Stop at the new bookstore at 34 S. Stolp Avenue in downtown Aurora to be delighted. Owner Karen Nicholas had chosen the “Yellow Bird Books” name because she finds that name to be “inviting, memorable, and reflecting a positive image.”
When her son, Will, was a toddler, they would sit near the window and watch the birds at the feeder. He loved yellow and would excitedly exclaim “Yellow bird. Yellow bird”, when the goldfinches were at the feeder. Karen said that is a “warm, personal, memory, and goldfinches are, appropriately, a symbol of joy.”
Karen’s husband, Karl, is a business consultant and their son is now a senior in college. They moved to Aurora in 2009 from Pennsylvania..
Karen is offering a curated collection of books in a variety of genres including general fiction, science fiction and fantasy, mystery and thriller, the arts, history, biography, and memoir politics. Additional titles will be added to reflect customers, interests.
Karen will be planning upcoming events, story times, and book clubs. She hopes to collaborate with other local businesses and events. She has hope that the Midwest Literary Festival in Aurora will return to the downtown. The Midwest Literary Festival was 2002-2007 and supported by a $50,000 grant to the Aurora Chamber of Commerce, along with other income sources. The Festival was a huge success and drew both national and local authors.
Karen, of course, will use social media to advertise the new bookshop. These include Facebook, Book tok videos, Instagram and mailings and E-newsletters. The store is open 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays and open noon to 4 p.m. Sundays. Team members include Melissa Rinaldi, Jeanne Norris, and Lisa Lentz Manning.
Shown is original art by Lisa Lentz Manning, candles by Suzane Weber, Vintage Wit cards by Steph Wheatley and bookmarks by photographer Perry Slade. They carry puzzles, games, plush toys, stickers, journals. They are always interested in interesting gift items.
Since moving to Aurora, Karen has volunteered at Freeman School, at Washington Middle School, and Culture Stock, where she managed the children’s book section. She has been a volunteer for First Fridays, Aurora Magic festivals, Food Truck Fests, Alley Art Fest. She was a founding board member at the Aurora Film Society and is a board member of the Aurora Library Foundation.
“I was fortunate that my parents loved to travel so we visited many historic locations when I was growing up,” Karen said. Some of her favorite travel places as an adult include the Delaware shore, Maine, the British Isles, the Netherlands, and Italy. “I love to visit historic locations, museums, and towns with independent bookstores.”
Along with being an avid reader, Karen’s hobbies include gardening and needle felting. Some of her favorite authors include Ray Bradbury, Beverly Cleary, Judy Blume, and Jacqueline Woodson. Ray Bradbury lived in Waukegan which is Karen’s home town. His book “Dandelion Wine” which is set in Greentown, illustrates the influences of family and community.