Kids Republic Bookstore – Beijing

I am floored by Kid’s Republic, the magical bookstore in Beijing with its explosion of color and design. What a great place for kids and parents to be in the middle of what is the most precious part of childhood – reading. It’s the first specialized picture bookstore in China, as the emphasis on children’s picture books that we take for granted in Europe and the US is quite new over there. The modern shelves hold picture books from all over the world and there’s an activity room that hosts storytelling events and anime screenings.

A ribbon of rainbow colors starts at the bottom of the stairs and winds its way up to the floor above, metamorphosing into various objects along the way. Functioning in places as bookshelf, table and gates, it twists and twirls to form counters and even ceiling parts, traveling 300 feet before finally turning into a backdrop for the handrail that leads back down the stairwell to where it all began. Kind of Escher like! And I just adore the round little cubbyholes for curling up in and the whole playground effect actually. So appealing for the little ones. If you are in Beijing and have been here, let us know how amazing it is!