Anderson's wins award for encouraging children to read

Naperville-based Anderson's Bookshops has won its second Pannell Award for the creativity it has shown in fostering a love of reading among young patrons. Given by the Woman's National Book Association, the 2015 honor recognizes independent bookstores across the nation with the best children's selection and programming.

Anderson's previously won this same award in 2002. The five jury members were impressed by Anderson's "focus on building and nurturing a book-loving community not only through selling books, but through partnerships with school districts, nonprofits, and charities."

The award itself, an original piece of art from a recognized children's illustrator, and a $1,000 check, will be presented at Book Expo America in New York, the book industry's annual national convention.

Also winning this year is Once Upon a Time bookstore, a children's bookstore only, in Montrose, California, in the children's specialty category.

Anderson's Bookshop co-owner Becky Anderson, a former American Booksellers Association president and a newly elected member of the Naperville City Council, said, "We are absolutely beyond thrilled to win the Pannell Award. Our entire staff is so excited. We were in incredibly good company with the other award nominees."

Anderson's Bookshops received another major honor in 2011 as national Bookstore of the Year from Publisher's Weekly. And has also earned local honors, when the company won the Naperville Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year Award and Retail Business of the Year.

Specializing in book sales, author events, book signings, and building a sense of community, learning and fun, Anderson's Bookshops locations include Naperville, Downers Grove and an upcoming grand opening later this summer in La Grange.

Anderson's also runs a gift shop, Two Doors East, in Naperville and a school and warehouse division in Aurora. For information on upcoming literary events, visit www.andersonsbookshop.com.