A Book Above

It was last summer when I first had the idea.

After struggling for nearly eight years to find GREAT books for my children, I dreamed of a wonderful solution!  A children's bookstore in Elmhurst IL, one that has an inviting little reading nook, filled with large pillows to lay on, and maybe a "park bench" to sit at. The wall behind would have a great mural, with trees, blue sky, and fluffy clouds. The books on the shelves are filled with stories of heroes and legends, from today and long ago. Mysteries, stories and novels of all kinds.

But all with a common idea. All the books in THIS children's store help to light dreams. Dreams of baseball stars, and basketball stars, ballet dancers and artists. Writers, dreamers and inventors of all sorts of things. Architects, astronauts, scientists, and doctors.  Each child has a dream, a talent, a passion that is all their own.

Our children are so precious. Each and every one of them. The store in my dream allows children to pull books off shelves that they want to read, not even just once, or twice, but over and over.

Reading launches thoughts.
Thoughts launch dreams.
Dreams launch visions.
Visions launch action.

Those actions can change a child's potential. . . forever.

Since the summer of 2011 I have completed a great and EXCITING business plan. A plan for just such a children’s bookstore. A small (670 sq. ft.) store, here, in Elmhurst, a western Chicago suburb. I have submitted the plan to accountants and business strategists, and they have agreed. The plan is great, and this area has a great population to support a children’s bookstore, and we are looking to open in Spring of 2012.

BUT, now I need your HELP! I have been a single, self-supporting mother of two children these last nine years. With only a small income, and no child support, banks want me to fund much more than I can. A bank loan will help to finance the store, but I need some cash on hand to get the loan. So, I am taking an idea from NPR and asking you to consider a pledge: to me, to an independent children’s bookstore, and to even print books themselves.

If you will make a pledge to me, to A Book Above, I will make a pledge to you. If, after the second year, the store is reasonably solvent, I will donate your pledged amount to the charity of your choice, and in your name.

You can make a one-time pledge, or a monthly pledge, by clicking HERE. Or, if you would prefer to sponsor a specific larger item, or some other form of sponsorship, please contact me by email at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

I hope you will help me launch this store.

A store that will help children gain a LOVE for reading, and a LOVE for books. And who knows WHERE that LOVE will take them!?

For those of you who do decide to help in some way, thank you. I am honored and blessed by your choice. Reading is a vital key in allowing a person to grow, and to dream. Whole populations have been “kept down” by not allowing them to learn to read, or to even have books.

Nicolas Kraus, a novelist, recently commented, "If enough people stop taking their business to bookstores, bookstores – all bookstores – will close.  And that, in turn, will threaten a set of values that have been with us for as long as we have had books.”

Preserving a love of reading, and creating a place where children can embrace reading.  This is so vital to our children. Thank you, for sharing this dream.  For empowering MY vision. And in turn, empowering the children who come to A Book Above.

Gratefully Yours,

Carolyn  Carrillo