Timeless literature · Homeschool & family reading
Books that make us think.
Stories that make us feel.
For homeschool families—and every family raising thoughtful readers. Discover literature for children and adults that stirs the imagination, deepens understanding, and stands the test of time.
At Anderson & Co. Mercantile · McMinn County, Tennessee
Our vision
A good education.
A rich inner life.
For the books you read together.
And the books you read for yourself.
We believe the books we live with help shape who we become. A family read-aloud can open a conversation that lasts all day. A novel can help us understand another person. The right book can become a companion for years.
The Living Bookshelf exists to help homeschool families—and other families who value thoughtful reading—find literature with that kind of depth. Enduring classics, living books, narrative history, biography, and stories for children and adults that invite us to think deeply and feel something real.
We choose books for their lasting substance: rich ideas, a distinctive voice, and the power to form a reader’s imagination. Books worth returning to. Books worth passing on.
For your family’s reading life
Good books, ready for a new reader.
Browse our current books for family read-alouds, homeschool reading, and your own next chapter. No account needed to look around.
There’s a good book waiting for its next reader.
Browse our current shelves →Trading books
Give a good book
another family to grow with.
Pass along books your family is ready to share, and put accepted trade credit toward the next chapter of your reading life.
Start a book tradeSign in to submit a trade. Staff review each book before issuing credit.
- 01
Build your stack
Scan an ISBN or search for the books you’d like to bring in.
- 02
Bring them for a look
We’ll consider condition and fit, confirm the shelf price, and make a credit offer.
- 03
Find your next chapter
Accepted trade credit is saved to your account, along with your trade history.
Come browse in person
A little bookshop.
A lasting love of reading.
Find The Living Bookshelf at Anderson & Co. Mercantile in McMinn County, Tennessee. Browse and reserve online; complete your purchase at the store.
Browse the booksGood to know
Do I need an account?
Browsing is always open to everyone. Sign in to submit a trade, place a free 48-hour hold, or see your wallet and reading history.
What is a “living book”?
A book with a rich voice and ideas that come alive. Literature, history, biography, and nature writing that invite us to imagine, understand, and care—and stay with us long after we close the cover.
Help us grow a bookshop that serves your family. Share what you’d love to find.