One of my favourite bookshops is not far from where we live. It’s one of those shops that I always wonder why I don’t make it there as often as I’d like, but when I walk out the shop door with an armful of books and a credit card that is a little worse for wear, I’m kind of glad that it’s a once-in-a-while visit…

Mockingbird Bookshop must be one of the smallest bookshops in Melbourne, and owner Evelyn must necessarily be selective in her choice of stock. But what an impeccable selection she has. The shop really is a tardis – somehow within just a few square metres, she fits a good selection of adult books, children’s books, a table and chairs, a couch. A pint-sized bookshelf next to the couch houses the board books at child-friendly height and vintage posters and eclectic hanging decorations help give the shop a lovely mood.

For me, it’s the children’s books that are the stand-out: there is a beautiful array of children’s classics, hardback picture books and even a few first editions and signed copies. While it’s obvious you won’t find everything (no Spot books the day I went!), you will find books that you can’t find in most bigger bookshops. I had been trying to track down a copy of Bruno Munari’s Zoo, and I wasn’t disappointed. There it was in gorgeous hardback and Evelyn offered to cover it with clear plastic for me to protect its pristine and creamy matt dust jacket. That’s something else remarkable – most of the stock is in great condition. No sticky fingers or dropped books evident here!

Evelyn is an American by birth, originally from Mississippi, and her selection (not to mention the name of her shop!) evidences this background. She has a special display of Caldecott and Newbury Medal winners, many of them in hardback. She imports numerous special volumes from the US. The day I was there, she had Jumanji and The Story about Ping among others in imported editions. At close to double the price of the paperback edition and a dying breed, these are volumes for collectors but I value the durability of the sewn binding and old-fashioned dust jackets and creamy pages. I like to think that I’ll be able to pass these books down through the generations. And if I needed any further justification, I figure it’s a good time to invest while the Aussie dollar is strong against the US currency!

Evelyn also gives ample spotlight to local authors – classics such as May Gibbs, as well as Children’s Book Council winners and emerging local authors, who participate in Mockingbird events.

Mockingbird is truely a part of the Mont Albert Village (doesn’t that in itself have such a lovely ring?!). The bookshop shares premises with a gift shop, Entice by Design, accessed down a couple of steps. While browsing in the bookshop you can have a coffee, provided by the Country Fare Cafe round the corner. It all helps give the experience of visiting seem more like you are part of a community and less like you are buying into the competitive world of retail. They have an ad in their window for the Foodie’s Guide highlighting the fact that it features another Village favourite, Zimt Patisserie. (Their Egg and Bacon pastries are to-die-for with melt in your mouth butter pastry!)

I’m looking forward to the time when Rowan is old enough to sit still for story time on a Saturday morning, and I can make a coffee at Mockingbird, a pastry at Zimt and an armful of beautiful books a more regular date in my calendar…

Editor’s note: Sadly this bookshop closed in June 2008.