Featured Customer of the Month: Linden Tree Books

By Cameron Crane

As an independent children’s book publisher, there is nothing more special than coming across a wonderful independent bookstore serendipitously. Such was the case with Linden Tree Children's Books, our featured customer of the month this April. Today, please welcome Dianne Edmonds of Linden Tree.

How did Linden Tree come to be?

Linden Tree Children's Records and Books was a labor of love from Linda and Dennis Ronberg. They opened 1981 in Los Altos with an excellent selection of children's recordings, a broad inventory of books, and a selection of puppets and book-related gifts. Two years ago, the Ronberg's announced they were ready to retire and were looking for a buyer for the bookstore. Jill Curcio and I, local parents and loyal customers, researched the possibility of forming a partnership and buying the store. We are thrilled to be carrying on the tradition of offering the highest quality of children’s literature to a supportive and appreciative community.

What makes Linden Tree so special?

Everyone has a “Linden Tree story”; whether it’s the loyal customers who have been coming for years (we now even have second generation of Linden Tree customers!), the Linden Tree reputation for superior customer service and literary knowledge, the dedicated staff, the community gathering spot — all of these components create an environment that people of all ages just want to be a part of it.

We love Linden Tree’s mission of “igniting imaginations”. How do you make this happen?

Jill and I made it a top priority when we bought the store to bring Linden Tree current and we did this taking what was happening inside the store and putting into our new logo and colors. Allowing imaginations to grow happens at every age and can happen with any book. We stock the most creative and unique books, side-by-side with the classics. The staff then adds the last part of the magic of getting that right book into the right hands.

What is your favorite part about owning and running Linden Tree?

For both of us, it’s about keeping a local, independent bookstore in our community AND making it community. We are both passionate about children, children’s reading and watching the imagination grow for all readers.

How did you find out about Little Pickle Press? What has your experience selling Little Pickle Press books been like?
Our relationship with Little Pickle Press just started recently, but we had heard about LPP from other sources. Just as we were ready to give you a call and find out if you marketed direct or through a rep, two things happened in the same day that gave us the sign this would be a wonderful relationship: first, Dianne had a fabulous introduction and phone call with Rana regarding the Earth Day event. That call ended with Rana and Dianne agreeing that Linden Tree would be a perfect site to sell LPP publications. Both companies had similar missions and focus. Then, within a couple of hours, an independent rep that has been a Linden Tree supporter for many years, called to say he just picked up the LPP account and would be our rep for LPP. He even suggested we give Rana a call (not knowing that Dianne had just been on the phone with her) to introduce ourselves. We are very excited about carrying this new line of books.

Rana DiOrio and Land Wilson, two of our award-winning authors, will be at your Earth Day Celebration for readings and activities on April 22nd. Can you tell us a little bit more about this event?


We are very excited. Rana and Land will be providing book readings and leading discussions with the children about what it means to be green, what is means to preserve the earth and what we can all learn from each other regarding Earth Day. We are looking at this as our launch for LPP in our store. We are fortunate to live in an area where everyone seems to have awareness for the environment, and this event will make the education of the environment fun for all.

For more information about this Sunday's event, click here.

Is there anything else you would like to share with us about Linden Tree?

As an independent bookstore, we are here for the community we support. We are a part of the community in so many ways. We provide a variety of roles: social gathering spot for families, for children who need an outlet from the stress of their lives, and for readers of all ages. Linden Tree believes in giving back to the community as well. We support, via donations and events, many school libraries, school fundraising, non-profit fundraising and more. We hope the community will think twice about buying online or from a big-box retailer….are those enterprises sponsoring your local school walk-a-thon?

Thank you Linden Tree, for your support of Little Pickle Press! We look forward to continuing this relationship!