Behind the Scenes at Squishy Minnie Bookshop

Firstly, congratulations on creating such a wonderful children’s bookshop and we have to ask, where did that fabulous name Squishy Minnie come from?

When I was a kid I always dreamed of owning my very own bookshop when I got ‘old’. Squishy Minnie was the name I imagined and when we came to open our bookstore a couple of years ago no other name seemed to capture the essence of our little space as much as Squishy Minnie did. Also, my great grandmothers name was Minnie so it feels a little like there is a small amount of legacy incorporated.

There is something very special about children’s bookshops that it’s hard to put your finger on. Can you tell us what were the non-negotiables for you when creating Squishy Minnie?

We wanted a space that was welcoming and felt homely and inclusive, so we designed our layout and book selection around that idea. We chose books that reflected the broader society in which we exist with the idea that a young person would be able to walk through our front door and find a book that they see themselves in, regardless of their gender, culture, family system, skin colour, ability and so forth. For me a bookshop should be a space that the community feels ownership of and that sparks a sense of delight.

What is your favourite part of running and owning a children’s bookshop?

The young folk, always the young folk. Their joy, honesty and intellect when it comes to book selection brings a warmth to my heart every single day. Over the last couple of years we have been able to watch kids grow and see their reading choices mature and evolve. We get to be bystanders in choosing books for milestones in their lives, birthdays, deaths and celebrations and it brings such richness to everyday life.

What special events/activities do you host at Squishy Minnie?

Kristen Proud Owner/Manager

We have weekly story time every Thursday and we have a number of bookclubs each month, both here in Squishy Minnie and outreach on local school premises around our region. We also have special author and illustrator events for all ages and we have been absolutely overwhelmed by the generous support authors and illustrators have shown for our space and their willingness to support our vision of bringing events to regional kids.

We also have an English Study club for year 10-12’s after school once a week ran by one of our wonderful Squishy Team members who also happens to be an English teacher.

Top three children’s books? Is it possible to choose?

Every day my top three changes. There are so many wondrous books out there.

Today I would say This is How We Change the Ending by Vikki Wakefield (which is YA) Big Ideas For Curious Minds An Introduction to Philosophy by the School of Life and Baby Business by Jasmine Seymour. Ask me tomorrow or even later today and I will no doubt give you a different list, but each of these three books convey a beautiful well constructed sentiment that impacts the reader. I love that.

What are your plans for the next year? Are there any new programs or events you’re planning?

Things are always busy here at Squishy. We are hoping to roll out our Outreach Bookclubs to more Primary Schools next year so that more and more young folk can access the joy of bookclub. Here in the country transport is a huge issue so access to after school activities can be impossible for many families. Partnering with schools to run these bookclubs opens up possibilities for more children in our region to be relishing in the wonder of reading.

Thanks to Kristen Proud for answering our questions and to find out more about Squishy Minnie visit their website here.