BOOKWORM MAGICBEANS BOOKSTORE Interview by Marsha Casper Cook
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rom the moment I first discovered the MagicBeans online bookstore, I immediately understood the importance of what Leat Regwan is doing. Her unique approach to selling books provides families with access to diverse, inclusive children’s books while amplifying the impact of customers’ purchases to truly make a difference in the world. MagicBeans Bookstore gives children the chance to experience books that break the mold and cover many of the important topics in today’s world. When customers choose to buy books from MagicBeans, their purchase not only gives a child the gift of literacy, but also supports independently published authors and illustrators who focus on celebrating diversity, culture and independence. In addition, for every book purchased MagicBeans donates a brand-new book to a child in need. Leat Regwan’s model of bookselling impacts both the education of children and the world of publishing, and not surprisingly, she is an incredibly interesting and very charitable person. After just one conversation with her, I knew she was someone who would succeed in helping to make the world a better place. 1) When you were growing up, how important was reading? My parents immigrated to the United States from Israel when I was only three years old. They barely spoke a word of English, so when I was in kindergarten, we were all learning to read at the same time, really. I loved when my parents would read bedtime stories to me in Hebrew, and as I learned to read, I would read books in English to them at bedtime. While I was in elementary school, I especially loved reading books by Judy Blume and “The Babysitters Club” series – I thought they were so cool! Reading was always something I enjoyed doing and was never something that was pushed on us by our parents. 24 | eYs Magazine, Autumn 2021
2) How different was your childhood from your children’s childhood? Wow! If my kids only realized how lucky and blessed, they are. I didn’t have a quarter of the things they have now – iPads, Playstations, Nintendo Switch – all the games and toys imaginable. We grew up in a tiny two-bedroom apartment. My sister, brother and I shared a bunk bed in one room, and we all shared one bathroom. There was really no money for anything but necessities. When we went to the market with my mom, we knew we were not to ask her for anything, because we could only afford what was on the list. Yet, my parents probably would have said that we didn’t realize how lucky and blessed we were, either. I feel that every generation comes with its set of blessings and challenges. My childhood was easier, carefree, less stressful and safer, and more innocent than that of this generation. That’s mostly due to the internet, social media and the “instant gratification” that children today are encompassed with. My children are still young, but I am already seeing major differences. When I was growing up and wanted a certain game or toy or anything, I had to wait for a birthday or holiday or save up my own money and really learn the art of patience. My fouryear-old tells me to “order it on Amazon,” because he knows it will come the same day or next day at the latest! As much as we try as parents to not fall into those traps, more often than not, we do.
