Last week I discovered a beautiful new bookstore in Coventry Street South Melbourne, it’s called naturally, Coventry Bookstore. I was with my beautiful friend Jenny and Ned (8 months) on our regular coffee jaunt, looking for a change of scenery we decided on trying Cafe Sweethearts. Our minds were made up by the review we both had read on the fantastic Breakfast Blog, what a fantastic idea to blog new brekkie places. If you love a good coffee and breakfast as much as I do you will LOVE this blog. Cafe Sweethearts was nice, good coffee and the staff were very accommodating of Ned and his Land Rover of a pram (great to walk with a three wheeler but not practical in shops or cafes).

Anyway back to the bookshop, it’s beautiful and just what I would want my shop to look like – when I will tatts. The collection is largely based around design, art and other beautiful things, the interior of the shop is gorgeous and light, designed by the people behind the Macro Wholefoods and Mimco stores, it is just such a joy to browse in. I was served by a man who I assume is the owner, he was so lovely and cheerful (no Bernard from Black Books here) which is a good reason to go back, how often do you get such great attention in retail these days?

The children’s section is amazing! Set in the back of the shop in its own little room you are immediately drawn to the bright fire engine red feature wall that is decorated with funky snowflake like graphics. The day I visited, Ned was fascinated by the colours and particularly by the Charlie and Lola umbrellas hanging from the roof. I really need to get one of those they are absolutely precious. They have the best board book section I have ever seen with ALL the Sandra Boynton books in stock, gee I love her and just about any other board book you could want. I picked up a great photographic word book for Ned called My Little Word Book, it is distributed by Pan Macmillan and has become one of Ned’s fav’s. He sits up in his pram and reads it when we go out . It is a great size and the photos are really clear and good quality. It was only $12.95 and a great investment for years of reading!!

Along with the books they also have a gorgeous selection of book related merchandise, I mentioned the Charlie and Lola umbrellas but they also have an amazing selection of cards, wrapping and toys, including the cutest little bobble head Noddy’s.

They also had a printed list of the Children’s Book Council of Australia award winners out on the display table and also a smattering of the books both winners and shortlisted. This isn’t something you see in the chains and I have often not even been able to be told the winners by staff at other shops. I truely believe that if you are after a beautiful children’s book you will find one here. A Gem!

While we were in Coventry Street we also popped into Nest, a divine home wares shop. They stock some lovely things; I bought Ned a pillow case screen printed by a Melbourne artist with Albi the elephant. It looks beautiful in Ned’s nursery as all his furniture is white, I think it is very special.