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We are in a golden age of children’s literature, and this love is felt most intensely in children’s bookstores—many of which are so special and imaginative that you could plan a whole family vacation around them.
If anyone can keep your kids busy for a few hours, it’s a passionate (and patient) children’s bookseller. If you want to explore some of these magical shops, here are some of the most interesting kids’ bookstores in the USA.
A Literary Lighthouse in Michigan
Kids don’t just love stories at Storybook Village in Pentwater, Michigan; they become parts of them as characters and creators. Reading nooks abound, from the Fish House to the Reading Gazebo, and like a portal into another realm, a lighthouse doorway leads readers from the bookstore into the Starlight Theater Room, featuring a wall-to-wall mural of sky and sea. Activities are seemingly endless, with puppet shows and theater productions, plus art and creative writing workshops. The book selection focuses on some specialty publishers, so it’s advisable to explore and let the knowledgeable booksellers (the owner is a former teacher) pick something perfect for you.
Share Literary Love in Raleigh
Curl up with a great book in the window seat of Read With Me Books and Art, located in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina, just a short walk from the Marbles Kids Museum. This is a place to share the love of reading with young ones—where art is a crucial part of that storytelling process. While originally just a children’s bookstore, the shop added an adult book corner during the pandemic.
Let the Wild Rumpus Start in Minneapolis
Do you remember what it’s like to read a book as a child? It feels a lot like walking into Wild Rumpus in south Minneapolis, Minnesota. For more than 25 years, this dreamy bookshop has blurred the lines between indoors and outdoors—and between reality and the storytelling world. A canoe cruises through the waters of the ceiling, and readers pass through a tree house-inspired passageway as they explore the back of the store. Additionally, it’s officially a pet shop that only sells books, as they have a pet store license for their animal menagerie, which includes cats, chinchillas, a cockatiel, and more.
Straight on Till Reading in Denver
Second Star to the Right in Denver, Colorado, creates an atmosphere where kids are free to explore. Handmade stars shine down from a glittery ceiling, and secret alcoves allow young readers to curl up and dive into a good story. The shop hosts a variety of events, including storytimes at 10am from Monday to Saturday, though numbers are limited. However, there are also virtual storytimes, including Instagram read-alouds, so everyone can join in the fun.
Get Lost in Los Angeles
For over 30 years, the award-winning Children’s Book World in West Los Angeles has boasted a selection of more than 80,000 titles. You could easily spend hours here, and while you’re enjoying great literature, you’re also contributing to a worthy cause: through their nonprofit Children’s Book Recycling Program, the bookstore collects and donates gently used books to low-income schools and programs.
Find the Magic in Oregon
TreeHouse Books in quaint Ashland, Oregon, is the fairy ring of bookstores. With its window display of miniature worlds and a unique selection of gifts and books, this may seem like a quirky and lovable little shop, but there’s something especially enchanting about it—just maybe, magic is real here. Each genre or reading level leads to a different ‘land,’ where readers will discover a Wizard Apothecary, a Secret World Vault, and more.
This article was first published on Apr 26, 2018, and updated on Nov 24, 2021.
