Rio Rancho Reads

Rio Rancho Reads opened in 2018 to serve one of New Mexico's fastest-growing communities, a city of young families and transplants who were hungry for a neighborhood bookstore they could call their own. The children's section is the store's centerpiece, designed with a reading cave, a puppet theater, and interactive displays that make visiting the bookstore an adventure for young readers. The young adult section is curated with input from a teen advisory board drawn from local middle and high schools, ensuring the selection stays relevant and exciting. The general fiction section focuses on book club-friendly titles and staff picks, making it easy for busy parents to find their next great read without hours of browsing. The cafe serves kid-friendly smoothies alongside adult espresso drinks, and the store hosts more events per month than any other bookstore in the Albuquerque metro area. Owner Jennifer Kowalski, a former children's librarian, has created a space where reading is treated as a family activity rather than a solitary one.