An enchanted morning at the Wild Rumpus Bookstore

Posing with Abbie's first grade class after having the fun opportunity to be a "guest reader". Abbie is in front of me in the pink poncho.

One of my favorite stories as a child (as told on an old record album) and a favorite book of my kids, Tikki Tikki Tembo. Erin had arranged with Abbie's first grade teacher to let me go in and be a "guest reader" with her first grade class. I read this book to them (which I had just purchased a couple of hours before at the Wild Rumpus bookstore) and loved every minute of it. I loved reading books with my kids and now I love reading books with my grandkids. Reading to Abbie's class, well . . . I was just in heaven!

Now, about the bookstore:

Recipe for enchantment . . . take lots of great children's books, mix with cats, a chicken, chinchillas, mourning doves and parrots and add in lots of comfy old armchairs. I love the Wild Rumpus bookstore! Mike and Erin have taken me there a couple of times before when I've visited and I've never tired of it. This is the place of my childhood dreams. Lots of books, cozy nooks and crannies everywhere and clouds painted on the ceilings. There's a little child sized purple door within the regular entrance door and the mirror over the bathroom ceiling is a fish tank. Had to get a thing or two there, of course (I mean the store, not the fish tank). Itsy Bitsy Spider, Curious George counting book, and does anyone remember the book "Tikki Tikki Tembo"? Erin, cozied up with the boys and reading a dinosaur book, Landon's current fascination.

These mourning doves were cooing away while we were in the store. Comfy old chair to curl up in and read a book or two.
Landon loves books about dinosaurs or dragons.

Now, don't you just want to go into this place and browse ?
The chicken and the cat in this picture had a stand-0ff going but had kind of lost interest by the time I got my camera out to get this photo.

A closer look at the chicken (rooster?). He (she?) pretty much hung around the clerks so as not to be plucked by an enthusiastic young shopper,