The Bookshop Podcast
The Bookshop Podcast is a global literary podcast dedicated to books, authors, independent bookshops, and the world of publishing. Now in its fifth year, the show has become a trusted resource for readers, writers, and book lovers everywhere. Hosted by Mandy Jackson-Beverly, a writer, educator, and literary advocate, The Bookshop Podcast blends thoughtful conversation with a passion for books. Whether you're looking for your next great read, discovering new authors, or exploring the book industry, The Bookshop Podcast offers a welcoming space for anyone who loves books, storytelling, and literary culture. Music created by Brian Beverly.
The Bookshop Podcast
Jenny McCann, Bear Bookshop
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
In this episode, I'm chatting with Jenny McCann, director of Bear Bookshop in Smethwick, U.K., about her career as an English teacher, why she opened a children's bookshop, her favorite children's books to hand-sell, and how to encourage children to read.
For Jenny McCann, Bear Bookshop began as a dream… a long-held fantasy of owning a bookshop and surrounding herself with books all day long! Bear Bookshop aims to be a place that develops and encourages a child’s enjoyment of reading, love of learning and sense of wonder, and to help children and parents experience the joy of reading and learning. Jenny encourages children to experience more adventures and less screens. More confidence and less worry. More stories. More curiosity. More play. More resilience. More imagination. And more joy.
Santa’s Christmas Countdown, Kath Jewitt, Sebastian Braun
The Jolly Christmas Postman, Allan Ahlberg, Janet Ahlberg
Little People, BIG DREAMS, Maria Isabel Vegara
Anisha, Accidental Detective, Serena Patel, Emma McCann
The Girl of Ink & Stars, Kiran Millwood Hargrave
The Heartstopper Series, Alice Oseman
Daughter of the Pirate King, Tricia Levenseller
Peepo Books, Allan Ahlberg, Janet Ahlberg
Each Peach Pear Plum, Allan Ahlberg, Janet Ahlberg
The Wind in the Willow, Kenneth Grahame
Illumisaurus, Lucy Brownridge, Carnovsky