FOR THE REVOLUTIONARY READER!
An award winning social justice driven children's bookstore and learning center
dedicated to critical literacy that promotes inclusivity and diversity by
honoring historically marginalized communities.
We are built by what the ancestors
and descendants had to do
to survive. To thrive.
The art of storytelling.
It comes in many different forms. It is powerful. And it lies in each one of us.
Rohi's Readery serves as a space to tap into unapologetic truth.
To build community. To be Seen. Valued. Loved. Belong.
We are committed to honoring historically marginalized communities where adults and children are co-constructors of learning and knowledge. We like to think of it as cultivating the genius that is already within our littlest ones and connecting with the inner child for the older ones too.
Rohi’s Readery, a social justice driven children's bookstore and learning center, is more than a physical space. It is an experience to feel freedom in our most authentic selves.
Driven by a commitment to amplify the voices of historically marginalized communities, including Black, Indigenous, Arab, Asian, Pacific Islander, Latine, LGBTQIA+, and the disability and neurodiverse communities, the Readery strives to create a space where individuals can find liberation in their identity while learning about the diverse stories of others.
At the core of Rohi’s Readery is a dedication to promoting literacy experiences that empower both children and adults. Through free educational programming, the Readery offers a range of classes such as gardening, cooking, dance, book clubs for children, healing writing, caregiver gatherings, educator workshops, and inclusive yoga for adults to name a few.
The Readery extends its impact through various community outreach efforts, including book donations, off-campus events, DEIA consulting, educator coaching, and library curation (check out our services section). By providing diverse reads lists, phonics support, and other resources, the Readery aims to meet the evolving needs of the community. These initiatives not only aim to cultivate conscious citizens but also serve as a conduit for building connections within the community.
Children's literature is recognized as a powerful tool for sparking discussions and providing opportunities for activism. The Readery seeks to harness the diverse forms that activism can take, from writing and singing to dance and painting.
In an effort to ensure that historically marginalized communities feel seen and heard, the Readery engages in outreach events, Storytimes, book fairs, panel discussions, and provides quality DEI education consulting for schools.
"we read something we learn something
we share it with the world!"
Located on stolen ancestral Seminole and Tequesta land.
The Readery makes this acknowledgment to remind ourselves that, by being here today, we strive to remedy this injustice through our beliefs and actions in rooting content in anti-racist work and disrupting colonized pedagogies.
Awards & Acknowledgments
2015 NYC SA Teacher Excellence of the Year Award | 2016 NYC SA Teacher Excellence of the Year Award
2021 Palm Beach Illustrated Education Institution of the Year Finalist |2022 YWCA Dorothy Height Racial Justice Award Finalist
2022 Anti-Defamation League of FL Community Change Maker Winner | 2022 SFBW Diversity and Inclusion Business Honoree
2022 Chamber of Commerce of the PB Diversity Business of the Year Finalist | 2022 Path to College Education Champion of the Year
2022 Jupiter Magazine’s “Ones to Watch” | 2022 Cultural Council's Top Bookstores in South Florida | 2022 Essence Magazine Top 5 Places to Visit in PB | 2022 Palm Beach Illustrated Educator of the Year Finalist | 2022 Thrillest List of Top Bookstores in South Florida
2022 Modern Luxury Palm Beach Philanthropists of the Year | 2022 New Voices New Rooms SIBA and NAIBA Community Work Award
2023 Southern Living and Yahoo's Top 20 Bookstores in Florida | 2023 TedX Speaker- The Power of Critical Literacy | 2023 "Best Community Bookstore for Families" by Florida Weekly | 2023 Palm Beach County School District "We're All In" Champion for Equity Award | 2023 Chamber of the Palm Beaches Diversity Organization of the Year Award | 2023 Compass LGBTQIA+ Center Guiding Light Award | 2023 Out South Florida "Best Kept Secret" Winner | 2023 Grow Lit Social Justice Award Winner | 2024 NLC Race for Change Award Winner | 2024 NAACP Grantee Winner | 2024 Cadence Cash Grantee Winner | 2023 Speak Up for Kids Ambassador | 2022-2023 Natural Movers Foundation Board Member | 2023-2024 Book Art Musical Festival Board Member | 2022-2024 Watson Institute x Lynn University Professor | 2022-2024 Norton Teacher Council Member
rev·o·lu·tion·ar·y read·er
(noun)
Leading and creating great change through reading
our commitment
01
To see characters with skin in beautiful shades of Black & Brown
04
To share & uplift historical content that has been suppressed in school textbooks
02
To see characters who identify with the LGBTQIA+ community
05
To present non-fiction texts that honor strength & courage of every day community members
03
To see characters reflective of the disability and neurodiverse community
06
To provide educational programming, resources and workshops for the community
Join our Read-Alouds
Hi,
I'm Pranoo (she/they/we)
I am the proud immigrant daughter of Konkani Indian parents, a career changer from medicine to education, a mummy, wife and educator committed to liberating education.
I take time to pay respect and honor to those who came before me who have allowed me to fully embrace this work with unapologetic truth. My ancestors and family members who have been committed to the fair and equitable treatment of human beings. The historically marginalized communities who have been laying the groundwork for activism from the very beginning. I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge that the work that I am doing is not new, but instead built on the feeling of gratitude and inspiration from those who have had the courage to speak about all things social justice, especially when it pertains to children.