Turning a Page

Innovative and award-winning Rohi’s Readery offers books, classes for historically marginalized communities

When Pranoo Kumar set about naming her first retail establishment, she didn’t have to look far for inspiration. Her grandmother Rohini was a dedicated education activist in her native India.

“She fought for children’s rights and the emancipation of women’s rights during colonized rule in India,” said Kumar, who opened Rohi’s Readery in 2021 at The Square in West Palm Beach. “When I think about the bookstore, I think about my grandmother. I think about my past; we’re constantly talking about ancestry and identity, and so my hope is that children who come into the bookstore will understand early on that your identity plays a huge role in the way that you show up for your community.”

Kumar, an education leader, consultant and life coach, positioned Rohi’s as a social-justice bookstore, a safe space where children (and adults) from historically marginalized communities can convene and discover reading materials that reflect their identities and experiences. The store is generally divided by age-appropriate content— from newborns to young adults, plus an adult section to meet demand—not by subject. Kumar believes this encourages shoppers to discover topics that might seem outside their direct experience. “I want people to explore the whole space but also understand that there’s intersectionality between marginalized communities,” she said. Browsing the shelves is “an opportunity to naturally explore windows and mirrors of learning.”

Kumar developed Rohi’s Readery as more than a for-profit business. It brings communities together, hosting 15 to 20 free classes each month, from storytime to arts and crafts. Kumar has a productive relationship with the School District of Palm Beach County, whose schools she visits a few times each year to read and educate students around topics like traditional Indian holidays. The store has already been recognized with multiple awards, including the 2023 Diversity Organization of the Year Award from the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches.

“It has always been about, how do we create safe, loving, inclusive spaces for our community?” Kumar said. “And in my past 12 years, 13 years of being in education, that has been my goal. Wherever I’m at, whatever demographics I’m working in, is to make sure everyone is seen, valued and loved. That is the premise of the bookstore.

“It’s not a place to be reactionary,” she added. “It’s a place to be proactive, so that we’re able to learn from the past and educate and promote kindness and care and empathetic, conscious citizens. My hope is that we can continue to find creative ways to keep the content moving in the right way for our babies.”

Visit Rohi's Readery at 600 S. Rosemary Ave., Suite 162, West Palm Beach, call the shop at (561) 838-7163, or visit it online at rohisreadery.com.