Birchbark Books & Native Arts

Birchbark is small, but I could get «lost» in there for hours.
I decided to poke around here after eating (demolishing) my lunch at The Kenwood. When I entered, I probably sounded like someone’s grandma, being all like «Oh how cuuute! What a PRECIOUS place!». The store is filled with beautiful art pieces, string lighting, and birch branches. It feels very cozy yet not cluttered. I was so excited to start exploring.
Birchbark has a wide array of totally gift-​able items, no matter their age or interest. I came across wonderful books, hand-​crafted items, cultural relics, local food items, and toys. I love that there are a lot of «Staff Pick» notes, which are all insightful and thoughtfully written. It is very kid (and Kara) friendly, with their «Hobbit Hole» and «treehouse» play areas.
My new Birchbark Christmas list: «The Food Lab», «The Dust That Falls From Dreams», Northland pure maple syrup with local wild rice pancake mix, and handmade dreamcatcher. Done. I purchased a really cool book for my boyfriend for Christmas. I can’t wait to give it to me, I mean him.

There is a wonderful array of materials to choose from! The staff is friendly and helpful. I would make this a stop if looking for books, gifts, or supporting a local business!

I came here with my mother, who had visited Minneapolis last year with my sister, but they never made it here. My mom orders Native American titles via their online website and because she’s raved about it and always wanted to visit, I joined the mailing list. So let me just say, that winding through scenic roads and getting a little lost to find the store, my mother and I finally landed at Birchbark. This place is one of a kind. I didn’t want to leave. I wanted to buy everything. The vibe is like being in New Mexico. High compliment. Go and just buy tons of stuff. They have great cards, books, art, music…

Wonderful, little neighborhood independent bookstore with great selection of current bestsellers as well as Native American books.

This bookstore has become my favorite in the Twin Cities and I make a point to stop by at least monthly. It’s the perfect mix of literature, culture, and customer service! The staff is always friendly and helpful especially at directing me to books I might not have otherwise discovered. They all take great pride in reading the books they recommend and provide descriptive, hand-​written reviews. This bookstore carries all the classics as well as the current best-​sellers and popular favorites. The children’s section is not to be missed.
They also offer a great selection of gifts that seem to perfectly represent Minneapolis, Minnesota, and regional interests all created by local artisans. It’s my go-​to for all holiday and birthday shopping. When you visit, you’re also supporting small, local, and independent business. Enjoy!

Bookstores like BIrchbark make me want to be a better, more voracious reader.
Everytime I go there I see great books by my favorite authors, books that are on my to-​read list and get fantstic suggestions by patrons and staff alike.
This place has a really good energy about it. I could spend hours and hours browsing and buying books here.
Come here and you will support local business, a local author and will leave with a smile on your face and an expanded library.

What a fabulous find! This is a neat bookstore with a Native American focus that also carries carefully selected books for all ages. Books are displayed with hand written notes for staff picks for books.
The two ladies at the store were very helpful when I went in there for the first time — helping me choose 3 kids’ books. Accuracy is a significant criterion in their selection of Native American books for children.
They gift-​wrapped the books for me too!

I used to live across from this place and never visited it all that often. Why is that? I have no idea. But I find myself going much more now that I’m not a stone’s throw away.
It’s everything a local bookstore should be. Friendly, passionate employees. Great selections of books that are expertly curated. Not the least bit pretentious or snooty. There is a Native American theme here, and they have author readings/​signings quite frequently. Keep in mind, although it is Native American themed, there is a wide range of books from all categories. Many you won’t find anywhere else!
I’m not going to play the «support your local bookstores» guilt card. You shouldn’t support a place that isn’t good. This place, however is GREAT, and deserves all of its accolades.
It’s very close to Lake of the Isles, I highly recommend you check it out whenever you are in the area. At least once. You won’t regret it.

I don’t think there are enough words in the English language to allow me to express my love for Birchbark. I have been going there since it opened several years ago, and remain totally in awe of the community it promotes. Their selection of books is rich and eclectic. They carry by FAR the best selection of Native authors and Native literature in at least the state, if not the country, yet also carry an incredible selection of all books non-​Native. I end up wandering the aisles and picking up books I never knew existed, on topics I never thought to explore, surrounded by the sweet aromas of sage and sweetgrass. Susan somehow seems to know everything about everything; she genuinely wants to help you find at Birchbark what inspires you, challenges you, and heals you.
The atmosphere itself is soothing, with a birchbark alcove, big open windows, and smiling faces that make you feel you’ve been transported away from the hustle and bustle of daily life into a place where intellectual exploration is cultivated, where caring for our earth and for each other is encouraged, and where inspiration comes easily. I honestly don’t know what I would do without Birchbark, Susan, and all of the other people who have made the store possible. I will buy all of my books here, because, when I do, I continue to support the community, intellectual traditions + explorations (Native and non-​Native alike), and the wonderful people who have created Birchbark.

When my mother and I need an attitude adjustment, book buying is the tried-​and-​true cure. So today we hopped on her pink scooter and zipped around Lake of the Isles to her favorite spot, Birchbark Books.
We arrived there with exactly five minutes before closing time. In that five minutes, I got a money recommendation (Let the Great World Spin), found a darling pro-​independent media t-​shirt for $ 5, and spontaneously purchased a well-​placed copy of Just Kids by Patty Smith.
Additionally, the friendly woman behind the counter arranged for the shop to order a copy of Savage Beauty for me for my birthday.
This place smells divine. It has little nooks and crannies to get lost in, and enough books to keep a bibliophile busy for a lazy few hours of browsing.

What a difference a day makes. The book buyer contacted me, and put a happy ending to this online order mishap: They are sending me a complimentary copy of the book that I attempted to order. Wow — I did not expect that…
This elegant response makes me think that if you live in or near Minneapolis, you should stop by… small bookstores are a rare and unique species and who knows what good things you might find! (I certainly did today… all the way in San Francisco!)

I was skeptical I’d find anything at Birchbark Books because I knew the owner is noted Native American author Louise Erdrich, so I imagined the store would only have Native American authors, new age books, and perhaps a selection of dream catchers.
Yay! I was wrong!
Yes, there is a selection of Native American arts and overpriced bags of wild rice, and the music they were playing the day I was in the store was new-​agey, but the book selection is terrific. Not only do they have a lovely selection of little kid thru YA books, but the adult book selection is impressive as well. The fiction section is selective and small (it’s a small store; they had to skimp somewhere), but the tables up front and the political/​social sections are terrific. I saw many books whose authors I had seen interviewed by Jon Stewart on The Daily Show, as well as books that I’d heard reviewed on NPR.
I could have easily walked out of there with 10 books that looked interesting, but I limited myself to one (I Am The Messenger by Markus Zusak, who wrote The Book Thief. He’s considered YA, but grownups should read his stuff, too. He’s amazing). Birchbark is definitely worth the visit if you’re around south Minneapolis. I’d especially recommend stopping in if you want to find a unique book for a child.