A Multicultural Children’s Bookstore Has Closed But Lessons Were Learned And An Impact Was Made

I will never forget seeing MiJa Books for the very first time in the Lakewood Mall. It was such a bright, refreshing experience to see such a variety of children’s books with colorful illustrations showing little girls and boys of all shades. I had never seen such a display for kids of color like this before. The teacher and auntie in me could have spend all of my gas money buying books for my little loved ones in this book paradise!

A 'Latinapreneur' With Lessons To Give

That’s why it broke my heart to learn from my colleague Mariana Dale’s story last week that this Latina-owned bookstore, which opened in November 2021, was closing its doors. Its last day was Saturday.

Mariana recently visited owner Stephanie Moran Reed at MiJa Books to chat about the lessons she's learned about running a business while also being a mom. It all started with a love of books and a desire for her Afro-Latina daughter to see herself in the stories she read. There just weren’t enough titles available, even online, so Reed saw a need and filled it.

Born in a pandemic, the store had big ups — and downs — after launch, and not every encounter with a customer was a positive one. But MiJa Books had a huge impact on people.

This is what Reed told Mariana:

Read the rest of Mariana’s interview with Reed here, and learn more about the life of MiJa Books — how Reed's husband supported her choice to start her own business and how she handled the challenges that inevitably came her way.

Reed’s story and MiJa’s aren't over though. The mission will continue. She and her husband Muammar still have books available to buy online, at special events and at some nearby schools.

As always, try to stay happy and healthy, folks. There’s more news below — just keep reading.

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Wait... One More Thing

Did You Know The Zombie Fungus From The Last Of Us Is Real? (Don't Worry. There's Good News Too.)

In the video game and HBO show The Last of Us, an infectious fungi turns humans into zombies.

(David McNew

/

Getty Images)

For today’s interesting story of the day, let’s talk about parasites.

It feels like every time I’ve checked my timeline on Twitter these past couple of weeks, I see people talking about the HBO show The Last of Us. In the 2013 video game and the show, humans are trying to survive a post-apocalyptic world after an infectious fungus turns people into zombies. As a fan of Animal Planet’s Monsters Inside Me, I’m intrigued.

Turns out this fiction isn’t so far from the truth. There is a species of fungus that does practice some sort of “mind control” in insects like spiders and ants, and causes them to change their behavior.

The good news that separates it from the show? The fungus can’t infect humans…at least for now. Read NPR’s story for more.