Elmhurst Bookstore Closed Most Of Time

ELMHURST — The owner of an Elmhurst children's bookstore says injuries she suffered in a car crash in April have kept her from keeping her shop open most days. But she said her goal is to return the store to regular hours.

Carolyn Carrillo, owner of A Book Above, said the store and a nonprofit she founded, Readers Ignite, are part of her mission to help improve children's literacy.

Unfortunately, she said she is in physical therapy for the back injuries she suffered and the store's hours are "very random." Customers are wondering about the status of A Book Above, 136 W. Vallette St., Suite 6. Over the weekend, she responded to such concerns on the Elmhurst, IL News and Comment Facebook page.

"It has been very hard, physically, for me to get the store back open," Carrillo said on the Facebook page. "I had tried to get a few folks together to help staff it, so I can get back on my feet. But that has not come together yet. I have been able to open occasional days, still."

In recent weeks, Readers Ignite, the nonprofit, has held book giveaways for children. Its Facebook page cited a Kids Count 2016 study that showed two out of five children 6 and younger are not being read to in their homes.

"Low literate adults are having children, and their children end up being low literate," Carrillo said in an interview. "It takes a lot for a child to become a reader. It helps a lot better if there is some home support, and that's not the case in a lot of homes, for a variety of reasons. Readers Ignite is not at all to judge, but be an advocate for children."

Carrillo founded the nonprofit in 2012 and the store in 2013. For more information or to help, call Carrillo at 847-471-6277.