We're building the bookstore we couldn't find.

Happy Place Books started with a problem we couldn't solve by shopping harder.

We wanted a place where our daughter could pick her own books off a shelf built at her height. A place where the kids on the covers looked like her and where a bookstore visit felt like an outing instead of an errand.

Most bookstores treat children as an afterthought, just a small section tucked into the corner of an adult space. And for Black families and families of the global majority, the gap goes further than the shelves. It's the room itself, and whether it was built with you in mind.

After four years of looking, we stopped looking.

A smiling woman, a young girl, and a man taking a selfie together in an indoor shopping mall with floral displays and modern architecture.
A smiling woman, a young girl, and a man taking a selfie together in an indoor shopping mall with floral displays and modern architecture.

Meet the Team

  • A woman in a yellow tank top and pink glasses making a peace sign with one hand and holding a smartphone with a game controller grip in the other hand, against a colorful abstract background of purple, pink, and yellow.

    Dr. Ramona

    Co-Founder, Curator

    School psychologist, professor, and lifelong reader. She brings child development, social-emotional learning, and educational advocacy to every title she selects. If a book is on our shelf, she has a reason — and she'll tell you what it is.

  • A man and a young girl smiling and posing together indoors. The girl is holding a colorful sign that says "The Best Dad". Behind them, a TV is mounted on the wall, and there are various items on a white cabinet, including books and decorations.

    Sheldon

    Co-Founder, Creative Director

    Focused, approachable, and driven by results, our sales manager is all about building strong relationships. They help connect people to the right solutions—with clarity and care.