Youth bookstore growing readers and storytellers

Upcoming Events

Join our Summer Reading Challenge

win prizes for reading all summer long

Get your passport

Pre-Order Anticipated 2026 Titles

Upcoming Events

Philly Book Crawl

Sat, Aug 22

Midsummer Books

We are SO excited to join the Philly Book Crawl this year as our first year in the book business that we've decided to celebrate properly. Join us at Our Mutual Friend for a full day of books, authors, giveaways, raffles, disc

RSVP

Multiple Dates

Monday Morning Playgroup

Mon, Aug 24

Midsummer Books

Join us in our cozy community room every Monday for a relaxed hang with other parents and caregivers.

RSVP

Midsummer Nights: Meditative Drawing

Tue, Aug 25

Midsummer Books

A relaxing, mindful art workshop where participants draw structured patterns to focus the mind, reduce stress, and create beautiful, abstract keepsakes without needing prior drawing experience.

Buy Tickets

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

The Latest from Midsummer Books

Ok it is official Fishtown is for book lovers!! I mean can we talk about how awesome it is that we have this much representation on the @phillybookcrawl map! I’ll need to find a way to sneak out for an hour on Saturday so I can visit our neighbors on this awesome day: @american_grammar @theheadandthehand @runehammer.store @harrietts_bookshop

Delighted to personally deliver and fulfill the library and classroom wish lists for a local school today just in time for the 26-27 school year to start!! Partnering with schools to get more books the kids want to read into classrooms is something I am super passionate about. Looking forward to working with more Philly schools and Philly students this year!

Whether you’re an author, artist, educator, crafter, scientist, musician, historian, gardener, game designer, or simply someone with something wonderful to share, we’d love to hear your ideas.

We’re especially interested in:
• Creative writing and storytelling
• Art, illustration, and comics
• Crafts and maker workshops
• Book discussions and literary events
• Dungeons & Dragons, RPGs, and board games
• Journaling and paper crafts
• Fiber arts, embroidery, crochet, and sewing
• Local history and folklore
• Language and cultural experiences
• Music and performance
• Seasonal and holiday programming
• Workshops inspired by books and reading

Have another idea? Pitch it! We love unique programming. Just message us here or send an email to Lindsay@midsummerbooks.com and we can discuss from there!

Just got back with a massive haul of gently used titles ready to hit the shelves in time for the Philly Book Crawl on Aug 22– in addition to the great author, Evans and sale activities we have planned we want to have our shelves fully stocked with great reads.
We try to keep the shop an equal blend of new and used so everyone can find the titles they want while keeping great used books in circulation and making sure youth have access to affordably priced books!
#phillybookstore #usedbookstore #fishtownphilly #childrensbooks

Fresh drop off of gently used books and they are all manga! We have a lot of kids who come in looking for these so I am so excited to add them to our collection.

Just walking around my little bookstore and feeling so lucky that I get to call this place mine and that I get to partner alongside @fingerprint.bookshop and @gusandrubyresale to create a collective shop in @ourmutual_friend - how cool is it that we are each having this chance to follow our passions and support each other in the process.
#fishtownphilly #bookshop #literacyforall #readersgonnaread

Hey Philly teachers (and those who love them), this one is for you!

To every teacher building a classroom library on a teacher’s budget: we made this for you. Tell us your grade level and what you can spend and we’ll fill a box with books your kids will actually read. Hardcovers, paperbacks, a few surprises, all picked by hand by a local bookseller, not an algorithm.

Pre-K through senior year. Starting at $25.

Tag a teacher who needs this! Or visit midsummerbooks.com/teachers to get started

Not a teacher but want to sponsor one? We can curate a box for them as well just fill out the form with all the information including the teacher contact and we will work with them to fulfill the order!
@philly_schools help us spread the word!

#BackToSchool #TeacherAppreciation #phillyschools
#phillyteachers #literacy

Want to make sure you get that signed copy from one (or all) of the authors stopping by the shop for the @phillybookcrawl?

Behold! A landing page with all the details of the event, plus the option to reserve your copy of all our authors' titles and automatically get entered into our raffle for the day. And if you can't make all three author visits but desperately want a signed copy, we can take care of that for you.

Visit MidsummerBooks.com/events/philly-book-crawl for all the details

Love a good, niche board book? We’ve got you covered! From the Odyssey to Gamers first 100 words and all the joyful chaos in between. Now available in the shop.

A good pencil case says, “This is where great ideas live.”
Okay...and also 17 pencils, three mystery eraser caps, two paperclips, a tiny dinosaur, and somehow a rock.
Our new back-to-school pencil cases are here! They’re roomy, durable, and genuinely adorable. Stop by to find one before the school year sneaks up on us.
 We are so excited about the new pencil cases we have in the shop, and they’re anything but boring.
- Plenty of room for pencils, markers, scissors, erasers, sticky notes, and all the little treasures that somehow end up in every backpack.
- Durable enough for everyday school life. (Also washable!)
- A few even have satisfying sensory textures for kids (and adults) who can’t resist fidgeting.
 Bonus points if you leave with a new book to go inside that backpack too.

Help us fill the shelves! We’re buying books.
If you’ve got children’s books gathering taking up space, we’d love to take a look.

We’re especially looking for:

Classic Picture Books
The books everyone asks for over and over again. The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Owl Moon, Corduroy, Madeline, Blueberries for Sal, and other timeless favorites.

Early Chapter Books
We’re currently running low on:
• Princess in Black
• Zoey and Sassafras
• Owly
• Ivy + Bean
• Unicorn Academy
Press start
• Notebook of Doom

Popular Graphic Novels
The shelves never stay full for long. We’re especially looking for:
• Dog Man & Cat Kid Comic Club
• Baby-Sitters Club Graphix
• Wings of Fire & Warrior Cats Graphic Novels
• Amulet
• InvestiGators
• Hooky and other great witchy stories
• Smile, Sisters, Guts
• The Tryout
• The Cartoonists Club

Tween & Teen Favorites
Fall book shopping starts now, and we’re on the hunt for great used books to fill our shelves before the leaves (and ghosts) arrive.

Plus, we always want more of the books older kids are actually reading:
• YA horror
• YA romance
• Fantasy
• Manga
• Thrillers
• Contemporary coming-of-age stories

Bring your books into the shop during business hours, and we’ll sort through them together. We offer store credit or cash for books we’re able to use.

Every great used book on our shelves started in someone else’s home. Thanks for helping us keep good stories in circulation.

So excited to have these free @gooddaygoodneighbor zines in the shop! The zine is a guide to getting out and making a difference in your neighborhood- something we absolutely love. Stop by and grab a copy while they last!!
#beagoodneighbor #zine #community

Exciting news! We’re inviting young artists (ages 4–18) to create the next official Midsummer Books bookmark.

We love tucking a new bookmark in with every purchase, but what better way to say we are part of a community of readers than with a bookmark designed by you(r kids)!

From now until August 16 you can download our template or pick it up in store and the winning designs from each age group will be professionally printed and shared with our readers throughout the year.

Our theme is Whimsy. What that means to you (your artist) is totally open ended so long as it is original artwork! Artists can use any medium, including digital. Drop off your submissions

We will be taking submissions through August 16 and sharing them as they come in. We can’t wait to see all the creative interpretations of whimsy!!

(Oh, and there are prizes). #indiebookshop #kidsbooks #fishtownphilly #whimsy

Excited to be part of this incredible lineup of amazing bookstores/ indie book sellers for this after hours book fair. Good times will be had by all!! Hope you can make it there is a link to tickets in our bio

Looking for baby shower or new baby gifts? Our answer is always books. I always love to pick a great book for the baby library as well as something that parents will enjoy reading aloud especially in the first year, because reading to babies from the beginning is an incredible tool for building vocabulary, it should also be enjoyable for the parent. So I love to tuck in a classic or a beautifully written, middle grade or YA novel that the parent can read to the child today and then the child can be on their own as they grow. Even though the babies won’t understand every word they’re sucking up the rhythm of language from day one. Besides when you give gifts that aren’t just for the first year you’re helping build a library that says I can’t wait to watch you grow!
#babyshowergift #readaloud #bookseller #indiebooksellers #fishtownphilly

There are some series that I forgot about and am so excited to rediscover!
Oppels series gives us an unusual but compelling cast - bats. These vulnerable creatures cross continents, navigate stars, face predators, and discover ancient mysteries.

Silverwing introduces Shade, a young bat separated from his colony who embarks on an unforgettable journey home.

Sunwing expands the world even further, taking readers into strange new places filled with danger, mythology, and wonder.

These books are perfect for readers who love:
Animal adventures with real stakes and worlds inspired by nature

And of course it is now also available as a graphic novel!

I've read so many great stories this year but here are a few of the recent releases that really stand out for me
- for more details about each title and a few others that didn't make the recording, check out my latest post up at Midsummerbooks.com and while you're there explore our upcoming events.

From dragon alphabets and cryptid field guides to fantasy writing workshops and creature-filled storytimes, we’re spending the week exploring some of our favorite mythical worlds. Story Lab: Dragons & Cryptids (Ages 0–5)
Meet tiny heroes, brave dragons, and discover what courage really looks like.
Story Seekers (Ages 5–8)
Design your own magical companion and explore legendary creatures.
Hand Lettering: Dragon Alphabets & Fantasy Initials (ages 9+)
Learn decorative lettering inspired by medieval manuscripts, castles, and ancient legends.
Plus fantasy writing, comic storytelling, junk journaling, teen makers, and much more throughout the week. Visit our link in bio to learn more or visit MidsummerBooks.com/summer-programming

Judge this book by its wrapping!
One of my favorite things to watch in the shop is when someone takes a chance on a book they never would have picked up otherwise. With our Surprise Stories, you’re putting your trust in us to pick an excellent book and we take that trust seriously. To help you make your pick, each book is wrapped with just a few clues: ✨ A one-line hook ✨ Themes you’ll love ✨ A few tiny doodles as clues ✨ Absolutely no title or cover

Some of my favorite books are hiding in these packages—including magical adventures, unforgettable coming-of-age stories, graphic novels, cozy fantasies, and page-turners I recommend all the time.

Plus a few fun extras: stickers, pens, key chains and fun little note pads.

The only question is...Which surprise will you choose?
 Surprise stories are wrapped with middle grade and YA gems, but many of them can be loved and enjoyed by adults as well.

Some of my favorite discoveries for the shop happen when I’m in and I’m so excited that two of the graphic novel series I fell in love with in the UK are finally on our shelves!

Rune by Carlos Sánchez is packed with fantasy, adventure, gorgeous artwork, and a world full of magic and mystery. If you love stories with quests, found family, and unforgettable creatures, this one’s for you. This is such a beautiful series and perfect for fans of Lightfall and Amulet.  Meesh the Bad Demon by Michelle Lam. This is such a funny, heartfelt, and charming series. It follows Meesh, a demon who would much rather help people than scare them, making it the perfect pick for readers who love humor, heart, and a little bit of magical chaos.

Back with part two of excellent books to add to your TBR this summer whether it’s for you or for your teen reader.

If you’re looking for a new read, we’ve got recommendations! So many in fact that I’m making this a two part video so check out the recommendations in this one and then tomorrow I’ll upload the second half of the list of great reads from our YA section

I’d recommend these for ages nine and up. Every read through can be unique because your choices actually make a real difference!

One thing I’ve been thinking a lot about lately is making room for analog joy. Limiting Screen Time is really important in our family but then what are the kids going to do if it’s not a screen?

Books already ask us to slow down, imagine, and pay attention. I want the shop to do the same.

That’s why I couldn’t resist bringing these book nook kits back after seeing them everywhere in Europe. They’re tiny worlds you build with your own hands—part craft project, part miniature library, part reminder that not everything has to happen on a screen.

As Midsummer grows, I hope you’ll see more things like this alongside the books: thoughtful projects, creative kits, and hands-on ways to spend an afternoon making something beautiful.

Because stories don’t always end when you close the book. Sometimes they become something you build.

So excited for our first class this morning all the supplies are loaded and we are ready to unlock some creativity on this dreary day. There’s still a few drop-in spots so swing on by with you’re two to 5-year-old for some hands on fun!!

I’m banking going on authenticity. I’ll be seeing a lot more of my strange little videos because behind this bookshop is a human who cares very deeply about the stories that we curate. This box was very exciting. I always love getting in a good new selection of graphic novels and it’s always fun to see which stories I’ve ordered end up in the same box together. Hope you find some inspiration for reading here!

We are doing something this summer for every kind of kid….the ones who live inside books and the ones still looking for their book. The ones who love arts and crafts and the ones who love to write. The dreamers and the realists.

Mid-Summer of Stories runs July 6–August 28 at Midsummer Books.

Classes are for ages 2 through teen. All available as drop-in but registration is limited. Check our link in bio for details.

#midsummerbooks #fishtownphilly #kidsclasses #phillykids

.pro-gallery-wix-wrapper {display: block !important;} .pro-gallery-wix-wrapper .gallery-item-container {opacity: 1 !important; display: block !important;}

Follow us on Instagram

@midsummer_books

Youth bookstore growing readers and storytellers

Join our Summer Reading Challenge

Pre-Order Anticipated 2026 Titles

Upcoming Events

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

Best Books of 2026 so far: Picture Books

Introducing the Midsummer Summer Reading Passport

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

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

Pre-Order Anticipated 2026 Titles

Upcoming Events

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

Best Books of 2026 so far: Picture Books

Introducing the Midsummer Summer Reading Passport

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

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