The Blue Marble Bookstore in Fort Thomas, Kentucky (just across the river from Cincinnati) is one of my favorite places to visit.  It's that kind of wonderful, old bookstore that is quickly fading away in this age of everything-at-the-click-of-the-keypad.  It's been around for about 30 years, and it focuses solely on children's books.  The folks who work there are teachers, librarians, professors of children's literature at local colleges.  In short, they know a lot about the world of children's books.  Not only is the staff perfect, the location is perfect too.  Storybook perfect.  The Blue Marble is located in a quaint old two story house on a busy but quiet street.  The downstairs has an amazing collection of books, newly published to classics, for such a small space.  The backyard has been turned into The Secret Garden.  And upstairs is The Great Green Room from Goodnight Moon -- right down to the mush in a bowl by the bed and the mouse near the hearth.  There's also quite a collection of signed first editions upstairs.  It's a ritual that after a book event, dinner is served in the homey kitchen.  The staff and other friends of the bookstore bring hot dishes, and everyone gathers around and eats and talks about books.  It's pretty special, and pretty perfect.  I wish I lived closer so I could pop over all the time, but alas, it's a 2 hour drive for me.  Luckily, The Blue Marble always invites me when I have a new book to sign, so I was just there last week, signing Dream of Night.  If you live anywhere near Cinci, please take the time to check out this gem of a store!


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