Commonplace Reader Celebrates 5 Years In Yardley Saturday

YARDLEY, PA —Commonplace Reader is certainly on the map for book lovers.

The bookstore is celebrating its fifth anniversary from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 14, at its location on 49 S. Main St.

Among the festivities are:

• Ms. Courtney and Friends – Kids Activities
• Dog Man !!! – Get A Photo with Your Favorite Character in Real Life
• Pennsbury Alumni Jazz Combo
• Voter Registration on the Porch
• Pennsbury Student Jazz Combo
• Panna Gelato Truck
• Commonplace Reader Hats, Totes and Specials

"It has been a fast-moving five years," Owner Elizabeth Young said.

The bookstore has earned kudos from Philadelphia Magazine for being chosen as the “Best Bookstore in Philly Burbs.”

"We find good books for every one of our readers, book clubbers, and customers of all ages," Young said.

She said a big attraction of the bookstore is the Book Clubs and Adult Events.

The book clubs meet once a month, enjoy a wide range of books, and are committed to reading and discussing books with people they have grown to know and respect.

"We have fun at book clubs; we may not always agree but we respect other’s opinions and always learn something when we get together to discuss this month’s title," Young said.

Adult learning is a major focus which is why Commonplace partners with The Peace Center,
AAMBC, Reading Furiously (local publisher), Bucks County Community College, Princeton Theological Seminary, and others.

"The best comment heard in a book club meeting is: I never would have picked this book up and read it … but now I am glad I did!" Young said.

"Teaching and reading to kids are the two most important parts of our work at the
bookstore. We help parents, children and grandparents make good book selections so
that kids and grownups can read together. Exploring and learning from a book is the
best gift you can give your children. We are just one part of a team to help make this
happen. We have parents who read to their children; we have authors who visit, sit with
children and read to them, we have Firefighters and Police Officers with the
Cops’N’Kids Program who read, laugh, and enjoy sitting with a roomful of kids on a
Saturday afternoon<" Young said.

The bookstore also has Ms. Courtney and Friends, who bring excellent Saturday Activities to the second-floor kids’ space.

Commonplace also in December worked with Mischief On Main as an example of a local
resourced, beautifully executed child-focused programming.

Commonplace Reader also houses a toy store: Victoria Rogers runs Giselle Toys as a wonderful complement to our book merchandise. The classic wooden, excellent quality toys and ballet supplies have melded with children’s space seamlessly.