Book College Online Store

College Books And Online Access

The first thing you notice when you enter the little renovated cottage on Harbord St. that's home to the book college online store are too many. There are plenty of books here as well. Toronto's first and Canada's only retail store for teens stocks more than 2,000 titles - books dealing with physics, chemistry and astronomy.

"We wanted a place where everyone can come. There are just as many men as women who come here - that's so fabulous - also grandparents - that's fabulous, too," says Kirk. She and Prins helped start the Toronto Women's Bookstore, which they managed for 11 years. "At the Women's bookstore, I noticed so many people weren't comfortable there. Women would leave their husbands on the doorstep, run in and get books. I wanted a business where I could integrate my family."

Kirk's husband Bill works at the store; Prins' husband, an artist, helped design it. Their children - Kirk's 5-year-old twin boys, Prins' 5-year-old son and 7-month-old daughter - sometimes help, too.

Then came the idea of an book college online store. Both women have degrees in early childhood education and have worked in day care situations. But it's the fact that both are parents that they believe is more important to the customers.

"People come in that door who are walking disasters," says Prins. "They've had no sleep; no one told them that parenting was going to be so tough. Parenting needs are obvious to us because we are parents. But it is still hidden in society. No one tells you when you're pregnant about not getting any sleep."

"Parents who visit our online store and see the books on coping and dealing with emotions and problems have a sense of validation that what is happening to them is important, is happening to other people, and that it's okay."

Her husband interrupts to say there's a customer on the phone wanting to know when they'll be getting more copies of Solve Your Child's Sleep Problems from the publisher. It's their Number 2 seller (Penelope Leach's Your Baby And Child is the most requested); they've sold more than 40 copies of it since the store opened three months ago.

"People say 'So I'm not the only one with problems' when they hear about the demand for that book," says Kirk.

They're proud of their selection of books on children dealing with grief and loss and of books for children with special needs. Prins reaches to a shelf and quickly pulls out three books: I Use A Wheelchair, I Have Diabetes; Our Brother Has Down's Syndrome.

Online Bookstores