Books of Wonder
An independent Manhattan bookstore and publisher specializing in antique, classic, and contemporary children's books.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Books of Wonder is an independent children's bookstore and publishing business based in Manhattan, New York City. Founded in 1980 by Peter Glassman and James Carey, it began as a very small Greenwich Village shop centered on Glassman's collection of antique children's books. The founders initially expected the business to serve collectors of rare and historic titles, but the store had unused retail space after its shelves were installed. They therefore broadened the assortment to include classic and newly published children's literature, creating the combination of antiquarian bookselling and contemporary retail that became central to the brand. The original store opened on Hudson Street in Greenwich Village. Its location near schools and along routes used by New Jersey commuters helped generate early customer traffic. The business reportedly performed strongly during its first year and moved to a larger site in 1982. In 1986, Books of Wonder expanded to a substantially larger location on Seventh Avenue in Chelsea, which became its principal Manhattan presence after the Hudson Street shop closed in 1993. The Hudson Street closure followed a period in which road repairs reduced pedestrian and vehicle access to the neighborhood. Books of Wonder also developed a publishing role. In 1984, Glassman and Carey met David Reuther, then editor-in-chief of Morrow Junior Books, at an American Bookseller Association conference. Glassman presented a plan to reissue the Oz books associated with L. Frank Baum, preserving their original illustrations in full color. The proposal aligned with Morrow's interest in reviving classic children's literature and led to the creation of a Books of Wonder Classics imprint under William Morrow and Company in 1985. The imprint subsequently issued other classic works and commissioned artists to illustrate or color older books that lacked suitable illustrations. In 1988, the business added Emerald City Press, a small press used to publish books through the store and by mail order. The brand's retail expansion beyond New York was short-lived. A Beverly Hills, California, branch opened in 1991 with financial backing in part from television producers Les Charles and James Burrows. The location included an art gallery directed by Michael Cart, offering original artwork by children's-book illustrators. The Beverly Hills store encountered several serious disruptions, including the 1992 Los Angeles riots, flooding, and an earthquake, and closed in 1994. Books of Wonder later pursued a second New York location. In 2017, Glassman announced plans for a 2,600-square-foot shop on the Upper West Side, describing the neighborhood as especially family-oriented and noting that the former Gymboree space had an entrance suitable for double strollers. The store opened in September 2017. It temporarily closed during the COVID-19 pandemic from March to July 2020 and reopened in August of that year. The Upper West Side location ultimately closed in 2021 after a change in ownership of the building. The company is associated with children's literature retail, collecting, author events, illustration, and the preservation and re-presentation of classic works. A number of authors and illustrators, including Nick Bruel, Jason Chin, Julie Fogliano, Jenny Han, and George O'Connor, worked at the store before publishing books of their own. Editor Neal Porter informally referred to this network as the 'Books of Wonder mafia.' Books of Wonder has been described as New York City's oldest children's-only bookstore still in operation, although the business has changed locations and combined retail, publishing, mail-order, and cultural functions over time.
History
Books of Wonder was established in 1980 by Peter Glassman and James Carey. Glassman had recently left Brown University and wanted to create a shop for his collection of antique children's books. The first location occupied only about 150 square feet on Hudson Street in Greenwich Village. Once the founders had installed the shelving and arranged the antiquarian stock, they realized the shop had room for a broader selection. They added classic and new children's books, turning the business into a specialist bookstore rather than a narrowly focused collectors' shop. The Hudson Street location benefited from its proximity to schools and from traffic generated by New Jersey commuters. The business recorded strong early results and moved to a larger location in 1982. Books of Wonder's combination of rare books, classic literature, and new children's titles helped establish its identity as a destination for families, collectors, educators, and professionals in children's publishing. The company entered publishing in the mid-1980s. At the 1984 American Bookseller Association conference, Glassman and Carey met David Reuther, editor-in-chief of Morrow Junior Books. Glassman proposed reissuing the Oz books by L. Frank Baum with their original illustrations reproduced in full color. Morrow was already interested in bringing classic children's books back into circulation, and the availability of expired copyrights helped make the project feasible. In 1985, the parties began an imprint under William Morrow and Company called Books of Wonder Classics. The imprint later expanded beyond the Oz titles, commissioning artists to illustrate or recolor classic works that did not have adequate illustrations. In 1988, Books of Wonder launched Emerald City Press as a small press for publications sold through the store and mail order. Retail expansion followed. In 1986, Books of Wonder opened a larger shop on Seventh Avenue in Chelsea. In 1991, it opened a Beverly Hills branch with some financial support from Les Charles and James Burrows. The California store included an art gallery managed by Michael Cart, where customers could purchase original art by children's-book illustrators. Both the original Hudson Street operation and the Beverly Hills branch later faced difficulties. Greenwich Village road repairs harmed access to the Hudson Street site, which closed in 1993. The Beverly Hills store was affected by the 1992 Los Angeles riots, flooding, and an earthquake, and closed in 1994. Chelsea remained the brand's main Manhattan base. In June 2017, Glassman announced plans for another store on the Upper West Side. The proposed location was approximately 2,600 square feet and had previously been occupied by Gymboree. Glassman considered its wide entrance useful for customers with double strollers and viewed the surrounding area as one of New York City's most family-friendly neighborhoods. The Upper West Side store opened in September 2017. The new location was temporarily closed from March to July 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, reopening in August. It closed again in 2021 after the building changed ownership. Books of Wonder's history also includes a notable connection to the children's-book profession: authors and illustrators such as Nick Bruel, Jason Chin, Julie Fogliano, Jenny Han, and George O'Connor worked as booksellers there before publishing their own books. This alumni network led editor Neal Porter to describe them collectively as the 'Books of Wonder mafia.' The business continues to be identified with specialist children's bookselling in Manhattan and with the preservation and publication of classic children's literature.
- 2021
Upper West Side store closes
[1]The Upper West Side location closes after a change in ownership of its building.
- 2020
Temporary pandemic closure and reopening
[1]The Upper West Side store closes from March to July during the COVID-19 pandemic and reopens in August.
- 2017
Upper West Side location opens
[1]A second Manhattan store opens on the Upper West Side in September.
- 1994
Beverly Hills branch closes
[1]The Beverly Hills location closes following disruptions including the 1992 Los Angeles riots, flooding, and an earthquake.
- 1993
Hudson Street store closes
[1]The original Greenwich Village location closes after road repairs reduce access and weaken foot and vehicle traffic.
- 1991
Beverly Hills branch opens
[1]A California branch opens in Beverly Hills, incorporating an art gallery for original children's-book illustrations.
- 1988
Emerald City Press launches
[1]The company establishes Emerald City Press, a small press distributing books through the store and by mail order.
- 1986
Chelsea store opens
[1]Books of Wonder expands to a larger Seventh Avenue location in Chelsea.
- 1985
Books of Wonder Classics imprint begins
[1]The Books of Wonder Classics imprint launches under William Morrow and Company, beginning the brand's publishing activities.
- 1984
Oz reissue proposal presented to Morrow
[1]At an American Bookseller Association conference, Glassman and Carey discuss their plan for illustrated reissues of L. Frank Baum's Oz books with David Reuther of Morrow Junior Books.
Products and positioning
Independent specialist bookstore and publisher focused exclusively on children's literature, combining antiquarian collecting, classic reissues, contemporary books, and illustration-related cultural programming.
Antiquarian books · 1980
Antique children's books
The business originated as a specialist outlet for Peter Glassman's antique children's books. This part of the assortment serves collectors and readers interested in historically significant editions, early children's publishing, and illustrated book artifacts.
Books · 1980
Classic children's literature
Books of Wonder sells established works of children's literature alongside antiquarian and contemporary titles. Its classic-book focus supports the store's identity as a preservation-oriented specialist retailer rather than a general-interest bookstore.
Books · 1980
New children's books
The store expanded its initial collectors' focus to include newly published children's books. This gives the business a current retail role and connects families and young readers with contemporary authors and illustrators.
Publishing imprint · 1985
Books of Wonder Classics
Created under William Morrow and Company in the mid-1980s, Books of Wonder Classics reissued classic children's works, including editions of L. Frank Baum's Oz books designed to retain the original illustrations in full color. The imprint also supported new illustration and coloring work for older books.
Small press · 1988
Emerald City Press
Emerald City Press was established in 1988 to publish books through Books of Wonder's retail operation and mail-order business. It extended the company's role from bookseller and classic-book curator into independent publishing.
Art and collectibles · 1991
Original children's-book illustrations
The former Beverly Hills branch included an art gallery directed by Michael Cart. The gallery sold original artwork by children's-book illustrators, adding a collectible visual-art dimension to the brand's bookselling activities.
Brand decisions
2017
Expansion to the Upper West SideStrategyBackground
Glassman sought a second Manhattan location and identified the Upper West Side as a family-oriented neighborhood with suitable customer demographics.
Action taken
Books of Wonder opened a roughly 2,600-square-foot store in a former Gymboree space in September 2017.
Aftermath
The store operated through the pandemic after a temporary closure but closed in 2021 when the building changed owners.
1988
Creation of Emerald City PressStrategyBackground
After beginning publishing through the Books of Wonder Classics relationship, the company pursued a more direct small-press model.
Action taken
Books of Wonder established Emerald City Press and distributed its publications through the store and by mail order.
Aftermath
The decision strengthened the connection between the bookstore's retail, mail-order, and publishing activities.
1985
Launch of the Books of Wonder Classics imprintProduct launchBackground
Books of Wonder sought to revive classic children's books, and Peter Glassman proposed illustrated reissues of the Oz books to David Reuther of Morrow Junior Books.
Action taken
The business began a publishing imprint under William Morrow and Company, initially concentrating on classic children's titles and illustrated reissues.
Aftermath
The imprint broadened the company's role in children's publishing and later commissioned artists to illustrate or color classic works that lacked suitable illustrations.
Sources2 sources
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