A new children’s book store, Wishing Tree Books, is slated for a summer opening in Spokane’s South Perry District.

Owner Janelle Smith says it’s been her dream since she was a teenager to open a book store like Wishing Tree.

Smith previously had worked as a children’s book manager at Auntie’s Bookstore in downtown Spokane before deciding to branch out on her own.

The bookstore will occupy 900 square feet of space on the main floor in a 1,500-square-foot former single-family residence at 1410 E. 11th, while the rest of the space will be used for storage.

Smith and co-owner husband Ivan Smith are leasing the space from Jordan and Tegan Tigani.

Smith says she and Tegan Tigani, who works at Queen Anne Book Co., in Seattle, met at a literary event where they talked about her life-long dream of owning a bookshop. Tigani then decided to buy the house and have Smith rent the space from her.

The bookstore’s interior is expected to accommodate at least 4,000 books, about 60 percent of which will be children’s books.

Smith says the Wishing Tree will hold monthly readings for children and parents, in addition to holiday events akin to the “Tree of Sharing” that will encourage visitors to buy books for children in need.

The bookstore’s backyard will be used for various activities such as children’s yoga classes. Smith plans to hire two or three employees to start.