One Year of Stories: Celebrating The Curious Turtle's First Birthday

Almost one year ago, we unlocked the door, took down the brown paper, straightened the books one last time, and hoped people would walk through it.

We had a dream of creating something a little different for downtown Jefferson City—a place where stories mattered, where families could slow down, where games and toys inspired imagination instead of screens, and where everyone felt welcome, whether they were lifelong readers or just searching for their next favorite book.

We couldn't have imagined what this first year would become.

Over the past twelve months, thousands of books have found new homes. We've celebrated new releases, hosted local authors, started book clubs, welcomed hundreds of children to Storytime, launched our Summer Reading Program, sent letters across the country through our Sunday Letter Project, rearranged shelves (and furniture) more times than we can count, and watched strangers become friends over conversations about books.

One of the most fun parts of owning a bookstore is watching what captures the hearts of our community.

Some books never seem to stay on the shelves. Don't Trust Fish has become our most frequently restocked children's book. It disappears almost as quickly as we can get it back in stock, and after reading it ourselves, we completely understand why. 

Among adults, a few titles have kept us constantly placing reorder requests. Yesteryear, Whistler, and Mad Mabel have each sold out three different times. The buzz around those books has certainly been real—and while we'll let you decide for yourself, we happily agree with the excitement surrounding two of the three.

At the same time, one thing has remained wonderfully consistent.

You continue to reach for the classics.

Whether it's a beautifully bound edition of Peter Pan, Anne of Green Gables, or The Secret Garden, you've reminded us again and again that timeless stories still have a place on today's bookshelves. Even more than that, your enduring love for J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis has been one of the greatest joys of our first year. Every time we restock The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and the Chronicles of Narnia they find new homes. It's a reminder that while new releases are exciting, the books that shape generations continue to bring readers together.

We've laughed with you over favorite characters, cried over unforgettable endings, debated classics, celebrated first chapter books, and helped countless readers discover stories they didn't even know they were looking for.

That's been our favorite part.

The Curious Turtle has never been just about selling books.

It's about building a community centered around curiosity.

It's the child who proudly announces they've finished their first chapter book.

It's the grandparent searching for the perfect birthday gift.

It's the family who makes Saturday Storytime part of their weekly routine.

It's the reader who walks back through the door just to say, "You were right—that book was amazing."

Those moments remind us why independent bookstores matter.

They create places where conversations happen naturally, recommendations are personal, and reading becomes something we share together instead of something we do alone.

As we begin our second chapter, we're more excited than ever.

You'll continue to find carefully curated books for every age, thoughtfully selected games and toys, author events, book clubs, Storytime, and new ways to gather as a community. We'll keep breathing new life into vintage furniture, refreshing displays, and filling our shelves with books we believe are worth your time.

Because while it's fun to stock the latest bestseller, our greatest hope has always been to help you find a story you'll remember long after you've turned the last page.

None of this would be possible without you.

Whether you've visited once, stop in every week, ordered a book online, shared one of our posts, brought your children to Storytime, recommended us to a friend, or simply cheered us on from afar—you've helped write the first chapter of The Curious Turtle.

Thank you for believing in small businesses.

Thank you for believing in local bookstores.

Thank you for proving that stories still matter.

Most of all, thank you for making The Curious Turtle feel like home.

We hope you'll celebrate with us during our anniversary week! Stop by to browse our refreshed displays, enjoy birthday specials, spin the prize wheel, join us for Storytime, grab a sweet treat, and help us celebrate one incredible year of stories.

Here's to Chapter Two.

We can't wait to see where the next page takes us.