About

I am a lifelong lover of books. My mom is a teacher and I was fortunate to have had a ton of books in our home growing up. She would always read to me before bed.  Once I learned to read on my own, I couldn’t stop! In elementary school, I would win the Read-A-Thon competitions year after year, devouring any book I could get my hands on.  I loved the fantasy worlds that authors like Gail Carson Levine and Roald Dahl created, but also found a lot of comfort in the stories about growing up from Judy Blume and Ann M. Martin. (Didn’t we all love The Babysitter’s Club?! I wanted to be a Claudia, but I'm most definitely a Mary Anne.)

Thinking back to how my childhood (and my life!) was shaped by the words of the stories I cherished, I always knew that I wanted my children to have a vast home library as well. I began collecting my favorites as I came across them in used book stores. This was WELL before I actually became a parent! Secondhand books are not only great for the environment and the wallet, but there's just something magical about holding a book that was held before. A story that was a part of someone else's story, and now part of yours.

I also took an interest in vintage books, particularly Disney books, for their gorgeous artwork - even though many of these books were practically falling apart, I couldn't leave them. I took them home with me and repurposed them into new art pieces over the years - just for fun or as gifts for friends. 

Merry Babe Books (@merrybabebooks) started as an Instagram account in 2021 when my son Huck was born - every week, I read him a new book and photographed him next to it, showcasing his growth during his first year. In 2023, my daughter Hazel was born and I started the project again. People began asking me for book recommendations for the kids in their lives, and often for book-related gift ideas, especially for new parents trying to create a library for their baby. I started sharing more of our favorite books on Instagram. 

In 2025, I tried something new that I had wanted to do for a while - vendor events! I began selling secondhand books and repurposed art pieces and buttons made from books. It has been so validating to see people respond to this and connect over our favorite kids books. 

 I love the idea that books and art can bring people together.  There is a book out there for everyone, and books should be accessible to all. I want to help other parents and caregivers build their childrens' libraries with amazing books in a way that won't break the bank or kill the planet. Owning books is empowering for children. I am committed to helping you create home libraries that are quality, affordable and uniquely tailored to your child and their interests and development. 

Merry Babe Books is about connecting children to books, bringing joy through art, and keeping books out of landfills. Thanks for following along on this journey!