Books of Wonder
M-Sa 10am-7pm; Su 11am-6pm
Peter Glassman and I have known each other for over twenty-five years. He was one of the first to welcome me into the wonderful world of children’s bookstore owners when we met shortly after I had opened my shop, Once Upon A Time, in 1985. By then, he had been providing children with the magic of story books for five years. Today, he stands virtually alone in Manhattan and can certainly claim to be the oldest and largest independent children’s bookstore in New York. I closed my store in 1995 and I have constantly marveled at how determined he has been to keep afloat throughout the years of Borders and Barnes & Noble. I was in awe as he switched locations, opened up additional shops both in the city and in LA. I then shared in his disappointment when they could not withstand the changes in the economy. I was the first to order, for my store, his beautifully illustrated line of classics that had his imprint. I made my own personal purchases from his rare book collection, and now I continue to applaud him for his passion and strong desire to keep books alive for children. He has never veered off the path that he began. His shelves are stocked primarily with hardcovers, always emphasizing the classics – especially his beloved corner filled with everything related to the Wonderful World of Oz. Peter and his staff continue to offer weekly story times, family-oriented events, author signings, and classes for children and their parents.
