Youth bookstore growing readers and storytellers

Join our Summer Reading Challenge

win prizes for reading all summer long

Summer Classes

Join us for eight weeks of story-inspired classes, workshops, clubs, and creative experiences for babies, toddlers, kids, tweens, and teens.

Every session is designed as a complete stand-alone adventure, making it easy to drop in for a single class or join us all summer long.

Read. Create. Explore. Imagine.

Find a class

Upcoming Events

Multiple Dates

Monday Morning Storytime

Mon, Jun 22

Midsummer Books

A gentle start to the week for our littlest readers and listeners - a time to play and explore with other caregivers and their littles

RSVP

Story Lab - Imagination Theme

Tue, Jul 07

Midsummer Books

Stories can transform ordinary objects into extraordinary adventures. Featured Book: Not a Box — Antoinette Portis

Buy Tickets

Multiple Dates

Story Seekers - Imagination & Belonging

Tue, Jul 07

Midsummer Books

Unexpected friendships lead to unforgettable adventures.

Buy Tickets

Beyond Books

Midsummer Books has the gifts your kids will love to give and receive, available for in-store pickup

Shop our curated lists on bookshop.org to find great new books for kids and teens

The Latest from Midsummer Books

Our Summer Reading challenge is on and
adventure is waiting. The Midsummer Summer Reading Passport is here!

Designed for kids, tweens, and teens, our passports are packed with reading challenges, creative prompts, book-inspired adventures, and opportunities to explore the world through stories.

Choose a Young Readers Passport (those needing reading support or in chapter books) or our Tween & Teen Passport (for independent readers) and complete activities throughout the summer.

This passport is a go-at-your-own-pace adventure.
No weekly check-ins.
No stamps required.
Just a summer full of stories.

We have themes and choose-your-own activities throughout the passport so every reader can have fun with this one. Check off the tasks and quests completed for prizes at the end of the summer!

Prize Levels
10 Challenges Completed = Story Starter
20 Challenges Completed = Adventure Reader
30 Challenges Completed = Master Explorer
40+ Challenges Completed = Summer Story Legend
Available now at Midsummer Books inside @ourmutual_friend

#SummerReadingChallenge #getkidsreading #PhiladelphiaKids #FishtownPhilly #IndependentBookstore

Today is the last day of our spring into bingo! Bring in your cards to collect your prizes!! This activity brought me so much joy, seeing so many kids of different ages happily showing off their reading progress and telling me about their favorite activities 😍
A special thank you to our local partners for making this a huge success @freehand.supply @mr.wish_fishtown @mothershiptoygallery @ramonasusansbakeshop and @kismetbagels!!
We have a fun reading challenge plan for the summer so stay tuned for the details!
#readingchallenge

Tell me you’re obsessed with Studio Ghibli finally streaming on HBO without telling me you’re obsessed…

New analog fun in the shop!

Many customers come to us looking for screen-free activities, creative gifts, and boredom busters. These items make excellent birthday gifts, rainy day activities, travel companions, and "just because" surprises.

These new Loop Brigade kits join our collection of analog crafting fun - the kids use colorful loops to create surprisingly satisfying designs and patterns. Great for crafty kids, tweens, and adults who enjoy hands-on projects. Designed for ages 12+ but could skew younger for the right maker.

This June we're taking some time to wrap up the school year and embrace the summer. But that's just a little reprieve before we start the most epic programming schedule of our lives…

Beginning in July, we're launching eight weeks of stories, creativity, adventures, and community for babies, kids, tweens, teens, and even grown-ups.

Whether your child wants to discover dragons and cryptids, explore underwater worlds, solve mysteries and create maps, make art inspired by books, or create journals, and literary-inspired projects ...we've got something for them.

With themed weeks, and classes for every age group, we are so excited to embrace the joy of reading and storytelling this summer.

This isn't summer camp, but instead a chance to dip into some creative programming, designed as drop-in experiences so you and your kids can easily join us for a single adventure when it works for your schedule, or spend the whole summer exploring.

Registration opens Monday, and we'll be sharing the full schedule, themes, and details throughout the week. In the meantime, you can learn more on our website: https://www.midsummerbooks.com/summer-programming

Summer at Midsummer is going to be our biggest season yet—and we can't wait to create, read, imagine, and explore with you.

Stay tuned!
#PhiladelphiaKids #FishtownPhilly #SummerReading #dropinclasses #PhiladelphiaFamilies

Somehow it’s June already which means Father’s Day will be here for you know it, if your pop loves trivia, books, and a good joke, stop by and we’ll help you find something thoughtful, unexpected, and memorable.

And because it wouldn’t be Father’s Day without a dad joke:

Why don’t books ever get cold?
Because they always have a good jacket.

Summer reading is ahead of us if your kid likes to get lost in a series I have seven great actions for you reader this summer- whether they fantasy adventure or big feels, there’s a series for them!

This Friday we are so excited to host EM and David Elliott, father/son co-authors of Bonebag. I have so many questions about the writing process for these two… and this event is definitely one of both for the kids and the adults because this book is so incredibly unique and curious and fun and a little creepy but mostly it has so much heart. I hope you can join us at 5 PM on Friday!

UPCOMING AUTHOR EVENTS AT MIDSUMMER BOOKS In JUNE…

First up, this Friday, June 5 - E.M. and David Elliott - co-authors of Bonebag, will join us in the shop at 5PM for a book reading and signing. Their book, Bonebag, is a spooky, strange, funny middle grade adventure that is perfect for kids who love eerie forests, weird creatures, dark humor, and stories that feel like a campfire tale told by someone who may or may not be cursed.

Next week on June 11, Brittney Morris — author of SLAY, The Cost of Knowing, The Jump, and This Book Might Be About Zinnia, will join us at 5PM. Brittney is one of the most exciting voices in YA today, writing smart, emotional, deeply relatable stories about identity, fandom, grief, gaming culture, friendship, and finding yourself in a complicated world.

So yes you are reading this right - we have: ~ one event for the kids who veer to the goosebumps section of our shop, and  ~ one event for the teens who love video games, annotate books, and have emotionally devastating playlists

…and here’s a secret - both are for also adults too, because children’s and YA literature is 100% accessible and enjoyable for adults too (hey it’s my personal favorite and not just because I work here!)
So for both you can expect - author talks + Q&As
- book signings - opportunities for kids, teens, and adults to meet real working authors - inspiration to start writing their own stories (and then me, trying to act normal and professional instead of yelling “I LOVE YOUR BOOKS” repeatedly)

As always, these events are about helping young readers discover stories that make them feel seen, excited, curious, brave, weird, and creative.
We will see you there! At Midsummer Books in Our Mutual Friend Community Room. 
RSVP is encouraged because our bookstore is cozy in the “indie movie montage” sense, not the “stadium seating” sense. You can do this in our link in bio. #authorvisit #fishtownphilly #phillykids
@daelliott1234 @brittneymmorris

Do you want to teach a class or workshop or lead a group in a craft?

This summer, we are looking for workshop leaders and creatives who want to help keep kids reading, exploring, creating, and connecting offline. Whether you want to do a one time workshop or would like to teach a series, we want to hear from you.

Fill out our form (link in bio or https://bit.ly/summer-activity-form) and let us know who you are, what age group you'd like to work with and what you'd like to teach.

If you filled this form out already, please do so again - we had an error that is now fixed.

#kidsclasses #summerlearning #fishtownphilly

Only 2ish weeks of school left…Have a teacher to thank? We’ve got you! From candles and cards to cute stickers and pen sets. And of course you can never go wrong with a good book.

Did you know we also carry Spanish language books? Our collection is small, but we are working to grow it so that more readers have access to great books.

We are so excited to welcome bestselling author Brittney Morris to the shop on June 11.

Come hang out with one of the most exciting voices in YA right now for a conversation about storytelling, fandom, identity, gaming, writing complicated characters, and all the chaos that comes with growing up online and offline at the same time.

More details + RSVP in our link in bio
#PhiladelphiaEvents #PhillyBookstagram #YABooks #IndieBookstore #BookEvent #Fishtown

We are open special hours the election day, 10-5. We have drop in crafts at 11 and 3, storytime at 10 and all day drop in and send a postcard to your Rep to ask them to stop the federal book ban! More details at our link in bio.

We’re looking for educators, artists, writers, performers, makers, storytellers, and generally creative humans who would love to lead workshops, clubs, camps, or drop-in activities at Midsummer Books / Our Mutual Friend this summer.

We’re especially interested in programming that helps kids and teens build literacy skills in fun, creative, low-pressure ways — the kinds of activities that make reading, writing, storytelling, communication, and imagination feel exciting.

Some examples:
- creative writing
- comics & graphic storytelling
- D&D/worldbuilding
- journaling
- zines
- mythology & folklore
- nature journaling

We are open to one-time workshops, recurring clubs, camps, or experimental weird little ideas.

Please note: because this programming involves working with children, facilitators will need current Pennsylvania child clearances before leading programming.

If you have an idea, we’d love to hear it. Visit our Link in Bio to fill out our form or send an email to Lindsay@midsummerbooks.com

A year ago I did my first pop-up with the kind of confidence reserved for people who say things like “how hard could it be to open a bookstore?”

Then suddenly I blinked and there were book clubs and story times and events and workshops and shelves and inventory.

It’s honestly a little surreal to look back at that first setup and realize how much has happened in a year.

And also — I still have SO much I want to build. More programs. More community events. More weird creative ideas. More ways to make this space feel magical for kids, teens, and the grown-ups who still secretly want to sit on the floor and read fantasy novels for three hours.

But this year has taught me something really important: tiny beginnings count.

So thank you. Truly. Thank you for buying books from an indie shop when it’s easier to click a giant website. Thank you for bringing your kids. Thank you for coming to events. Thank you for sharing posts. Thank you for telling your friends. Thank you for trusting this little dream of mine.

I’m still very much figuring things out as I go. But apparently that’s how bookstores are built: one pop-up, one recommendation, one community moment at a time

Okay, I need everyone to understand that I am not a sports person. I do not know what an offside is.

BUT.

I just got this incredible FIFA World Cup pop-up book and honestly? It is SO COOL. The engineering! The tiny stadiums unfolding dramatically like they’re accepting an Oscar! The little details! It somehow activated the exact same part of my brain that loves elaborate children’s books, dollhouses, and unnecessarily ambitious paper crafts.

There’s something so exciting about seeing Philly connected to this huge global event. Millions of people. Fans from everywhere. Probably someone crying dramatically in face paint…

Anyway, for those who love soccer, this is quite a keep sake, and even for those who don’t and just admire some good engineering via paper, it is incredibly impressive. #fifa2026 #phillysports #popupbook

We’ve got about one month left of school, if you need extra encouragement to keep your reader on track, and avoid summeritis (a very real common, non-medical term describing a severe lack of motivation, productivity, and focus, usually appearing at the end of the school year) make sure you grab your bingo card in the shop. Your kids can earn real prizes for continuing to read even when all they can think about is their future cannonballs at the swimmo.

We had such a fun time, exploring wings of fire in our Book club today, it is so inspiring how immersive this reading experiences is for a range of ages. Whenever we do events like this I like to give the kids a chance to do some writing as well, this included making up our own animous spells, creating unique tribes and playing a little “what if”

Can you believe we are nearly halfway through May? We still have so much planned for the month including a fundraiser for @fishtown_playschool this weekend, day off events for those pesky extra days off on the school calendar, and drop-in classes.

Also, a confession on best laid plans. I really am so excited to dig into more book clubs, but I recognize that May is just a crazy time for parents. So after today's Darkstalker event, we will pause youth book clubs until after the summer. BUT we will have so many fun drop-in classes centered on reading and writing as we make space for another chaotic summer of parenting. More details to come for June-August plans.

#raisereaders #phillyevents #eventsforkids

Do your kids like spooky stories? Weird little creatures? Mild emotional damage? Excellent. We have an event for you.

Join us at Midsummer Books on Friday, June 5 at 5PM for an evening with Bonebag authors David and E. M. Elliott. We will have all the usual: reading, Q&A, signing, plus a collaborative “story chain” activity where we all slowly descend into collective literary chaos together.

Visit our link in bio to learn more!
#booksigning #authorevent #kidlit

New time alert!

Join us at 10AM on Fridays for our a fun movement and story call with @phillystorystudio

This class is such a fun way to grow early literacy, each class includes a related craft and music.

#earlyliteracy #storiesandsongs #fishtownkids #phillykids

If there’s one thing you can say about May as a parent in Philly, it’s this: absolutely nobody knows what day it is anymore.
Days off, field trips, midday performances, spirit weeks… it’s chaos out there. So we figured we’d help fill a few of the gaps.

This Election Day — Tuesday, May 19 — Our Mutual Friend will be open all day with special drop-in activities for kids, tweens, teens, and grownups who just need somewhere cozy to exist for a few hours.

Most importantly, all day long we’ll be hosting a drop-in postcard writing station in opposition to H.R. 7661, the federal book banning bill headed to the House floor.
We’re proud to join the @authorsagainstbookbans effort to support the freedom to read and stand against legislation that targets diverse stories, educators, librarians, and young readers.

Schedule of Events
10AM — Drop-In Story Time (ages 0-7) 11AM — Bookish Craft Hour: Zentangle Art (best for ages 10+) drop in $10 1PM — Board Game Free Play (FREE) 3PM — Fantasy Map Making Workshop (best for ages 8+) drop in $10

Come for one activity or stay all day. Bring a friend, grab a snack, write a postcard, play a game, make something creative, and spend the day surrounded by books and community.

Space for crafts is limited, so we definitely recommend registering ahead of time through the link in bio.

#phillykids #booksbooksbooks #bookishevent

Huge shout out to @thatkristenagain for making our shop an extra special place to hang yesterday! Plus, she left behind a few goodies and signed copies!!

Oh hello, welcome! Apparently there are over 400 of you here now, which means I am legally obliged to share an "about me" post.

So hi! I'm Lindsay and I own (and obsess over) Midsummer Books - a youth bookshop inside @ourmutual_friend in Fishtown. I spend most of my time in the shop:
- aggressively recommending middle grade and YA fantasy
- laughing at the hilarious stickers I find on Faire
- carrying around boxes and stacks of books that are objectively too tall
- saying "I have an idea" and then immediately attempting to execute said idea in the most borderline insane way possible.

The shop is a special part of my life story, and I am so excited about this chapter. I opened Midsummer Books because I wanted to create the kind of bookstore I wish I had growing up. One that takes young readers seriously, celebrates imagination, welcomes teens, and feels genuinely centered on the youth experience.

And honestly, now that I am doing it, I love it more than I can explain. Even on the days when I am working with my partners @gusandrubyresale and @fingerprint.bookshop to build ikea furniture and rearrange the shop, yet again...(currently doing that now actually), or staying up way too late reading book reviews and obsessively trying to find a story for everyone, this space and this community we are building has become my true happy place.

So thank you for being here. Truly. Every follow, RSVP, repost, conversation, book purchase, and "my kid loved that recommendation" message means the world to me. Thanks to my shop partners for going on this crazy adventure with me, and special thanks to @ssmphotog at @icimageworks for taking these gorgeous pics of the shop!

And because I deeply want to know this about everyone I meet now...what book turned you into a reader?

This week at Midsummer Books:
Friday at 11:30AM: @phillystorystudio class- an early literacy class for kids and caregivers! �All weekend long: Shop the whole store and help us raise funds for Adaire while we restock the library classrooms and your own personal bookshelves! �Saturday at 11AM: Meet author Kristen Mei Chase and enjoy free pastries as we discussed social and emotional learning through storytelling with her Gracie Wei series- this is a special time for moms and kiddos to bond over books�Saturday at 1PM: Make a pressed flower bookmark for mom
All events are in our community room. Come hang out, make something sweet, support a local school, and stock up on books while you’re here. Is it our Lincoln bio all the event details!
@thatkristenagain @ourmutual_friend @tiny.jawn #fishtownphilly #phillyliteracy #kidsread #phillywithkids

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Follow us on Instagram

@midsummer_books

Youth bookstore growing readers and storytellers

Join our Summer Reading Challenge

Summer Classes

Upcoming Events

Beyond Books

Shop our curated lists on bookshop.org to find great new books for kids and teens

Introducing the Midsummer Summer Reading Passport

What Does “Young Adult” Really Mean? A Guide from Midsummer Books

Best Books About Friendship for Tweens (Ages 9–13)

The Latest from Midsummer Books

Follow us on Instagram

Hours

Midsummer Books
is part of
Our Mutual Friend

Contact

Youth bookstore growing readers and storytellers

Join our Summer Reading Challenge

Summer Classes

Upcoming Events

Beyond Books

Shop our curated lists on bookshop.org to find great new books for kids and teens

Introducing the Midsummer Summer Reading Passport

What Does “Young Adult” Really Mean? A Guide from Midsummer Books

Best Books About Friendship for Tweens (Ages 9–13)

The Latest from Midsummer Books

​

Follow us on Instagram

Hours

Midsummer Books is part of Our Mutual Friend

Contact

Midsummer Books
is part of
Our Mutual Friend