My forthcoming picture book, Dear Bookstore (coming March 11, 2025!) is a heartfelt tribute inspired by a song I wrote in 2017 as a love letter to Parnassus Books in Nashville, TN, owned by the legendary Ann Patchett. This special bookstore, filled with dogs, music, community, and love, ignited my creativity and led to this upcoming book, beautifully illustrated by Geneviève Godbout and published by Candlewick Press.

I'm honored to share this journey with you. Here’s the song for you to take a listen... Perhaps write a love letter to YOUR favorite indie bookstore now!

Dear Bookstore Lyrics

Song by Emily Arrow

Dear Bookstore down the street,
I think that you’re so neat.
Dear Bookstore on the corner,
your magic is real to me.

I’m pretty sure that you’re the reason I read.
I’m pretty sure that you’re the reason I’m me.
Everybody says the neighborhood-
it has been changing for years,
but Dear Bookstore, I’m glad you’re here.

Dear Bookstore with the windows
full of color as the seasons go and go,
and as I grow and grow.

I’m pretty sure that you’re the reason I write.
I’m pretty sure that every day, you change somebody’s life.
And everybody says that
reading paper books is so out of date.
But Dear Bookstore, I’m glad you’re brave.

Oh, oh, oh, oh there’s a magic,
oh, oh, oh, oh behind your doors.
Ih, oh, oh, oh in a big crazy world,
there’s one place I can count on for sure….my bookstore down the street.