Willow Glen Resident

Cover Story

Photographs by Vicki Thompson

So Many Books: Hicklebee's co-owners, sisters Valerie Lewis (left) and Monica Holmes, opened Hicklebee's 28 years ago. The original store was located on Lincoln Avenue where Allstate Insurance is now housed. Today the store has a mystique that brings people from throughout the Bay Area to its doors.

A Classic Tale

Hicklebee's Children's Bookstore makes reading magical

By Mayra Flores De Marcotte

The lights are turned off. The last employee has gone home. On a bookshelf, up near the ceiling there is a crunching sound. The sound comes from a bookworm, slowly, deliberately chomping its teeth into the pages of Lewis Carroll's "Alice in Wonderland," devouring each illustration of Alice, falling further and further and burrowing deeper and deeper into the children's classic until it finishes its literary cuisine and transforms into a hicklebee.

"What is a hicklebee?" asked a young neighborhood boy.

"A hicklebee is what a bookworm turns into," says Hicklebee's Books co-owner Valerie Lewis.

The independent bookstore has flourished in Willow Glen for 28 years and with the help of its namesake has encouraged a love of reading in children near and far.

Its unique ability to survive while so many other independents have closed is a credit to the lasting relationships owners Valerie Lewis and Monica Holmes have built, rather than a mere sprinkling of pixie dust.

"Online companies have never sat on the floor with my child and read them a book," says longtime customer Katherine Levin-Lau.

She has been driving from the Rose Garden for the last 10 years. Her son has grown up at the bookstore, and Levin-Lau says his love for reading stems from his experiences at Hicklebee's.

"My son is an avid reader," she says, "and a lot of it has to do with what Hicklebee's provides."

She and her son spend hours sitting among piles of books, reading the latest recommendation from Lewis. Her son is often on the floor curled up inside a cast iron tub filled with pillows.

They also attend author events at the small bookstore.

"You get insight on the stories from listening to them," Levin says. "You get a fabulous sense of the personalities behind the books."

In the store it is easy to believe the walls can talk, the books all whisper and their authors tell no lies.

Along the walls and in each and every nook and cranny, remnants of the magic that comes alive when a book is read by its creator can be found.

An entire literary museum sprawls from wall to wall, from the acorn that fell on Chicken Little's head to a cupboard with Indian and cowboy figures from The Indian in the Cupboard. All of it adds to the little bookstore's mystique.

"For someone who's never been there, it's like a little museum," Levin-Lau says. "It's a delight to see really important mementos from different authors and illustrators. It's just hysterical fun and makes Hicklebee's more than just a bookstore."

The outreach the store does with the local schools has also helped cement Levin-Lau's loyalty.

"They bring authors to our private school in Los Gatos and help with kids' birthdays," she says. "Amazon.com has never done that for my child. It's an amazing store, and I am glad they have survived."

Along with the events the bookstore hosts, the knowledgeable staff sets it apart.

"It's like a cheerleading team behind reading," Levin-Lau says. "Every single person is kind of phenomenal. There's a lot of ex-teachers, and they love children's literature. It's an incredible place."

The independent children's bookstore has a 19-person staff, eight of whom average 15 years at Hicklebee's. According to its website, the staff's combined experience equals more than 200 years of immersion in children's books.

Deborah Murphy, Harper Collins Publishers' sales representative for the bookstore for six years, says this knowledge is one of its major strengths.

"I feel like many of these women have been with the store from the beginning," Murphy says. "It's what they do, and they do it well."

Murphy says no matter who is working when she arrives, Murphy can always talk to anyone.

"I am never worried about them not knowing the answers," Murphy says. "The owners empower their staff to have all the knowledge they need. At other places, the owners act as the keepers of information and do everything themselves."

This philosophy of knowledge-sharing has an added benefit that puts Hicklebee's in the forefront, Murphy says.

"I think that there is a comfort level that the staff has that rubs off at events," she says.

It's why Hicklebee's is on the top of her list for author tours as well.

"I know we will get all that we can with them," she says. "Not just selling the maximum amount of books but also making the authors feel special. It's great to know that even first-time authors can come and, even if there are only five people present, feel good."

Hicklebee's magic has left a lasting impression on authors who have come through--from the newest, latest author to, world-renowned authors such as S.K. Rowling.

Murphy says authors know the special atmosphere in the store and want to make sure it is on their tour.

Although on occasion authors say they no longer want to stop at a certain locale, it has never happened with Hicklebee's, Murphy says. "Authors rave about it."

Bookworms are born

Growing up, co-owner Lewis says she cannot remember a time in her life without books or newspapers.

"When my father came in and sat down in his chair, he would read to us from his books," Lewis says.

The siblings would gather around the chair and listen as their father, with a thick British accent, would read.

"My father used to read to us from the Book of Knowledge, an anthology," says Holmes. "He was British, and his voice would boom as he read to us. It was his voice that fueled my early love of reading."

The day would start with the morning paper, their father reading sections aloud for the children to hear.

"Mom would read and write little corrections in the books," Lewis says. "Father would never write inside a book."

He did add an inscription to the first book he gave Lewis. The book was the Pied Piper of Hamelin.

"He wrote inside, to Valerie on mumps day, from pop," says Lewis, who was home from school.

Later, while in her store, she says the one thing that bothered her more than anything was when someone would pick up a book and say, 'That could never happen,' and put a book down.

"Anything could happen in a book," Lewis says. "The fact that there is a book about it allows this possibility to exist."

It's Lewis' whimsical way of seeing the world that can be found on the walls and shelves of her bookstore.

"Everything you see in the store is hand-done," she says. "There's a lot of elbow grease, but it's meant to be that way so that kids can see the put-together result."

Lewis wants children to walk away from the bookstore not only with a book but also with an experience.

"Watch Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood," she says. "Everything he does is deliberate. He understood kids. He would take his time and slow down, leave time to ponder and reflect."

This opportunity to examine the walls and memorabilia around them is exactly what Lewis says children need.

"Right now, this doesn't exist," she says. "Screens flash information without natural time to ponder. The emphasis is on getting there. A book allows you to stop, lean back and reflect. It's about the journey."

The bookstore's 28-year journey has been one of growth, community and quick-footedness.

"We all work really hard," Lewis says. "We are constantly walking on the razor blade edge of survival."

With competition coming from booksellers such as Barnes and Noble and Borders as well as Costco, an independent children's bookstore's fate is shaky.

Hicklebee's is the only one left in the San Jose area. There is Linden Tree Children Recordings and Books, but that is in Los Altos, Lewis says.

"So many of these stores go out of business not because they aren't doing well but because of misconceptions," she says.

One of those misconceptions has to do with discounts. The sheer volume of stock at the large booksellers allows those businesses to discount their pricing.

So small independents such as Hicklebee's have to come up with creative marketing to survive.

One of those ways is to partner with local schools. Residents are encouraged to mention the name of their children's school when purchasing a book. When they do, a percentage of the purchase goes back to the school.

"The passion of having a store like this," Holmes says, "makes us strive to show its best face. Everyone has put in effort and positive energy."

Although it has been a struggle to keep things fresh and exciting at the store, Holmes wouldn't have it any other way.

"We love this community," Holmes says, "and there's no place like this. There's a special energy here. Kids are excited being here. We don't know what we would do without the community."

Her sister agrees.

"It really been exciting to start a business in Willow Glen," Lewis says, "and years later be here and have made our mark."

Upcoming events
at Hicklebee's

Marc Brown

April 19, 3-5 p.m.

Author of the Arthur series and most recently the illustrator of The Gulps, a story of a family of bunnies who pack their RV full of junk food and who, along the way learn about the value of fresh, home-cooked meals.

Book Previews with Valerie Lewis

April 19, 7-8:30 p.m.

General preview: K-eighth grade

April 26, 7-8:30 p.m.

Preschool preview: babes-kindergarten

Author of Valerie and Walter's Best Books for Children: A Lively Opinionated Guide will present a selection of books published this spring.

Alan Katz

April 23, 3-4:30 p.m.

Author of Dr. Wrongo presents That's Right, That's Wrong, a new game that encourages readers to give the wrong answers to trivia questions.

Jen Calonita

April 24, 3:30-4:30 p.m.

Author presents her new book: Secrets of My Hollywood Life, a story about a teen-television actress who tries to escape the pressures of stardom by enrolling at her friend's school.

John Rocco

April 25, 3:30-4:30 p.m.

Rocco presents the first book he both wrote and illustrated, Wolf! Wolf!, a retelling of a classic fable.

Katharine Holabird

April 27, 3-4:30 p.m.

Author of the Angelina Ballerina series for the last 20 years, Holabird comes to Hicklebee's from England to meet and sign books.

Lois Ehlert

May 3, 3-4:30 p.m.

Co-author with Bill Martin Jr., John Archambault of Chicka Chicka Boom Boom and author of Leaf Man, Ehlert presents her new picture book Wag a Tail , about dogs and their owners at the farmers market.

Holly Black and Cassandra Clare

May 10, 3-4:30 p.m.

Both authors from New York will present their new books. Black brings the sequel to her teen urban fantasy Tithe and Valliant, Ironside: A Modern Faery's Tale. Clare brings book No. 1 in The Mortal Instruments Trilogy, City of Bones.

Book Release: 'Harry Potter
and the Deathly Hallows'

July 21, 12:01 a.m. release, 6:59 a.m. celebration

Hicklebee's is pre-selling Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows for $27.99, or 20 percent off the publisher's price. Customers can also opt to pay full price and donate $7 of the cost to their schools. Orders will be taken until July 20, 5:30 p.m.

Hicklebee's is located at 1378 Lincoln Ave. For more information, contact 408.292.8880 or visit www.hicklebees.com.

Hicklebee's lore: there's a lot more magic here

Hicklebee's bookstore was founded by four women--Valerie Lewis, Janis Gottlieb, Vicki Villarreal and Georgia Osborne. Villarreal and Osborne were elementary school teachers who after 1 1/2 years returned to teaching.

In 1989, the bookstore outgrew its 950-square-foot location at 1341 Lincoln Ave. and moved into its current 2,800-square-feet home. With the help of the Willow Glen community, the move took three hours.

All the walls and doors inside the store have been signed by authors and illustrators who have come to the store for book signings and other events. In the back room, between Eric Carle and Marc Brown, is an illustration of "pinhead" by Clive Barker.

The pair of blue jeans that inspired The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants hangs from a wall at the front of the store signed by author Ann Brashares.

A stained-glass window depicting the namesake of the bookstore was given as a gift to the store by longtime customer Kate Nelson.

The rocking chair that sits in the store was owned by Anne Isaacs, the author of Swamp Angel. Her mother would read Little Women to her from the chair while she was growing up.