Our story began 30 years ago...
Stocking shelves amidst a busy crowd is where the reader finds our heroine, Kim Childress. She's in her early 20's, short stature, and wild hair that cascades over her eyes. Humming to herself as she reads the forwards of the books on her cart, occasionally glancing through the bookshelves at Kids' Ink Children's Bookstore... Her dream job of 7 years. Until one fateful morning, sometime in 1992 to be exact, a visiting editor from Dutton and Kim had a short conversation, and Kim heard, "You're meant to be in books, kid."
Let's just say the rest was history.
Our history.
Recipient of the James Patterson Holiday Bookstore Bonus Award, 2021 and 2023
We feature quality children‘s books and adult-interest nonfiction titles, poetry, stationary, paper craft and more
Member of the American Booksellers Association, official Indie Bookstore
A Team of Book Lovers Got Together
Before there was a bookstore, there was a Team
We are all authors who have worked for decades in publishing.
We Believe in Community
We partner with publishers on community events to provide free resources and offer bulk and wholesale pricing for educators, schools, museums and nonprofits experiencing funding cuts.
Our Mission:
- Provide resources for parents, educators, schools and communities
- Get more kids books into the hands of children, and instill the love of reading in future generations
Founded by award-winning editor and author Kim Childress, after working over thirty years in publishing, from bookseller, to long-time Girls' Life Magazine book reviewer, to middle-grade editor at a top-five publishing house, Kim has written and edited 100s of articles, short stories and books for children and adults. An extreme word nerd and book lover, she continues to seek out and share books of excellence to as many people and places possible.
Ink-a-Dink Children's Bookstore is an official Indie bookstore and member of the American Booksellers Association (ABA), the Children's Book Institute, and the Society of Children's Bookwriters and Illustrators (SCBWI), helping further the mission of book sharing and community give-back, local and world-wide.
Together with Girls’ Life Magazine, Childress Ink, and Publishers of Excellence, 10,000s of books have been donated to agencies near and far, most recently, Hindi’s Libraries, plus local schools, shelters, libraries and more.
Ink-a-Dink is an affiliate of Childress Ink. ChildressInk.com began as a book review site, then became an author/editor/writing site, and now is a publishing resource site and product developement company.
Frequently Asked Questions
It's okay, we love questions
How did you come up with your name?
Based on an old nursery rhyme...
Ink-a-dink, bottle of ink,
The cap fell out
And you stink.
No because you're dirty,
Not because you're clean,
Just because you kissed a boy behind a magazine.
OUR VERSION:
Ink-a-dink, bottle of ink,
The cap fell out,
Childress Ink.
An idea, a seed,
Blooms and grows,
Budding into something new,
The possibilities? Unknown.
Want something you don't see?
What if I'm not sure what I want?
Super easy! Shoot over an email or contact us on social media and one of our experts can help determine your perfect book.
Features and Favorites
We seek to share children's books of excellence, for all ages of children from birth through young adult, with specialty adult interest fun titles. We get books. Lots and lots of books. To share with readers. How many? Well, can you ever have too many? Because if you run out of room in your office, you can use them for dominoes and amazing book forts!
Does Kim know she looks like Ms. Frizzle?
Yes, we actually have a photo of her dressed up as the Fritz.
Pretty much take our favorite parts of our childhood, The Reading Rainbow, Mrs. Piggle Wiggle, and The Magic School Bus, and you get Kim.
How It Works
Nothing ruins a new book like a complicated process
1Purchase
Pick your favorites from our high-quality collections, and add to your cart.2Deliver
Media mail and expedited rates available.
3Enjoy
Enjoy free goodies with every purchase!
Compliments of ChildressInk.com, Girls' Life magazine and publishers of excellence.
Copyright ©Ink~A~Dink - A Childress Ink LLC Affiliate - All Rights Reserved.