Willow Glen Life

What do Julie Andrews, Jamie Lee Curtis, Amy Tan and Rhea Perlman have in common?  What if I added JK Rowling into the mix?  They have all been to Hicklebee’s Children’s Book Store in Willow Glen. JK Rowling did a book signing there for her first book way back when no one new anything about her or Harry Potter.  Monica Holmes co-owner of Hicklebee’s told me in a brief interview that they had to beg people to show up and even then, only about 20 or so actually did. The next time JK Rowling came was for a signing of her third book and the venue had to be moved to Willow Glen High School because of huge interest.

I always thought of Hicklebee’s as that pretty neat children’s book store down the street and even bought a book or two there as gift for children I know. What I didn’t realize is that Hicklebee’s is the book store for children and is considered by authors, editors, and book publishers as one of the few elite stores in the country. You might say that Hicklebee’s is considered to be instrumental as stopping point for authors to promote their books. 

If you look at the parade of authors coming over the next few months, you will get the picture, Hicklebee’s is famous in the children’s book world. Co-owner Valerie Lewis along with a few other ladies that are no longer involved, started the store in 1979,  Monica Holmes became a co-owner and partner with Valerie a few years later and the book shop quickly developed into the Willow Glen fixture that it is today.

Drop by and visit the store sometime and you will be as impressed as I was.  And if you have young children, do yourself a favor and take them to some of the readings. Your kids will love the stories and the environment and who knows they may get bitten by the Hicklebee and start a lifelong passion of reading. 

Hicklebee’s 1378 Lincoln Ave, San Jose, CA 95125 (408) 292-8880

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Tags: Book Reading, Books, Children, Children's Books, Hicklebee's, Stories, Willow Glen