Hi, I’m Sophie.
I’ve loved books as long as I can remember.
I was raised by two teachers and went to the same school my mom taught at. Late evenings of lesson planning and grading left me spending lots of time in after school care, held in the library down the hall. I spent hours sitting up in the indoor tree house reading books and flipping through magazines.
I can think back to binging Junie B Jones, Goosebumps, Amelia’s Notebook, Magic Tree House, The Baby-Sitters Club, A Series of Unfortunate Events, The Gallagher Girls, The Boxcar Children, Twilight, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, and anything by Meg Cabot and Ellen Hopkins.
I lost my love of books somewhere in the chaos of growing up. During the pandemic a popular romantasy series quickly launched me back into that world. I challenged myself to read 100 books in 2024, and I ended up reading 200. I bumped my goal up to 300 in 2025, and I hit that too.
Books get me through long days better than any other vice. I have reading to thank for many of my friendships too. They just bring people together! I’ve always dreamed of owning a business and what could be better than creating a store where I’m able to share my favorite books and build a community?
Welcome to Lavonna’s Mobile Bookery. I hope you stay a while.
Meet Lavonna.
(May 28, 1927 — April 6, 2018)
My beautiful grandmother Lavonna was born in Scott City, Kansas to Juanita and Richard Bradstreet. She was married to James Creviston for 59 years before his passing. Her biggest joys in life were her children Judy, Joela, James, Jill, and Jewelia, as well as her grandchildren, great grandchildren, and her church family.
She was an early education teacher at The Capper Foundation and antique dealer for over 30 years. As an artist she participated in many juried art shows and was a long time member of the Topeka Art Guild. She joined Faith Lutheran Church in 1962 where she served as a Stephen Minister, Spiritual Life Leader, and Chairman of Miriam Circle L.W. M. L.
Family was her greatest treasure. She was described as a domestic goddess who cooked up breakfast every morning and a hearty dinner every evening while also working full-time as an educator and then as an art shop owner and antiques dealer. She loved entertaining and hosting big family gatherings every Saturday for pancake breakfasts and for all the holidays.
She was a voracious reader, reading a book every day or two. She instilled this same love for books in her children. Now it’s time for the next generation to continue her story and pass on this cherished hobby.
Sophie has dreamed about opening a bookstore for years. Towards the end of 2025 she decided it was time to stop daydreaming and take action. Enter Lavonna’s, your new favorite indie bookstore.
The hope is to open up a physical store in the future, but we all have to start somewhere. For now you can expect lots of local pop-ups and events. Things are still in the early stages, but hopefully our story just gets longer and longer.
Our Story
