Kids Ink Books brings books, community & new family destination to Carmel

Kids Ink Books is coming to Carmel this fall, with a new location at 22 N. Range Line Road. The woman- and family-owned independent children’s bookstore is partnering with local, woman-owned Rock-A-Toy to create a destination designed around books, beautiful gifts, and families.

Anticipated to open Oct. 15, the new location will pair Kids Ink’s curated collection of children’s books with Rock-A-Toy’s heirloom-quality children’s clothing, toys, and gifts. Together, the partners are creating a warm, highly curated shopping experience for everything from a new baby gift to a child’s next favorite book.

But the vision extends well beyond retail.

“We want to become part of the fabric of the Carmel community,” Kids Ink Co-Owner Wendy Fitzgerald said. “We want families coming in for storytime, kids meeting authors, teachers, and librarians knowing they can call us when they need help, and children growing up thinking of Kids Ink as their bookstore.”

Kids Ink plans regular storytimes, author visits, family literacy activities, and community events at the Carmel location. The expansion will also grow the bookstore’s work with area schools through Kids Ink School Partners, which supports schools with book fairs, classroom and library needs, author visits, and literacy initiatives.

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That community work is supported by the newly established Kids Ink Literacy Project, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose mission is to ensure every child has access to books, literacy experiences, and the opportunity to become a lifelong reader. Its work includes supporting underserved schools, classroom libraries, book fairs, and author experiences.

“We believe every child deserves access to books and the experiences that help create readers,” Fitzgerald said. “Opening in Carmel gives us another opportunity to build those connections, with families, with educators and throughout the community.”

Kids Ink has served Indianapolis families for nearly four decades. Wendy Fitzgerald and her daughter, Kate Fitzgerald, acquired the bookstore in 2025 and have expanded its school, author, and community programming while continuing its focus exclusively on children and young readers.

About Kids Ink Books
Kids Ink Books is a woman- and family-owned independent children’s bookstore serving children, families and educators throughout Central Indiana through a curated collection of books, toys and gifts, school partnerships, author programming and community literacy initiatives. Learn more at KidsInkBooks.com.