Only for children: New bookstore opens in the Bronx Museum | The Riverdale Press

by Alaska St. Clair

A new bodega opened last week, but don’t expect coffee or cigarettes – they only sell children’s books.
Located in the heart of the Bronx Children’s Museum, The Book Bodega is not only one of two bookstores currently serving the Bronx, but also the first dedicated exclusively to children’s literature.

Jessica Jackson, director of student programs and education at the museum, said the idea for the bodega came about about a year ago as part of the museum’s commitment to promoting literacy in the Bronx. The partnership with the United Way of New York City was crucial because it aligns with its mission to provide books to children in New York and encourage book ownership.

At the grand opening on June 4, over 120 free books were distributed to young readers and the book “Cesaria Feels the Beat” was presented by the museum’s executive director, Denise Adusei.
Jackson noted that the response from the local community has been overwhelmingly positive and that “everyone who passes by the exhibition is still in a state of excitement.”

Visitors to the Book Bodega will appreciate the museum’s innovative approach to promoting literacy. Next to each exhibit is a stack of relevant literature for readers of all ages. Children can also take a moment to rest and recharge in a larger reading nook – curated by the Children’s Book Council – with topics ranging from pet dragons to parental divorce.

The opening of The Book Bodega comes at a crucial time. Since the Bronx’s last Barnes & Noble closed in 2016 due to rising rents, access to books in the borough has been limited. The Lit Bar in Mott Haven remains the only other permanent bookstore, and local libraries have struggled to maintain consistent accessibility.

According to a 2019 report by Literacy, Inc., the Bronx has one of the lowest literacy rates in the city, especially among its youngest residents. The Book Bodega aims to close that gap by providing an immersive space where every visual aspect, from the decor to the book selection, is designed to captivate young readers.
Reading couldn’t be more exciting at the Book Bodega: Children encounter a vibrant environment with shelves reminiscent of the aisles of a supermarket and decorated with a painting of a typical bodega cat by South Bronx artist and author CG Esperanza.

Jackson stresses the importance of introducing books and pictures to children who cannot yet read on their own at an early age to develop their reading skills. The museum displays books that address different backgrounds and family structures and hopes that children will see themselves in the stories they read.

Jackson emphasized the community-oriented nature of the Book Bodega, noting that most of the books were written by New Yorkers, some of whom came to give readings. That includes Jackson herself, whose book, “The Otter in Charge,” about conflict resolution, is on display in the store.

Parallel to the museum’s efforts, Latanya DeVaughn, a Bronx native, mother of three, and founder of Bronx Bound Books, is addressing the borough’s literacy gap. Her mobile bookstore, housed in a converted bus, appears at the Riverdale Y Farmer’s Market every Sunday and travels between schools, book fairs, and markets throughout the week.

DeVaughn also has an ongoing GoFundMe campaign to open a brick-and-mortar location. Last fall, her van was parked at a kiosk in the Bay Plaza shopping center, the former Co-op City Barnes & Noble location, where it sold out every day.

Jackson believes the success of non-traditional bookstores like The Book Bodega and Bronx Bound Books could inspire similar initiatives in other parts of the city, especially among younger audiences.

“Our dream would be to have more of these spaces open and accessible to families across the city,” she said. “So we hope this is just the beginning of that conversation.”