Check Out Emily Mitchell-Polci’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Mitchell-Polci.

Hi Emily, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Yes — that’s a better angle. More simple, honest, and true to the story:

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The Wandering Lantern came together in a way that felt very natural, but also a little wild. It started as just an idea — one of those “wouldn’t that be amazing?” conversations — and then suddenly there was a real opportunity in front of us.

A friend posted a picture of an empty storefront in Lakewood, and Michael asked me what I would put there. I immediately said, “A children’s bookstore.” We both love books, we care about community, and we kept thinking about how special it would be to bring those two things together in one place.

Michael is very good at taking an idea and figuring out how to make it real, and I’ve always loved children’s literature above all — as a reader, a teacher, and a mom. So when the door opened, we decided to walk through it. We took the risk, even though we’re learning as we go, it feels like the kind of thing our community would love and the kind of space we wanted to help build: a third space where all ages can feel at home and reconnect with what really matters.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Opening a small business is a big risk. As you can imagine, with a bookstore, there are the fun, dreamy parts — choosing books, designing the space, planning events — but there are also a million practical things: inventory, construction, bills, permits, marketing, learning retail, and figuring out how to make the dream sustainable financially. Selling books alone doesn’t pay the bills these days.

One of the biggest challenges has been holding both things at once: wanting the store to feel magical and meaningful, while also needing it to work as a real business. We want to say yes to every good idea, every event, every community need, but we are also learning our limits and figuring out what we can actually do well.

We are building a lot of this as we go, with help from family, friends, and the community. There have been stressful days and a lot of unknowns, but every time families come in, kids settle into a corner with a book, or someone says Lakewood needed this, it reminds us why we took the risk.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My work has always centered around stories, creativity, and helping kids love reading and writing. I have a master’s degree in English literature, and I’ve spent years teaching reading and writing. I’ve also read a ridiculous amount of children’s books — as a teacher, a mom, a homeschooler, and now as a bookstore owner.

One of my strengths is finding the right book for the right child. Sometimes it just takes one good match to make a child feel like reading is for them. I love that part of the work — listening to what a kid likes, what they don’t like, what kind of person they are, and then trying to put the right story in their hands.

I’ve also always been drawn to creative work and small businesses. I love the freedom of building something from an idea and making it feel beautiful, personal, and meaningful. When I homeschooled my kids and later taught in my classroom at Birchwood School of Hawken, I was always trying to find interesting ways to bring stories to life — through crafts, writing projects, decorations, discussions, pretend play, or simply making the environment feel special.

That is really what I still do now at The Wandering Lantern. I choose books, create events, decorate the space, plan activities, and try to make the store feel full of whimsy and wonder without losing its heart: good stories and real connection. What I’m most proud of is creating a place that combines all the things I care about — books, children, beauty, imagination, learning, and community.

Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
So many people deserve credit because The Wandering Lantern is something I could have never built alone.

Michael is my biggest help and partner. He is the one who brings so many of my ideas to life. He is talented, inventive, hardworking, and so supportive. I can imagine the feeling of something, and somehow, he can figure out how to actually build it or make it work. I am so grateful for him.

Our families helped so much, too. Parents, children, siblings, etc., helped us make, build, and paint to get the store open. My dad, Michael, and his son built my dream bookshelves by hand from American oak, and they are among my favorite parts of the whole store. Friends from our West Coast Swing dance classes also showed up and helped us get the space ready, which still means so much to us.

Monika Mazur also deserves a lot of credit. She introduced herself while we were still working on the store before we opened, and it honestly felt like destiny. She started by volunteering to help with craft events, and now she is my right-hand woman as my administrative assistant and promotions/marketing manager. I could not do this and grow the store without her.

We’ve also met wonderful friends in the neighborhood, like Katherine Metz and Ramona; Melissa Vincel and her sons, including Landon, who now works for us; and the Hale family, who are regulars and seem to bring new people with them every time they come to hang out. That has been one of the best parts — feeling like we are becoming part of a real book family.

And of course, my whole inspiration is my four beautiful children: Rowan, Mitchell, Wesley, and Franklin. I had the privilege of reading to them as they grew up, and it was truly a dream come true. That is where my love of children’s books took root and has been growing ever since. They were my first and most precious literary community.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thewanderinglantern.com/events
• Instagram: @thewanderinglanterncle
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewanderinglantern
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@lanternlightreadalouds