Susie Brazil doesn’t seem to have much time to sit back and bask in her company’s success. Changing Hands Bookstore in Tempe, which she co-owns with Gayle Shanks and Bob Sommer, is celebrating its 33rd year in business and recently landed Publishers Weekly’s 2007 Bookstore/Bookseller of the Year.
But Brazil is occupied with more mundane matters on a recent Wednesday afternoon.
“I’m more worried about getting the carpet on the floor,” said Brazil, sitting at a table near the back of the store overseeing the installation of the signs and floors that will freshen Changing Hands’ look.
Brazil and the staff will open their doors Saturday for a customer appreciation day with live music, food and activities including children’s face painting, balloon art, cookie decorating and story time with Curious George.
“Our goal is to promote reading and literacy any way we can,” said store public relations manager Yvette Roeder, especially among the store’s littlest customers. Every Thursday morning, Changing Hands hosts a story session for preschoolers. The store has also upped the number of children’s author appearances, most recently hosting Marc Brown, the creator of the Arthur the Aardvark series.
Brazil said the philosophy at Changing Hands has been a simple one: “We want to
make the customers happy and create a great environment for them.”
If you go
Changing Hands Bookstore is open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at 6428 S. McClintock Drive, Tempe; anniversary events begin at 9:30 a.m. and end at 8:30 p.m. Kid-friendly events include:
• 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., children’s face painting
• 11 a.m. to noon, costume storytelling featuring Curious George
• Noon to 1:30 p.m., balloon art by artist Tim Schafer
• Noon to 3:00 p.m., cookie decorating
• 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., henna art by Sangeeta Barwey
Book picks
If you’re planning to be at the party and do a little shopping, Changing Hands children’s buyer Faith Hochhalter lists the following as her top picks:
PICTURE BOOKS (PRESCHOOLERS)
“Not a Box” by Antoinette Portis
“A Good Day” by Kevin Henkes
“Thank You Bear” by Greg Foley
t CHILDREN (AGES 5-7)
“Magic Tree House” series by Mary Pope Osborne
“Weird Planet” series by Dan Greenburg
“Geronimo Stilton” series by Geronimo Stilton
MIDDLE READERS (AGES 8-12)
“Software Virus on Orbis One” by P.J. Haarsma
“Rise of the Black Wolf” by J.S. Lewis and Derek Benz
“Barnstormers” by Phil Bildner
TEENS
“New Moon” and “Eclipse” by Stephenie Meyer
“The Looking Glass Wars” by Frank Beddor
