What a dreamy book shop!!…read more Talk about nostalgia, I wanted to be a kid again. I found titles that I grew up with and then throughly enjoyed the wall of new books so beautiful presented. They offer story time, workshops, trivia, school holiday events and more. A wonderful shop that envelopes its community with open arms!!

What a delight! The brains behind Avid Reader in West End have extended into the space next to the…read moreiconic Brisbane store and turned the space into a dedicated book store for children and young adults. Imagine that - a real life bookstore dedicated to introducing kids to the wonder of reading?!? Catching them in their last hour of trade on Friday night in what was also their first week being opened, I popped into Where The Wild Things Are looking for a few special gifts for the little grasshoppers in my life. I was told that the current stock is just a snippet of what's to come. There's your usual Dr Seuss, Thomas The Tank Engine and Mem Fox titles but also collections of equally endearing children's books about the adventures of sloths, Japanese children's stories and more. From Grug to the Hungry Catepillar and Hairy McClary - the young and young at heart will be able to indulge in and discover the wonder between the pages at Where The Wild Things Are.

There are quite a few good secondhand bookstores in Brisbane, but this one, this one's something…read morespecial. Boswell's has an extraordinary wealth of books on seemingly endless subjects. They have most categories covered, from the Classics to English Literature, to Australiana, to Fantasy, spanning into all assortments of DIY manuals. The pricing is a little unpredictable, but generally agreeable. I went in there to find picture books, and came across this very old, worn, hard cover book on wildflowers. Every page was filled with beautiful, intricate illustrations and poetic little descriptions. It was a mere 75c. There were other books, newer books, of which they had several copies which would all have been around the $15- $30 price range. Who knows how that works, but it just does. I love the atmosphere. It's half chaotic bookstore/ half family lounge room. I had to happily negotiate footsteps with a few children tummy side down, lounging in between the corridors today. The shelves just ask to be rummaged through. The owner, a lovely older gentlemen, who for some reason reminds me something of David Attenborough completes the scene. I find it hard to leave this place empty handed. It's perfect for finding that great little book treasure you'd never even thought of before. Today I walked out with an illustrated dictionary of Birds of Paradise. Hooray!

I am a fan of bookshops, I even quite like chain bookshops, but most of all I love old bookshops…read more Bookshops like Boswell's that feel like they've grown organically over the years, where the comforting smell of old books has soaked into the walls, where you'll find odd stacks and get lost in strange turns in the shelves and where you know that your best friend is the person behind the counter as without them you may never find what you're looking for. Boswell's does a great line in second hand books, particularly hard to find titles, and they also have a sideline going in coins and other collectables. I must admit that coins don't really rock me, but I do enjoy peering through dusty glass display cases and there are often lovely little pieces of jewellery and curious trinkets to find and lust over. Boswell's will also buy boxes of your old books from you, at a lower rate of course however it's better than giving them away (or, horror of horrors, throwing them out). It also means that you will feel a little bit more justified when you buy that limited edition boxed set....

If you love the smell of books and the feel of a paperback in your hand this is the place for you…read more Books are piled everywhere all the time but the owner Wendy knows exactly where to find just about any book in stock. Staff is friendly and up for a chat about your favorite books and Authors. You can order a title in if it's not in stock, or, if you have a kazillion books at home already you can bring some in because its a new/used bookstore that does 50/50 credit. Don't let reading be a lost art. Go, take your kids, find a new author and enjoy this diamond in the rough.

The Really Good Book Shop (TRGBS) totally lives up to it's name. Part new books, part book…read moreexchange, I guarantee you will be overwhelmed by the selection on offer. If you are claustrophobic, TRGBS, is not for you. Books are strewn up and down the aisles and it can be very difficult to move around when busy. I am always scared of knocking some books and bringing the place crashing down.The store itself is located in a terrible position, making it tricky to get to. I had to do a lap round to get into the cramped car park. The real selling point of TRGBS for me is the very generous exchange system. The friendly staff will give you half of what they can sell the book for as credit to your account. When you make a purchase you pay for half in cash and can use your credit for the other half. I hope that makes sense. Unfortunately this does not apply for new books. If you are an avid reader, I highly recommend paying a visit to the TRGBS.

You could get lost in here for a week. Bayside Books is a book exchange that has been in Bay…read moreTerrace at Wynnum for many years and is literally bulging at the seams with old, new, unusual and also some very ordinary books, so if you're going to visit, be prepared to spend some time and do some digging. It's the kind of shop that takes some energy to get through but it's usually worth it and I challenge you to walk out without at least one treasure you've been meaning to read for years. As the sign outside says, if you're walking in with books in to exchange, make sure to go straight to the counter and make your intentions known, as a shop like this would be almost impossible to inventory.

Walked past here during a tour and circled back after the tour ended…read more Well laid out bookstore. Books are new condition but not necessarily new books. Prices are the same as the other bookstores. Didn't interact with staff and I browsed to see what they had. Love the large selection but prices a bit higher for me.

The best Bookstore in Brisbane !! If you want any book just ask the helpful staff will find it for…read moreyou !

This shop is like a cornucopia of strange little gifts, knick-knacks, cards, and bits'n'bobs…read more Exactly the kind of store you pop into in search of a birthday card for someone, and end up browsing amongst the eclectic gifts for at least half an hour. There was everything from teddy bears to photo frames; mugs and calendars to christening gifts; musical jewellery boxes to happy birthday banners. I can't lie and say everything was top notch, but I do recommend a potter if you've got time for a browse, or you have some time to kill while waiting for a bus. Like Mary Poppin's handbag, you never know what's going to come out of it...(or what you'll come out with!)

Mimco is ordinarily not my cup of Tea, but I was recently…read morewon over by their charming boutique on James St. Initially I stepped inside because I was drawn in by their beautiful and elaborate christmas window display. (Think an artfully arranged plethora of good looking handbags.) The decor is fresh and modern and the space really lets the products speak for themselves. The sales staff are super friendly and knowledgable, and I am suitably impressed with the range of sweet totes, bags and wallets. (The wilderness collection is my pick.) Next time you're in a bag rut or in need of impossibly cute shoes (Tinkerbell platforms I'm looking at you!) I recommend giving Mimco a go.

Handmade High Street throws together some really great local crafters and creators of all things…read morepretty and fun. The first things that caught my eye was a crocheted rose-shaped brooch with quite a few other similar ones to keep it company. I found delight in the handmade jewellery and recycled accessories including hairpins made out of old buttons and old teacups being transformed into candle holders, which is something I would never have thought to do. They also had one of the very lovely dresses that is so identifiable as one of Rachel Burke's I Make My Day projects, which is surrounded by a mountain of handmade things to choose from like tin earrings and very flamboyant floral hairbands that are just gorgeous. I was most impressed with earrings that were fashioned out of origami designs. Some of the things in here are so original and it's so nice to see support for local crafters. One of the back shelves advertises renting a space in the store so other artists can sell their wares. As I was walking out I laughed out loud at the cute new spin on bottle top jewellery when I saw bottle tops printed with vintage pictures and resold as necklaces. I think that's a really cute and unique idea. Another item Handmade High Street currently sells is a product by Reclaimed Records, who make old records into new products like notepads and use only recycled paper. A recycled record notepad will set you back $45 but hey, you are paying for an old record. I like what this place has going on. They've got some really great pieces and I see a lot of potential for the artists who showcase their wares here.

Kath Chownston, one of three brains behind Handmade High Street, said that she wanted to provide a…read morespace for artists and craftspeople to easily sell their wares. Markets are often exhausting, subject to the elements, and aren't a very reliable way to get the money coming in if you're selling your goods in this fashion. The internet is a great way to get your stuff out there, but still, she went one further and opened a store- for the good of everyone! For her, for the people who rent space in her store, for the person who happens to pop in for a look and take away something local and unique. For the interested artist or craftsperson- the way the rent system works at Handmade High Street works is that there are small 'cubes' (shelving space) that are $20 per month. If you do larger scale work, clothing for example, and you have a rack that you'd like to have in store, it might cost you around $200 per month. The rental price is subject to how big and how much of the work there is, and whereabouts you want it placed in the store. There's some great stuff there too. The beads by Patti Pennisi made me want for the ocean, the glass work of Cairo Made That was gorgeous, and I couldn't help but want to take home some scented soy wax melts by Lisa Macnab. There's not the tired repeat of like works in there either; there's great diversity. Go in and support a new local business that supports it's locals. Handmade High Street. Remember that name.