The Bookshop on Lemon Tree Lane by Mike Lucas. Illus. by Sofya Karmazina

The Bookshop on Lemon Tree Lane is the second picture book written by award-winning South Australian children’s author Mike Lucas and illustrated by the very talented Sofya Karmazina. This delightful story will evoke warm and exciting memories of visits to bookshops, as well as special times spent with a grandparent. With skilful rhyming text accompanied by striking full colour highly detailed illustrations, this will be a book to share over and over again.

From the clever endpapers displaying the bookshop floor before and after, the double title page spread showing the young child and grandpa on the train, and with Holly the bookshop dog making cameo appearances, this captivating story will engage readers of all ages.

The old shop has crannies.

The old shop has nooks,

and places to hide in while looking at books.

There’s a rickety staircase

and lamps on the walls,

and a bell that goes DING!

when a customer calls.

The Bookshop on Lemon Tree Lane also shares an important message about change. Sometimes change can cause anxiety and disappointment, especially for young children, and when the bookshop closes for renovations, the young child is unhappy and worried.

The trips aren’t the same now

for Grandpa and me.

That old shop is gone…there is nothing to see,

and Lemon Tree Lane feels so empty and grey.

They have taken our fun and adventure away.

And will the new bookshop be as special as the old one and worth the long wait? Only time will tell.

In the final pages, author Mike Lucas, who bears an uncanny resemblance to Grandpa, shares an important author’s note about reflecting on the journey he personally has experienced with his own bookshop. He has enthusiastically embraced the changes each time and treasures the memories from the past.

Themes: Books, Bookshops, Grandparents, Change, Renovations, Memories.

Kathryn Beilby