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Miss Felicia shares love of books in Burr Ridge
Felicia LaGioia, assistant manager and kid's specialist at Barbara's Bookstore. | Curtis Lehmkuhl~Sun-Times Media
The inside story
Name: Felicia LaGioia
A.K.A.: Miss Felicia, storytime reader at Barbara’s Bookstore in Burr Ridge
Hometown: Elmwood Park
Storytime: 11 a.m. Wednesday and Saturday, Barbara’s Bookstore, 810 Village Center Drive.
Article Extras
Updated: January 7, 2013 6:14AM
BURR RIDGE — To the children at Barbara’s Bookstore, Felicia LaGioia is known as Miss Felicia. She is the lady who every Wednesday and Saturday reads life into stories for all who care to gather at the Village Center store in Burr Ridge. After two years at the store, LaGioia has worked her way up to assistant manager and plans to keep reading to children even after she completes her studies in anthropology and early childhood education at Triton Community College.
Q. What attracted you to this job?
A. I was an avid reader as a kid. That’s why I’m so familiar with the kids’ books. And I do read a lot of the teen book, to be able to give good recommendations. I try to read them to get a good idea of what is in them.
Q. How many books do you read in an average month?
A. It depends. Normally, I probably read at least three or four books.
Q. What are your favorite children’s books?
A. “The BFG” by Roald Dahl is probably one of my favorites. “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Day” is also a favorite of mine.
Q. What are you reading now?
A. What is really popular now is “The Hunger Games” trilogy, so I’ve been reading a lot of post-apocolyptic teen books. I try to read what is popular, and I will read that, but I read everything.
Q. Has the job turned out to be what you expected it to be?
A. I didn’t expect the regulars who come for storytime. I’ve actually made great friends of the parents. The kids gets to know you get to know the kids.
Q. Have you worked in other book stores?
A. I worked at Books-A-Million in Western Springs and also at the one downtown.
Q. What do you like about working at the Burr Ridge store?
A. We have the customers who always come back. Our store is so homey. You walk into the kids’ section and you just feel like this is what a kids’ section should be like.
Q. Do you see a time when e-readers and computers replace paper books?
A. I don’t ever think that will happen. There are a select few of us who still refuse to breathe the word “ e-reader.” We have people who come in and say you’re the only book store around and we’re so glad you’re here. As long as we have people like that, I don’t think book stores are going to go anywhere.
Q. What’s the next big thing in teen literature?
A. The Divergent series is going to be big. That’s by Veronica Roth. They are fantastic books. I really hope that’s going to be the next one to blow up.
Q. Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?
A. I’ve always seen myself in an atmosphere with a lot of kids, whether they’re my own, or reading storytime, or teaching a class.
