Tucked behind Südstern church, just off Gneisenaustrasse, lies an unassuming little children’s book shop; Krumulus. The shop is easy to find due to the gaily decorated shop front, and the old-fashioned pram stuffed with books sitting outside. I first dropped in when we moved to the area a couple of years ago, and have been back there a hundred times since for books, gifts, birthday cards, kids print workshops and a browse in its delightful space.
I wanted to let BFATF followers know about his little gem, so a couple of weeks ago, I popped by to take some photos and have a chat with the owner, Anna Morlinghaus. Since opening in 2014, Anna and her small team of passionate booksellers have created a charming combination of shop, gallery space and children’s print workshop, which has just been awarded the German Ministry of Culture’s top “Best Bookshop in Germany” award, not to mention “Berlin’s Best Children’s Bookshop”. Impressive for a store not yet 5 years old.
As we sit down over a cup of coffee, a troupe of 3 to 4 year olds gaggle into the shop. Anna smiles and explains how they regularly host local kitas and schools for free storytelling sessions. It’s a cosy atmosphere as Kerstin, resident storyteller extraordinaire, keeps the kids entranced with a forest story book in the gallery space, surrounded by gorgeous artwork and seasonally themed objects, while Sven, Anna’s bespectacled book expert, cuts out shadow play puppets in the workshop for the forthcoming show, and a few customers browse the shop.
The current exhibition is based around “Baume”, a beautifully illustrated book by Piotr Socha, and so the whole gallery space at the back of the shop has been taken over with tree related paraphernalia. Anna explains she changes the exhibition seasonally, with accompanying themed art workshops, storytelling and music sessions, shadow puppet theatre shows and more, which can be booked online here. They are mainly in German language, but I took our eldest along to an art workshop a couple of months ago, and he loved snipping and painting away in the snug workshop space, adorned with dozens of children’s artworks. Anna reveals that by early next year, the shop will have a freshly refurbished basement in which a new workshop will be housed, complete with silk screen facilities for more explorations into art.
The bookshop itself is a kaleidoscope of carefully curated children’s books. They are mainly in German, but there is a small foreign language section with English included, and Anna and the team are happy to order anything you might require, but with so many lovely gift items on display, I dare you to leave without making a purchase. I haven’t managed it yet.
Krumulus. Sudstern 4, 10961, Berlin
post@krumulus.com
http://www.krumulus.com/
Krumulus. Sudstern 4, 10961, Berlin
post@krumulus.com
http://www.krumulus.com/
PS. Krumulus often hosts English speaking sessions, although they are currently without an English storyteller, so if you fancy giving it a go, get in touch on the email above and have a chat to Anna about being their potential Jackanory. I can’t think of a nicer place to work.
