About The Children's Bookshop
The Children's Bookshop is located near the border of England and Wales in Hay on Wye, in the county of Herefordshire. As our name implies, we sell only children's books. With a stock in excess of twenty thousand books we cater for children and also for collectors and researchers.
We have specialized in children's books and literature since 1978 and are one of the oldest continuously operating bookshops in Hay on Wye.
The shop was founded in 1978 by Judith Gardner and operated from the front room of the old Toll Cottage adjacent to our current premises. Judith, a former school teacher, had previously been employed by Richard Booth in his bookshops and having learned the book trade then decided to set up a shop of her own.
Later, during the 1980's, the shop moved into the centre of Hay, on Lion Street, in the building which now houses Addyman Books. In the late 1980s the shop moved back to its current location after a new building next to the Toll Cottage was constructed to house it, and we have been trading from this site ever since.
From the 1970's to the early 2000's the shop was run as a partnership between Judith Gardner and her husband, Bob (who for a number of years also ran a clock and watch repair business in parallel with the bookshop). Following Bob's death in 2006 their son, Colin, took over his role. Judith Gardner passed away early in 2024, at the age of 85, and the business is now owned and run by Colin.
For collectors we offer a variety of books and annuals in most areas, including Girl's/Boy's School stories, W. E. Johns, Richmal Crompton and D. C. Thompson. We also carry a selection of older illustrated books, dating from the 1920s and earlier. Our speciality is twentieth century fiction.
Our catalogue is available on-line, where you can search and browse the many thousands of books which we have in stock, and purchase any book shown there using the order form provided.
There is a set of quick reference lists of all of the titles, authors, publishers and illustrators currently in the catalogue.
The most recent additions to the catalogue are listed here and there is a sample of interesting books here.
Our website also contains information to help in dating Rupert annuals and other useful reference information
We offer a world-wide postal service, and also operate a free Booksearch service for books that we do not currently have in stock.
If you wish to visit The Children's Bookshop, see our directions page for maps, links to bus and train journey planners and other information on how to get to Hay on Wye and The Children's Bookshop.
Hay on Wye has many other second hand bookshops, and there is a tourist information web site devoted to the town and its lively book trade, which contains a list of all the other Hay on Wye bookshops.
We have a Wi-Fi hotspot on the premises for our customers' use, allowing Internet access on phones, tablets, laptops, etc. The details of the connection and the daily password are displayed inside the shop.
The interior of the shop is accessible to regular-sized wheelchairs, although we do not recommend trying to bring mobility scooters inside. A wheelchair ramp for the shop's external step is available on request.
E-mail: sales@childrensbookshop.com
Bank details
If you have chosen to pay for an order by bank transfer from a UK bank, but have mislaid the details given on the order form, our bank account for receiving payments is:
| Name: | The Children's Bookshop |
|---|---|
| Sort-code: | 20-98-68 |
| Account: | 43461548 |
Please use either your order number or your full name (as given on your order) as the payment reference.