UP CLOSE: Meet the pair behind Richmond's only children's bookshop
Tucked away on Church Street, is Richmond's only dedicated children's bookshop. The Alligator's Mouth.
Well known to locals and passerbys, the independent shop has been serving the community for nearly a decade and behind the scary, yet fun shop name, is Margaret and Tony.
But not for the unfortunate closure of the Lion & Unicorn in 2013, a previous children's bookshop in Richmond, the duo would not have opened The Alligator's Mouth.
Margaret explains: "We used to work together at a children's bookshop the Lion and Unicorn, which was very well known in Richmond, but shut down in 2013.
"If we wanted there to be a children's book shop in Richmond. We needed to set one up."
In spring of 2015, the pair open The Alligator's Mouth sharing their love of children's books not only to children but to adults too.
In fact, Margaret and Tony encourage more people to get rid of the notion that picture books are just aimed at children.
"Sometimes if you want a really good story there are children's books we could recommend that would thoroughly entertain an adult," says Tony.
He continues: "Children's books have some beautiful covers and you get a lot of innovation in the design and presentation."
Like its vast book offering, The Alligator's Mouth often hosts an array of events such as book clubs, story times and author meet and greets.
This month, it features Comics Club: Villains, followed by an author visit in October from the creator behind the famous animated film, How to Train Your Dragon, and more.
Through its events and books, The Alligator's Mouth has become a hub in the community for story lovers but was suddenly interrupted by Covid-19.
Margaret says: "During Covid we really missed the customers.We're a bookshop but we're also a community space.
"One of the lovely things about the shop is that standing at the till you can watch people's faces as they come through the door, and their happiness to be here is a beautiful thing.
"They are so delighted to be in the shop, and we saw that a lot when customers were able to return after Covid."
Tony adds: "And I think for children who have been in (before), once they know their way around...they love the bookshop.
"There's a real fondness for the bookshop that I think regular customers develop."
Many studies show that reading fiction or poetry can reduce stress, improve cognitive ability but more importantly is "good for the soul", the duo admit.
For some people, it may feel like their current book is dry or what they are reading at school is boring, but the bookshop owners feel that literature does not always have to be just for educational reasons.
Margaret says: "I think there should be more emphasis on reading for pleasure and for children being read to. In schools there should be story time every day."
Sharing a similar sentiment, Tony adds: "You need to check the children are understanding and reading more complex things, I appreciate that. But if at the end of that process they come out and they hate reading, what have we done to them?."
"If you'd like your child to begin reading that's what we do," says Margaret. "A lot of the time we get customers coming in and saying, 'my kid wasn't reading but the books you recommended really worked.'"
Whether it is popping in to browse the beautiful display of books, buying your next read, or bringing your child to one of its many events, The Alligator's Mouth's on Church Street is welcome to everyone. To find out more about the independent bookshop, click here.
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