About Us

Where Stories Begin

With Love

A mother. A child. And one little drawing that became a world.

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Our Story

"If the bookstore we imagine doesn't exist yet

then let's build it."

The Reading Elf was born from a tender moment — a mother searching for magic for her little boy. We spent afternoons wandering bookshops, but he always imagined somewhere more alive. Somewhere to curl up under a glowing lamp, open a book, and feel the world shimmer.

A place where children could giggle, wander, sit on the floor, and simply be themselves between pages.

Mother and child — the heart of The Reading Elf
Shwetha Subbiah Balakrishnan — Founder of The Reading Elf

About the Mother

The Builder of Dreams

She saw more than just a drawing. She saw a world waiting to be created.

Instead of letting it remain a sketch, she turned it into a real space for children.

She believes reading should feel joyful, not something children are forced to do.

Through The Reading Elf, she created a place where imagination feels real.

About the Son

Chief Book Explorer

The Reading Elf began with him.

His imagination. His love for stories. His endless curiosity.

He drew the mushroom house that became our identity.

Today, he is still part of the store, helping kids discover books they love.

Look out for his picks around the store.

Adhruth Subbiah Balakrishnan — Chief Book Explorer at The Reading Elf
The Reading Elf logo

More Than Just a Bookstore

The Reading Elf is a story of love, imagination, and belief.

A mother who believed.

A child who imagined.

And a space where stories come alive.

From one drawing...

to a world full of stories.

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