Building a Home for Book Wonder: a Website that Inspires Connection
Some projects stick with you long after the final design tweaks, and this was one of them. When MJ from Book Wonder reached out to me, it wasn’t just about creating a website—it was about building a home for their mission.
But MJ needed a way to bring it all together—a website that was functional, beautiful, and accessible to all.
Book Wonder is more than a used bookshop. It’s a welcoming space for diverse children’s literature and a valuable resource for anyone seeking personal recommendations for inclusive stories. Tucked inside another local business, MJ’s shop also anchors incredible community initiatives, providing representative books to families and classrooms all over our area.
What Book Wonder Needed
MJ came to me with a clear vision. They’d recently had a professional logo designed and were ready to showcase it, along with a fun and cohesive brand identity. They wanted the website to:
- Be a one-stop landing place for the bookshop and their philanthropic work.
- Establish Book Wonder as the local go-to expert for diverse children’s books.
- Prioritize accessibility for neurodiverse individuals.
They also wanted to make it simple for people to connect with them, whether to visit the store or get involved with their social mission: making diverse books accessible to students and families through donating to schools and building and filling up Little Free Libraries at all neighborhood schools.
Challenges Along the Way
One challenge with this project was designing for a very specific accessibility need: MJ shared that they and many of their customers are neurodiverse, which meant that traditional website elements like text overlaying images were overwhelming. While we had gorgeous photos of their shop and books to work with, I adjusted the design to let text stand out on clean, colorful backgrounds instead.
Another hurdle was something more personal. Some community members didn’t fully embrace the mission of the Diverse Little Free Libraries. There had been vandalism in the past, and MJ was understandably concerned about creating a public online presence while keeping their work safe. MJ wanted the site to provide visitors with the right words to understand their goals and the impact of their work, particularly in case there was media coverage of vandalism or other challenges.
To address this, we focused on clear, intentional messaging that highlights Book Wonder’s expertise and commitment to inclusivity. The site includes detailed information about multiple community projects, including the Little Free Libraries, with an emphasis on their positive community impact.
Before and After
Before: A Social Media-First Presence
Before the website, Book Wonder lived primarily on social media. While MJ did an amazing job connecting with their community in person and on platforms like Facebook and Instagram, it was clear they needed a dedicated home to share their story and expand their reach.
After: A Website That Feels Like Home
We brought MJ’s vision to life with a bright, welcoming design that reflects their personality and passion for books. The site captures the joy and purpose behind their work while being easy to navigate for everyone.
Some highlights of the final design:
- A hero section with bold text and vibrant brand colors.
- Interactive elements and clear calls to action to encourage connection.
- Clean, mobile-friendly navigation.
- Photos placed strategically to support accessibility while showcasing the heart of Book Wonder.
Results That Matter
I always say that a website should work for you, and Book Wonder’s site has proven to do just that. Within the first year:
- 40% of traffic came from Google searches, thanks to hyperlocal SEO efforts.
- 54% of visitors accessed the site on mobile, and every page worked flawlessly.
- The average visitor spent 1 minute 31 seconds on the site—about double the industry average, showing strong engagement.
Recently, MJ reached out again to refine the SEO further. They’d noticed calls and inquiries from people who weren’t the right fit—like requests for jobs or unrelated books. We made small tweaks to the SEO strategy, and since then, the bounce rate has decreased while traffic from their ideal audience has grown.
What MJ Said
“It is such a relief to have a beautiful, easy-to-use website to direct current and future customers towards, and center my social media platforms around.
I struggled to create a website for several years before realizing I could do this with someone like Jane who really listens and gets what I was trying to do—make a website that fully represents Book Wonder and our social mission.
Jane helped me every step of the way, and worked with me in future years to update language when my pop-up changed locations and I began to focus more on community events. I’m so thankful for her calm and clear approach to website design and functionality.”
— MJ, Founder of Book Wonder
My Favorite Part
One of the best parts of this project was collaborating with MJ. Their passion for books, kids, and inclusivity shines so brightly, and it was an honor to translate that into a website that works for them and our community.
I loved designing a space that celebrates joy and diversity while making sure it feels approachable and accessible. Every project has its unique challenges, but figuring out how to balance vibrant visuals with neurodiverse-friendly functionality was especially rewarding.
Final Thoughts
Creating Book Wonder’s website was a privilege, and I’m thrilled to see it supporting MJ’s incredible mission. If you’re looking for a website that tells your story and grows your impact, I’d love to help.
Let’s create something wonderful together.
Leave a Reply