reopens tomorrow (Saturday, April 8) with a fun day.

The Children’s Bookshop on Lidget Street in Lindley opened in 1975 and has become one of the town’s favourite independent businesses.

The lease on its current property was up at the end of March and the bookshop had to move but owner Nicola Lee found another property a couple of hundred yards away at the end of Lidget Street near its junction with West Street.

In just three weeks former delicatessen The Larder was stripped right back to the walls and the bookshop kitted out with new insulated walls, a new heating system and new display units. A lot of the work has been done by relatives and friends.

People’s generosity has been overwhelming with people donating £8,000 through a crowdfunder page and direct donations.

The crowdfunder is still open HERE. Three donors have given £500 and several have added £200 each.

“The support has been amazing,” said Nicola. “I just can’t thank people enough for all their help, kindness and support. We are only a bookshop so it’s not a business that makes much profit but it’s one that’s very much loved and valued by the community and they have really shown that during the move.”

She specifically thanked two businesses, Huddersfield’s McGowan Carpets who sorted out the new floor and Kirkburton-based brand, design and marketing agency Picture Smiths which has done the branding that’s ongoing so the shop has a temporary sign for now.

The opening day tomorrow will feature craft activities, Easter story reading, a giant bear and an Easter egg competition.

The floorspace in the new shop is slightly smaller than the old one but it has two large windows so Nicola can get really creative with her window displays. Pupils from Battyeford Primary School in Mirfield have made her drawings of animals to display which now have pride of place in the window.

Nicola said: “The new shop has a great outlook – we can see right down the village and we can do so much more with our displays to entice people in.”

Scroll through a gallery of images below. Pictures by: Andy Hirst

Nicola first visited the Children’s Bookshop when she was eight and then her own children always wanted to visit. She ended up working there 17 years ago and has owned the business for the last seven.

“I just love books, especially those for younger children,” she said. “I read and read so if children come into the shop I can chat to them, discover what they like and then introduce them to books I know they’ll love.

“That’s what being an independent bookseller is all about, spending time with children to find books to fire their imagination and a love of reading.”

The Children’s Bookshop supplies books to schools, nurseries and playgroups – some as far away as Leeds and Bradford. They often phone with a budget in mind and leave it to Nicola’s knowledge and experience to sort out the books they think their pupils would like.

“We always get a positive response with our selection, “ said Nicola. “We are here to help schools so they are more than welcome to contact us.”

The shop regularly has authors dropping in for book signings and also organises visits and signings at schools – usually one or two a month.

It may be called the Children’s Bookshop but Nicola and her staff can order any book – adult or children.

“We can get just about any book anyone could want,” said Nicola.

  • Written by ANDY HIRST who runs his own Yorkshire freelance journalism agency AH! PR (https://ah-pr.com/) specialising in press releases, blogging, website content and copywriting.

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