Trading Hours and About us

Leesa loves books and people. So running a bookshop that brings her two favourite things together is literally a dream come true! Connecting young readers with new books and holding space for the community to assemble (virtually or IRL) brings her unending joy. Storytime is a highlight, these are her picks.

Leesa’s Picks for ABC Melbourne Radio Segment

Leesa’s Quarantine Reads at Neighbourhood Books 

Michael has worked exclusively with children’s books for over 17 years. He has a Masters in Children’s Literature and a Bachelors in Early Childhood Education. He is also an author and a passionate advocate for children’s and young adult literature, especially those which reflect the diversity of our world. He has been a judge for awards like the VPLAs and has been known to give impromptu story-times of picture books he loves. In 2021 he was awarded the Australian Booksellers Association Text Publishing Bookseller of the Year. 

Michael’s Favourites

Michael’s Fav Middle Grade Horror

Ian’s grandchildren believe that his primary function is to read them stories. Throughout 2020 Ian has taken to home delivering books to the children of Melbourne inner north (even on Sundays) and thanks to this, and his jolly demeanor, he has become widely known as ‘Book Santa’. He particularly likes books featuring chickens.

Ian’s Favourites

Having once been a child herself, raised four of her own and now with two little grandchildren, Lesley understands kids. She absolutely has the knack! Always ready with an encouraging word for new parents, or a knowing nod for the custodians of teenagers, she gets parents too!

What Lesley is Reading

Liam has over a decade of experience as a bookseller, including a four year stint owning Grub Street Bookshop. They co-founded Crime Factory Publications, a now-defunct small-press, and have worked extensively as an editor and publisher. They live with their elderly dog, Jimmy, and existential dread. They work at both The Little Bookroom and Neighbourhood Books

Liam’s Favourites at The Little Bookroom

Liam’s Quarantine Reads at Neighbourhood Books 

Liam’s Neighbourhood Favourites

Alison is the author of the YA novels Euphoria Kids, Highway Bodies and Ida. Their work also appeared in Michael’s anthology Kindred: 12 Queer #LoveOzYA Stories. They’re a lover of children’s books, especially anything Australian!

Alison’s Favourites

Leni has been a bookseller for four years. She studied literature at university with particular attention to Romanticism and ecology.  When reading, her first instinct is toward fiction in contemporary, realist settings with female protagonists but also loves historical and speculative novels. She has recently become hooked on classic Japanese crime novels. She also likes to read around her interests in politics, modern dance, literary theory but this seems to take her much longer. She can be found most days at Neighborhood Books.

Leni’s Quarantine Reads

Em joined the Neighbourhood Books team in 2020 with a passion for matchmaking readers and books, in a year when good stories have never been more important. She is a champion of local authors and loves poetry, memoir and thoughtful essay collections. Em helps keep the community connected via our Neighbourhood Natter blog and Lockdown Lit, a weekly online event series. She also leads our Neighbourhood Nonfiction book club, and in her spare time runs an online book club dedicated to reading Stella Prize longlistees. Her favourite childhood book was Anne of Green Gables, and she still dreams of one day visiting Prince Edward Island.