Author: chickenandfrog

I’ve come over all emotional this evening. Do you want to know why? Of course you do. We have reached our first birthday. It’s hard to believe that in the current economic climate…blah, blah, blah…kids not reading any more…waffle, waffle…we have reached a year relatively unscathed. We’ve managed to feed and clothe all three children, still love each other very much (aah), pay the bills and even sell a fair few books along the way. Not bad eh?!

Birthdays and anniversaries of any kind are always odd, I think. Time seems to lack a linear quality, for me at least, so on the one hand it feels like an absolute age since we opened our doors for the first time and yet, on the other, the year has flashed by incredibly quickly.

When I look back on all that we have achieved, from this,

to this,

to this,

I feel a bit overwhelmed. I decided to write a list. I love a list, me. Mr Frog, not so much, but I think that lists make the world go around. Here’s a list of just some of the things we have done in the past year.

Joined forces with the lovely Claire Mackaness, waved a fond and proud farewell to Mrs Mack as she opened Beautiful Things HQ, secured funding from the Brentwood Community Share Fund to launch a free Family Learning Project (which we have continued without funding this year), set up a thriving tuition centre, run Creative Writing clubs, handwriting club, hosted an art class with Russell Newton, hosted French and Spanish Rhythm & Rhyme sessions, story times, Rhythm & Rhyme, parties, launched an annual writing competition, sponsored a Brents Award, hosted school classes, consulted with local schools, run school holiday programs, included local indie businesses in a Where’s Wally Hunt and welcomed all of these great visitors into our little shop: Martin Brown, J.D.Irwin, Tamsyn Murray, Lucy Coats, J.N.Paquet, Christopher William Hill, Steven Lenton, Karen McCombie, Michelle Robinson, Sue Pavey – I think that’s everyone! Sorry if I’ve missed you off, I’m a very sleepy Mrs Chicken.

And in the very near future? Well, Nick and Annette Butterworth (Yes! THE Butterworths) are visiting us on the 16th November. Caryl Hart and Laura Dockrill are making plans for visits too and we are linking up with Brentwood Theatre for the annual Chicken and Frog Writing Competition.

Now for the soppy bit. Mr Frog and I want to publicly and affectionately thank our amazing children for accepting a massive change of life-style.

And our brilliant parents; without their support and faith in us, we would be nothing. Ditto to our friends, old and new. And last, but by no means least, the fantastic people who come through our doors every day to breath in the world of books. We thank-you all, with cake, chocolate lollies and a cheeky 20% sale on all books tomorrow 🙂

It sounds so very 1970’s doesn’t it? I struggle each time I say or write that phrase not to add an Austin Powers-esque ‘baby’ onto the end. Hard to believe I know (ahem), but I am a child of the 70’s, so maybe that’s what it is.

Where am I going with this? This weekend was the launch date of the #BAMB campaign, which is the Booksellers Association’s initiative to focus people’s attention back to their local bookshop. I would say as a children’s bookshop that we are not as effected as our colleagues within the bookselling world, but there is no point in denying that online sales have a negative impact on our High Streets. To this end, we took the plunge to be a part of #BAMB.

Many booksellers have been hosting special events over the weekend to celebrate the gloriously orange- printed tote bags arriving. We threw a bit of a shin dig this afternoon, in order that our customers could pick themselves up one of these:

We have made the decision not to sell the bags or place a limit linked to the amount our customers spend, because we want to thank our loyal book buyers and entice new ones in, without a catch. So, although we gave many away today, we have lots left to share with you! All you need to do is come in and ask nicely. Of course, we would love it if you bought a book too…

The afternoon was so lovely, that I wanted to share a few great pics with you. The dodgy ones have been taken by me and the better ones have been nabbed from a lovely friend 😉