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Up North at Up North Kids

Snuggled in next to Pangeas Pizza is a fabulous new little bookstore. Up North Kids is a fun, colorful place that’s just for kids. It’s filled with books for children of all ages and is a must-stop during your next downtown visit.

Downtown Traverse City’s location is the fifth of the chain of Up North Kid stores owned by Kara Thompson. Kara, originally from Troy, Michigan, opened her first store in Alden, Michigan in June of 2005 because she wanted to create a place for kids to read. She quickly opened more stores, first in Clarendon, Illinois (near Chicago) in January of 2006, next was a store in Charlevoix, Michigan in May of 2006, then one in Chicago in January of 2007.

A mother of four and a wife of 17 years to her husband, Kara and her family now spend their winters in Chicago and summers on Torch Lake. She does not have much vacation time, though, as she visits each store frequently! She has a PhD in children’s psychology and previously worked at the MacArthur Foundation, where she discovered a love of all things not-for-profit.

Inside store photoConsequently, as the number of stores Kara opened grew, so did her mission. She has such a strong belief in the importance of improving the literacy of children that a portion of each store’s earnings goes to various child advocacy groups. Up North Kids strives to encourage the desire in children to read and to also educate them about ways to serve their community and to provide them with ways to get involved.

At the same time, Up North Kids feels very strongly about supporting local people and local authors. They believe that our Michigan authors have great stories to tell and want to share them with as many people as possible! Each store has several local authors visit each month, whom you can meet and usually convince to sign a book for you!

In addition to book signings, there’s always something going on in each of the stores. “Tween book clubs” are currently up and running in each store, and literacy camps are being planned for August. Literacy camps are held for one to two weeks during the summer, two to three days per week and four to six hours per day. The camps are set up to help kids stay in the loop of school-structured activities. Throughout the year (but especially in the summer) tutoring is available for students who might need a little extra help in reading. Also, keep an eye out for a writing contest coming soon on “What is So Great About Being an Up North Kid?”

Up North Kids offers daily events, such as story time and face painting. Occasionally they even hold Pirate and Fancy Nancy parties. Just recently Up North Kids held a bike safety event. Kara is working on a web site to keep people informed about what’s going on in each store. In the meantime, visit or call the store location nearest you.

Up North Kids storefront picIf you are near Charlevoix on August 2 you can attend the second Annual Authors Benefit from 5-7 pm in the park. You will have the opportunity to meet several local Michigan authors and/or illustrators and have them sign books for you. There is a door charge, all of which will go toward funding their literacy camps, book clubs, and tutoring. All of the proceeds of the books sold will go toward these programs, as well.

So be sure to stop in and take a peek at one of downtown Traverse City’s newest stores. You won’t leave empty-handed!

Find Up North Kids at the following “Up North” locations:
137 E. Front St. Traverse City; (231) 946-2665;
9059 Helena St., Alden, (231) 331-7529; and
220 Bridge St. Charlevoix, (231) 547-0444.