Your Non-Profit, Community Bookstore

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Welcome to
Hidden Gems!

The Bookstore that Gives Back

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CELEBRATED BY

“...countless lives have been touched by their service. They are an organization that we should all look for and try to help out!”

Jenna Bush Hager, The Today Show with Hoda and Jenna

We empower children & adults to fall, and stay in love, with reading.

Hidden Gems operates a donation-based bookstore, provides fun, literary programs for schools and communities, travels on an annual Free Book Tour nationwide, offers keynote presentations, assemblies, and more.

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Your support helps us do even more. Every dollar helps a story find its reader.

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Our Philosophy?

The Fun Factor!

When reading is joyful, it becomes irresistible for both children and adults. Our goal is to spark intrinsic motivation by making reading feel like play, not pressure. When people genuinely enjoy what they’re doing, the desire to keep going comes naturally—and that’s how lifelong readers are made.

PBS Interviews Hidden Gems

Senior Correspondent Jacqui Tricarico talks with Kaila Boulware Sykes, Co-Founder of Hidden Gems Literary Emporium, about her nonprofit’s mission to provide free books, promote literacy, and offer educational workshops to the New Brunswick, NJ community.

Our Work

Appreciation Sale on audiobooks! Support your non-profit bookstore while tuning in to your favorite titles! Your contributions keep us growing!💎📚

https://www.libro.fm/?bookstore=hiddengemsliteraryemporium

Free shipping ends tonight! 💎📚 Shop and support your non-profit, community bookstore! Send a hidden gem as a gift to a friend, or order that book you’ve been meaning to read. When you do, a portion of your purchase goes towards our nonprofit! 💎📚

Bookshop.org/shop/hiddengemsliteraryemporium

#Bookshop #IndieBookstoreDay

So this is HUGE....Remember our friends, @@porchwaterpress , who had their last book signing at Hidden Gems? Their band, @speakeasy.mp3 , is going to be on the @nprmusic YouTube Channel TOMORROW, Thursday April 24th at 3PM EST!

We are SO EXCITED to tune in and cheer them on!!! Here is the link https://www.youtube.com/live/0K8VaXN0mBs

"NPR Music received more than 7,000 submissions to this year's Tiny Desk Contest, our annual search for the next great undiscovered artist to play a Tiny Desk concert. Before we reveal this year's winner, our Contest judges are sharing their favorite entries as part of our annual Tiny Desk Contest Top Shelf livestream series." - NPR Music

Tune in and tell NPR how much you love SpeakEasy! See you there!

#tinydesk #tinydesk2025 #jersey

A captivating story can unlock a child’s imagination, inspire courage, and open doors to worlds they never knew existed. 📚✨ An exciting storyteller holds the key to that door. Today on #WorldBookDay be that key holder for a child you love!

Here we are reading a title from @chroniclekidsbooks and @chroniclebooks ! Thank you to everyone who watched this video on YouTube! 54,000+ views!

Learn more about how our storytimes make children smile at HiddenGemsLiteraryEmporium.com!

(609)-361-4331

#worldbookday2025 #HiddenGemsLiteraryEmporium
#PowerOfStorytelling #ImaginationUnlocked #StoriesChangeLives

It’s our favorite day of the year…WORLD BOOK DAY!!!! 💎📚 We believe in the magic that books have to offer! That's why our goal is to put as many free books directly into the hands of children and adult readers as possible.

With your help, we can do more! Visit HiddenGemsLiteraryEmporium.com to learn more and to support the movement!

We love you for reading! 📚💎

#WorldBookDay
#WorldBookDay2025

Proverbs 3:5 tells us to Lean not on our own understanding. Most people would see this photograph and think that everyone in this vehicle would have perished. But if you read Psalms 91 you will know the only reason why we survived!!!!💕💕💕💕

On this day one year ago, my children, my husband and I crawled out of this crushed van completely unharmed. No one broken a bone. Not even my 6 foot 3 husband who was in the front seat next to me. My children were completely safe. My then 1 year old daughter, Wisdom, didn’t even cry. The onlookers, the paramedics and the police were all in awe at our miraculous survival, and everyone was outside our van praising the Creator. Complete strangers, came together to give praise to The One Who Saved Our Lives. Clearly, HE is the only logical answer for a miracle so powerful.

Right before this accident, we were giving away free books at a school—all of us as a family of four. Today, we will be giving away free food for the first time as a family of five. Our newest daughter, Faith, was growing in my womb just a few weeks after this accident. Yet another testament that HE is always watching over us because we have faith in HIM.

Today is a very emotional day for us. Not one of sadness. But one of rejoicing because Yahuah saved our lives, and used us as an example of what HE can do for others.

With love, Truth, Wisdom and Faith,

Kaila 💕

Big news for bookworms! 📣 Hidden Gems pitched James Patterson & Matt Eversmann on a docuseries of their "Secret Lives of Booksellers"! 🤩 We think these amazing bookstore stories NEED to be seen! 📚🇺🇸

Please help us make it happen! Tell a friend to tell a friend to TAG @JamesPattersonBooks & @mpeversmann and say you want this docuseries! 🙏

#SecretLivesDocuseries #JamesPatterson #MattEversmann #IndieBookstores #BookDocumentary #SupportLocal #BookLovers #TagThem

📖💖 JFK Elementary + Hidden Gems = Literacy Fun! 🎉📚

Bringing FREE books and big smiles for #WeekOfTheYoungChild! 🥰 This year's extra meaningful after losing our book van in a crash post last year's event. 💔

Help us rebuild and fuel our #6000MilesOfGiving tour to share literacy across America! 🇺🇸 Support our journey at www.hiddengemsliteraryemporium.com. Every Dollar counts! ✨

#WeekOfTheYoungChild #EarlyLiteracy #BookLove #HiddenGemsLiteraryEmporium #6000MilesOfGiving #SupportLiteracy #KidsBooks

🌈 Toddler Tuesday took us to the amazing Whee Zone! 🌈 Our little ones had a ball climbing, sliding, and playing with all the exciting toys. 👶🏼 We love creating these special playdates for parents and their toddlers. ❤️ Interested in joining us next week? Send us a DM! #ToddlerTime #Playtime #hiddengemsliteraryemporium #EarlyChildhoodEducation #MommyAndMe #DaddyAndMe #Preschoolers

So happy to support the Books Behind Bars Book Drive this weekend!! Come out and enjoy a documentary screening, and conversation. Bring your books to be donated towards community members who are currently incarcerated. Help us spread love and kindness through the magic of reading! Thank you @cnj_dsa_mutual_aid for this beautiful effort!! 💎📚

We love you for reading!!!!

🎉 Huge thanks to the Rutgers Honors College Book Club for hosting an amazing book drive for Hidden Gems Literary Emporium! Your generosity will help us share the love of reading with our community. 📚❤️ We’re so grateful for your support! 🙏

#BookDrive #CommunityLove #SupportLocalBookstores #HonorsCollege #HiddenGemsLiteraryEmporium #BookLovers #ReadingCommunity #ThankYou #Grateful #Bookstagram #TikTokBooks #BookTok

BUS FOUND! 🚌 Now, let’s build a book fair on wheels! Donate to the #6000MilesofGiving tour here: www.gofundme.com/hiddengemshome

Thank you @amawohome for helping us realize our mission to spread love through literacy!

#Bookishness #SupportBooks #LiteracyDrive #Edutok #bookstagram #6000milesofgiving #tiktoklearningchallenge

One-On-One with Steve Adubato, PBS NewsHour Great interview with Jacqui Tricarico from PBS’s One on One with Steve Adubato! Huge thanks to the NJEA and the NJEA Convention for inviting us! For more information on how you can support our mission visit www.hiddengemsliteraryemporium.com#HiddenGemsLiteraryEmporium #PBS #OneOnOne #bookstagram #Interview #NJEA #NJEAConvention

WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO this!! 📚💎 Our 30-minute special airs on @njpbs and @thirteenwnet this weekend. Please tune in if you can! 💕

Saturday, February 22, 2025 @ 7:00am on NJ PBS; 7:30am on Thirteen/WNET

Sunday, February 23, 2025 @ 11am on NJ PBS

The first of many more beautiful announcements to come! 💕 We love you all!💎📚

Love,
Hidden Gems Literary Emporium

🎉 We were SO surprised and overwhelmed with love at our recent baby shower! A huge thank you to everyone who helped pull off this amazing surprise at the incredible Draw Cool Stuff Creative Gallery in Highland Park! We're so grateful for our Hidden Gems family and can't wait to welcome our little bookworm. 💖 #SurpriseBabyShower #HiddenGemsLiteraryEmporium #DrawCoolStuff #HighlandPark #BabyLove #LiteraryFamily #CommunityLove #BabyCelebration #BookLovers #Blessed

💖📚 Pink books & sister chats! 📚💖

These bookish besties are seeing the world through rose-colored glasses! 🌸 Join Kaila, Wisdom, and Journi for a fun chat about their fave pink books. 😉 #HiddenGemsLiteraryEmporium #bookishness #youngreaders #pinkbooks #sistertime #bookrecs

P.S. What's YOUR favorite pink book? Tell us below! 👇

“Reading The Good Egg by Jory John with Truth & Wisdom, thanks to the Johnson & Johnson book drive! 📚 Love this book? Find it & more on our founder’s list at Bookshop.org! 💛 #TheGoodEgg #BookDriveLove #KidsBooks #BookShopOrg #ReadingTogether”

📚✨ Today’s the day! Johnson & Johnson is teaming up with Hidden Gems Literary Emporium for a holiday book drive! We're using the books to breathe new life into the library of a Paterson, NJ school—where the books are older than the students! Let's spark joy and inspire young minds together. Drop off your books and make a difference!

#HolidayBookDrive #HiddenGemsLiteraryEmporium #LiteracyMatters #PatersonNJ #BookLoversUnite #GivingSeason #CommunityImpact #Booktok #Bookstagram #J&J

Sharing the Wisdom of the Bat Flower with our son Truth as we read “Wisdom of the Flowers” by Liz Marvin and Rosie Dore. #bookstagram #booktok #hiddengems #bookishness #hiddengemsliteraryemporium # fyp #sundayvibes

Thank you @njpbs @pbs @njeaconvention @insta_njea @jacqui2244 for helping us spread the word about Hidden Gems Literary Emporium!!! Keep an eye out for our interview which airs in a few weeks! ❤️📚💎

“Dr. Van Johnson deserves our support.” Dr Conrad Worrill, @chicagodefender defender 1990. Visit www.FramedandProfiled.com or our Bookshop to purchase this page turning memoir, “Framed and Profiled: The Legal Lynching of a Black Psychiatrist” by Dr. Van Johnson today. #framed #racism #doubledstandards #change #bookstagram #hiddengems

Who’s ready for a field trip!? The Frizz Family is coming to the @njeaconvention to fundraise for their Magic Book Fair on Wheels! And we’re bringing copies of Frizzy! #HiddenGems #NJEA #Frizzy #AtlanticCity #bookishness #HiddenGemsLiteraryEmporium #booktok

Were the New Kids on the Block at this years NJEA Convention! #NewKid #HiddenGems #AtlanticCity #NJEA #bookishness #HiddenGemsLiteraryEmporium #booktok

#QueenCityReads 📚❤️💎 Special thank you to @chrysalisproject in #PlainfieldNJ for inviting us to facilitate their book discussion, and for the amazing work they do for youth in Plainfield! We love you!!!!

The Story of Tiger and Fish, by @truthisartsy

We’re still here! Lol 🤣🫠. While getting ready for baby #3 and the NJEA convention, so much has transpired this summer you guys. Get ready for some SERIOUS book recommendations and event updates coming soon!!!! #bookishness #HiddenGemsLiteraryEmporium #hidddengemsbookstore #booktok

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Connect with us!

@hiddengemsliteraryemporium

Your Non-Profit, Community Bookstore

Welcome to
Hidden Gems!

We empower children & adults to fall, and stay in love, with reading.

Donate

Shop the Bookshop &
Support

Our Work

Hidden Gems & New Brunswick Public Schools Read Across America

Rutgers Students Support Literacy with Open Mic Fundraiser

Books & Care Packages for Incarcerated Mothers

Malcolm Jenkins Writes a Book---and it's a MUST READ!

Youth Art Exhibit Submissions

Help Us Build a Library for Middle Schoolers in New York

Rutgers Students help Hidden Gems Give Books to NJ and NY Young Readers

Connect with us!

SIGN UP AND STAY UPDATED!

Your Non-Profit, Community Bookstore

Welcome to Hidden Gems!

We empower children & adults to fall, and stay in love, with reading.

Donate

Shop the Bookshop & Support

Our Work

Hidden Gems & New Brunswick Public Schools Read Across America

Rutgers Students Support Literacy with Open Mic Fundraiser

Books & Care Packages for Incarcerated Mothers

Malcolm Jenkins Writes a Book---and it's a MUST READ!

Youth Art Exhibit Submissions

Help Us Build a Library for Middle Schoolers in New York

Rutgers Students help Hidden Gems Give Books to NJ and NY Young Readers

​

Connect with us!

SIGN UP AND STAY UPDATED!

Welcome to
Hidden Gems!

Shop the Bookshop &
Support