Casita Bookstore: Long Beach’s little house for little readers

From the outside, Casita Bookstore boasts an endearing facade reminiscent of a cottage, with large, open windows that invite residents in and give a peek into the warm space. 

A sign on the front door reading “Bienvenidos, come on in,” greeting guests inside creates a feeling similar to entering a family’s living room, ripe with the possibility of stories and heritage. The familial sentiment is exactly what this bookstore strives for. 

“We chose the name Casita because the bookstore looks like a little home,” co-owner Antonette Franceschi-Chavez said. “We try our best to replicate that vibe inside. Having comfy seating for everyone, and an open space where guests can gather, read and feel a little piece of home while visiting was important when designing the bookstore’s interior.”

The word “casita” translates to “little house” in Spanish, and perfectly reflects the snug and charming atmosphere this bookstore possesses in a bustling part of town. 

This Latino-owned and operated bookstore is a labor of love for owners and spouses Franceschi-Chavez & Alex Chavez. 

Franceschi-Chavez is a former teacher and Parent Engagement Coordinator with the Long Beach Public Library (LBPL), and holds a passion for bringing literacy to all communities. Her husband Alex offers experience in owning multiple small businesses throughout Southern California, including a barbershop in Long Beach.

“One of the driving forces of this bookstore are the diverse communities in Long Beach, and more specifically the area that Casita resides in. In this area, there are a high number of people that belong to many different communities, particularly the Latinx, LGBTQ and Indigenous communities, and we want to make sure that their representation is at the forefront for individuals walking by on a regular basis,” Franceschi-Chavez said. 

Small businesses that act as community gathering spaces thrive on the Fourth Street Corridor in Long Beach, and its newest bookstore is no exception. 

Upon entering, customers are greeted by a diverse collection of literature, ranging from children’s books, young adult fiction and non-fiction selections to poetry collections and lifestyle books, such as photography and cookbooks. Bookworms and educators alike have countless options to choose from when browsing Casita’s hanging shelves and bookcases. 

“About 70% of our inventory is directed towards children, between [ages 0 through 12],” Franceschi-Chavez said. “But we do have selections geared towards young adults and adult readers as well.” 

With a variety of selections to choose from, including titles in English and Spanish, it’s clear that diverse stories and representation is part of Casita’s origin story. 

“Because I was a dual language teacher, I know that there is a struggle for families and caregivers to find high-quality, engaging books in Spanish for kids. Knowing that Long Beach Unified has a large dual language program, I want to make sure that community members have access to titles in other languages, and know that they can come to us for that need.” 

Franceschi-Chavez is also the co-founder and chief executive officer of Equity Through Literacy, a nonprofit charity in Long Beach that aims to provide parents and families with tangible resources to bridge the literacy gap.

Years as a teacher and Parent Engagement Coordinator gave Franceschi-Chavez first-hand experience with how excited children get to visit the library and choose a book, and how much parents love witnessing the joy their children receive from choosing a book to read, she explained. Building a space for these moments and harboring a sense of community around that exchange is what inspired the Chavez family to bring Casita Bookstore to Long Beach. 

“With there being a bit of a renaissance in bookstores at the moment, you don’t often see bookstore’s specifically geared towards children. Often, the target audience for these new bookstores are young adults and adult readers,” Franceschi-Chavez said “Having a space that focuses on bringing the importance of literacy to little ones where they can come in, grab a big cushion and sit and read a book or attend a storytime and build a love of literacy is key.”

Some of Franceschi-Chavez’s favorite books available at Casita are “Between Us and Abuela: A Family Story from the Border” by Mitali Perkins, and “Hey, Wall: A Story of Art and Community” by Susan Verde. The latter was the source of inspiration for Casita’s grand opening event “Cafecito y Cuentos,” which featured a children’s story time, an art station, coffee, conchas and an opportunity for the community to gather and enjoy the bookstore as it was intended. 

Events like this are definitely in Casita’s future, Franceschi-Chavez said, with hopes to host art literacy-based workshops for youth, local author read-alouds, children’s storytime and more.

With a focus on highlighting marginalized communities through literature, and creating space for youth and adults alike to come together to learn, grow and build empathy through the magic of books, Casita’s future as a communal space for readers in Long Beach is bright. 

Casita Bookstore is located at 1440 E. Fourth St. and is open Thursdays and Fridays from noon to 5:00 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. To view Casita’s catalog, visit their website at www.casitabooks.com. 

This article was updated on Dec. 19 to correct the position Antonette Franceschi-Chavez had with the Long Beach Public Library from librarian to Parent Engagement Coordinator and to correct the ages that Casita Books caters to from 8-12 grade to 0-12 years.