Everyone who works here is professional and friendly! If you are looking for a book for yourself or a gift the workers do a wonderful job choosing the right book. They have lots of special events and offer ongoing fun storytimes for the little ones. Check their website for more info. Do yourself a favor and visit here. Spend some time here and enjoy a great read. Support local businesses. This place is fantastic! read more

I wish I found the Reading Bug sooner! Their sections of children's books are so extensive and divided by different topics made it easy for someone like me, who came in with ZERO IDEA on what she wanted, be able to find things easily. They do also have books for young adults and adults alike, although the sections are smaller than for children, but the owners told me that they can always order books, as well, if you're looking for something specific! Overall, I probably spent more time than I needed inside, but it was time well spent. The books I got for my Godson were perfect (in my opinion!) and I'd come back again to get more children's books. read more

The Reading Bug - These were the coolest books I've ever seen - Bookstores Near Me - San Carlos, California

See all

Whenever I am visiting my grandchildren in San Carlos, this is our favorite place to visit. Staff is very helpful and kind. Wish they had a dedicated children's book store in Ojai. read more

The selection is good for kids books, games and more. If looking for a kid this is the place to go. Organized by category and some by age. The help is really knowledgable. They show you where you can find what you want and if you are grandpa like me the guide me to the right choice without pressure. And they gift wrap for $1.00. Heck, I didn't think we can get anything for $1.00. They have a rewards system also. The selection and help is what you expect from the old time independent retailer. Give them your business. They will show you great appreciation and the kids will love it.! read more

When my son was first born, I decided to subscribe to a monthly Reading Bug delivery box which ended up being an amazing decision. Every month, 3-4 books would arrive that were age appropriate and introduced my son to a variety of different stories and characters. After almost a year of this subscription service and after we had built up a decent sized library at home, I decided to stop the service but given that the Reading Bug is relatively local, it's still a great place to pop into from time to time to check out what new offerings they have and to bring new stories back home. The Reading Bug has a great selection of books for kids of different ages, as well as a variety of crafts and toys to bring home as well. The staff is very friendly and while I personally haven't attended any of their events yet, I do know that they have these from time to time to cater to the community which I think is great. read more

If you are looking for books and educational items for kids of all ages, come here! Found this kids bookstore walking around in San Carlos this weekend. It is large inside and filled with great selection in books and items for kids of all ages. There is a little area for books for the adults as well. In the back there is a large area where clearly there are book readings to the kids at times. A playhouse is on the other side of the store. Bathroom is clean with some great kids genre posters on the wall. The Hungary Caterpillar poster is even signed by the author. Walked away with some great books for my granddaughter's upcoming 4th birthday. So happy my wandering brought me here. read more

See all

My son is an avid reader and he missed getting books from his school library. Since we couldn't browse the shelves and pick out our own books, I asked the Reading Bug staff to select books on my son's behalf. I gave them a little insight into the books he's enjoyed in the past and crossed my fingers. I just picked up our surprise books. Every single book was new to us -- and every single book looks fantastic. If you're looking for summer reading material for your cooped up kid, I highly recommend sending the staff an email. I feel like we hit the book lottery. read more

The Reading Bug - The perfect selections for my 10 year old! - Bookstores Near Me - San Carlos, California

We've been coming here for years to pick up books and take part in store activities, very much enjoying the friendly service and the neighborhood feel. This week, I needed a birthday gift and was thankful for their online service where they put together a gift package that was ready for contactless pick up. Looking forward to shopping in the store when ready!! read more

This store is such a gem and I'm so thankful it exists! Many, many reasons why I love the Reading Bug: - Story times! My baby daughter and I went to so many Reading Buy story times (they have them 6 days a week!) while I was on maternity leave - they always include such great books and songs in their amazing, big story time area. I highly recommend this! - They have a sweet kids play area with a little house, train set-up, etc. - my older son loves this! - They have two clean restrooms with fancy changing areas - They have a great selection of books, stuffed toys, and other toys - I discovered and bought a lot of great books through story times - They offer gift wrapping! The Reading Bug holds so many of my special maternity leave memories and I hope to continue to visit for years to come with my kids! read more

Awesome store, great selection of items. Very glad to hear they got a 4 year extension on their lease so they can stay!

This is the cutest little book store with an amazing selection of books. It has a great story time for littles!! The staff is wonderful and very well informed. I promise you will not regret coming to this charming store!! read more

Beautiful store. Spacious. Clean. Organized. Good layout. Clever decor. Great selection. Kind & helpful staff.

Such a lovely bookstore, and a great part of the San Carlos community. I take my daughter for storytime regularly and buy gifts for friends here. It's such a delight to have an independent bookstore in our neighborhood where the staff know and love books, and can share thoughtful recommendations. read more

This is one of those great bookstores that you love having in the neighborhood (and look for opportunities to support because you desperately want it to stick around). It's the perfect place to pick up a children's gift since they'll gift-wrap it for you (with really cute paper). Note that it is primarily targeted at the young at heart (but they do have a shelf of books for big people as well). The space is very welcoming, and there's a lot of it. There's a little play table in the back for babies and toddlers, as well as a larger space for hosting parties. read more

Great independent bookstore Very nice staff Lovely setup Right now limited browsing due to COVID read more

If you have kids there's not much to dislike about this place. There is story time every day at 11 AM for babies and toddlers. Lots of kids come here with their parents to sing and read. They have just the right amount of space for the people that show up although it can get a little crowded sometimes. They also have an assortment of children's books and toys for sale. Prices are pretty reasonable and all the staff that work there are pretty friendly. In the back opposite the reading room there is a small children's playhouse as well as a train set for small kids to play on. They have changing stations in the two restrooms so this is a great place to bring your babies or toddlers. They also have special event booksignings and other activities. If you have small children and live in the area I highly recommend stopping by for a visit. read more

The Reading Bug - Nice selection of books - Bookstores Near Me - San Carlos, California

I'm at the age where my friends are having babies and the babies are having their first birthdays. I'm more of an audiobook kind of gal, but this place is perfect for picking out a present for the kids. They have a variety of books for children of all ages (even some books I would read). Will continue to come here as long as I'm still invited to my friends' kid's birthday parties. read more

We ordered a book, paid for it (it was available in a different store), and they were going to call us once it arrived to their location. We waited a month, they never called us, and someone else gave us the book in the meantime. Very disappointed. read more

Lovely local bookstore that we highly recommend. And the Reading Bug podcast is amazing, kids will love it!

Extremely disappointed, I came here to get a present for my daughter because it's her birthday and she loves unicorns so they had 4 of these unicorn backpacks and all of them were dirty and I got the cleanest one and there was another that the zipper was stuck, anyways I decided to still take it and when I approached the cashier I ask her if she could give me something to clean it and she said that comes of with any wet towel and I was like ok, all of them are like that and she said yes because they are white. So I just stayed quite and pay, she didn't even ask me for my phone number because I have bought here before and she didn't even offer a bag or wrap it for me. She was extremely rude. read more

See all

You never know what book will resonate with a child. For my husband as a kid, that special book was "One Was Johnny." I loved "Blueberries for Sal" - *kuplink, kuplank, kuplunk!* (the sound of blueberries dropping into a little tin pail). Our son's favorite book is about an ornery garbage truck and aptly titled "I Stink." http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/hbm1FnWVkorLGfRj-d0rwQ?select=OHJ0MI04vvgm80JlvB99qw It's so beloved, he memorized it. Perhaps he can relate only too well to the garbage truck who roars around at the crack of dawn and then says: "Did I wake you? Too bad!" I stopped by The Reading Bug yesterday looking for a birthday gift for my son's 4-year-old friend. Would she like Olivia, Curious George, a signed copy of Jim LaMarche's beautifully drawn book about dogs, or a tea set made of recycled plastic? I didn't know what would call out to her. I left the store with a gift card so that she could choose for herself. read more

The Reading Bug - If your kid likes garbage trucks, this is a great book! - Bookstores Near Me - San Carlos, California

Such friendly service and a good place to get unique gifts to accompany your book choices. Recently I tried out their service of putting together a gift within my budget and it saved me time and was a winner with the recipient. It seems like the regular shopping experience is different due to Covid-19 restrictions but you can also order online which was quick and easy for pickup. The street in front of the shop is closed to traffic so you'll need to park around the corner. read more

MUST RESIST...what a sweet logo and window display...THE URGE....oh that shelf has books that would be perfect for my nephew Phineas...TO SUCCUMB TO... woo, check out the illustrations on that anthology; perfect for bedtime reading...THAT IMPULSE TO BUY....my, my, everything is so well organized by age and reading ability....DON'T REACH FOR...the staff is so enthusiastic about reading -- as if they've read every page of every book in the store...THAT WALLET! Too late. MUST RATIONALIZE EXTRAVAGANT IMPULSE BUY.... An utterly charming, well organized and spacious layout. Its very easy to hone in on whatever you are looking for and you weren't looking for but came to appreciate that you needed. Great location across from Cowabunga will bolster foot traffic further south on Laurel. I was sad with the passing of Storybook Lane. It takes allot of courage for someone else to give it a go, especially in the current economy. read more

See all

This bookstore is super cute. They have toy trains for kids to play with and you can find cute gifts all over the store. My favorite part of this store is the back room where they have story time and yoga for kids. Every Wednesdays and Fridays, we go to story time and it's a great way for kids to play with one another and for moms to have some adult interaction. On Fridays, the owner reads stories and sings (she has a nice voice too) She's very good at telling stories. We're fans! read more

Sadly, bookstores are at risk of extinction so it was pure joy when I heard about this little gem. If I were a kid, I would find it to be a magical place to get lost in the fantastical world of words. I actually came here to buy a Jellycat stuffed animal for a baby gift. They have a wonderful selection as well as many other gift items. I was on my way to seeing the new baby so having them wrap my gift in a beautiful bag with colorful tissue and ribbon was the cherry on top of this book spot treat! Come... support this business. May the joys of meandering along bookshelves continue on with the little ones! read more

Amazing local book store. Such a great addition to Laurel St. I try hard to buy our books here instead of Amazon. We need businesses like this in our community. This is also my go-to place to get kids' birthday gifts. read more

Cutest childrens bookstore hands down. They have workshops available for your children, book readings on wednesday, and the cutest furniture! Because of their active involvement with the community apparently stanford students build a toy house for the kids to play in. How awesome is that! They have the most comprehensive childrens book selection I have ever seen! Anything ranging from music, back to school, holmes for holmes (HGTV show, I don't know why it's sold there but it's there) lol read more

This is a children's book store in San Carlos California. I was very disappointed with an interaction I had with their employees. Very rude, curt and downright unpleasant. There was one particular Asian woman who has no business being a representative of this establishment. She was very unprofessional and incompetent. I am quite surprised that the owner would employ such a person. I am an author who was trying to retrieve my book that I had left for management to consider selling in their store. When they expressed no interest without explanation, I didn't think that getting my book back would be a problem. Apparently it was, and I was told that Authors who submit their books to stores and are rejected have no guarantee that they will get them back. I live and work in San Carlos and have supported the Reading Bug since its inception, by bringing family and friends to story time and various other activities that were offered. I am quite surprised how they have forgotten where they came from and how big they have become for their britches. I will not shop again at The Reading Bug and will encourage anyone who will listen, to do the same. Sincerely, John Velez read more

Do not bother to buy gifts here . They have an extremely small window even with a gift receipt. Nothing like watching your kid looking crushed when they learn they can't explore a bookstore to find something they'll treasure reading. The receipt makes no mention of their two week exchange rule. Unhelpful staff and I'm disappointed by their customer service. read more

I love this bookstore! I've actually never been in person, but found them through Indiebound when looking to order from a local store. Their selection is great and any time I've needed to reach out about an order, their customer service has been wonderful. Books are always shipped quickly and in great condition. I really appreciate that they're still open, taking orders, and shipping books quickly during this pandemic. Thanks so much for keeping my family's minds busy and joyful in difficult times! read more

(Edited to add that I just got a notification that the books will arrive today. That's good, but more communication would have been helpful.) I ordered some books for my daughter from the Reading Bug on December 2nd so they would arrive in time for Christmas. I needed them to be delivered as a member of my household is high-risk for COVID. A week later, on December 9, I received an email from the Reading Bug stating that the order would take "a few days" to fulfill. I have heard nothing since then - the money has come off my credit card, but the Reading Bug has ignored my multiple calls and emails about my order and the books obviously will not arrive in time for Christmas. read more

I discovered The Reading Bug several months ago when I was looking for a good, local storytime to take my daughter to. The moment I walked through the door, I was instantly attracted to the fun atmosphere (cute, kid friendly decor, unique merchandise) and community vibe of the store (they frequently host events). The staff are all friendly and helpful, especially Lauren, who typically does the storytimes. My daughter loves going to storytime at The Reading Bug so I try to take her at least once a week and sometimes more. It is not unusual for me to leave the store with a new book or cute gift that I just couldn't resist. I love getting gifts from here since I like that I am supporting a local, family owned business and it is obvious that they put a lot of thought and care into the displays and merchandise. Another bonus is their play area in the back of the store. This is a really nice feature when visiting the store with toddlers and older kids. I also appreciate the fact that they have two wheelchair accessible restrooms with changing tables. Highlights: - Thoughtful, unique gifts and books. - Community vibe. - Friendly staff. - Play area and baby changing friendly restrooms. read more

Still a great bookstore for a family!!! And I dont want to give them a one or two stars just because a bad service from an employee! right at the time to pay! where two employees behind the register, talking and never even ask me if I am already a client( rewards ) not even said hi, just grab the book and let me know the total price, so I ask can you check my name so know if i have any rewards, but sounds like i bother her that much!! her answers was like, "need to buy this much to get the next reward", Again I am not going to give one star because of the employee! this is a Great Store and I will continue coming back but hope the owner will read this and let them know how important its to have some kind of relationship with customer's. just simple "Hi Welcome to our store, are you a part of our rewards program" or Hi , if you are ready I can check your book? or not just grab the book without any interaction with customer! read more

excellent children's bookstore in downtown san carlos....closed mondays...storytime and events to the right and back...storytime starting 11am each day open...saturday storytime, and sunday storytime and crafts the most popular....plenty of books all around...some toys, games and items near the counter....a play area to the back left...playhouse, train table, dolls and toys....restrooms with changing tables available inside...great neighborhood shop...prices are higher in comparison, but offer convenience.... read more

Parents, you know the feeling of dread whenever your kids walk by a toy and gift store (where many of the products and by-products are cheaply mass produced, likely in China, and upsold for ridiculous amount$). Or maybe an ice cream, froyo, cupcake, or candy store that you know isn't "organic", "local", healthy and totally teeth rottening, and brave all attempts to stroll right past the establishment(s) un-noticed with your little one(s), only to receive the equivalent of the tug of life from him or her wanting to enter the store, almost ripping your arm off in the process, if not dislocating it, while demonstrating the laws of physics (action vs reaction). With Reading Bug, I have no problems waltzing in and don't have to worry about having my arm dislocated. It is because the moment I enter the store, my mindset is that of a kid in flashbax mode when I see what RB has to offer. So I am not only in the majority, I am with the little ones on their playing field. Except I have more control of my emotions and desires (because after all, the adults are the ones $helling out the dough to buy stuff!) But like a kid in a candy store, it is all mind enrichening instead of sugar highing. Very impressive selection of children's books, the greatest hits (including the latest) with many titles you won't even find at your local library. They also stock a small number of Dabbawalla lunch bags for elementary school kids (www.dabbawallabags.com) that while are pricey ($30 per, even from the website), are very well constructed and catchy. Don't miss the random special events held by RB (check their schedule), one of the many great things they do for the community. read more

A terrific place for families. The place is nicely decorated throughout and it is attractive and welcoming for kids to look around, grab a book and educational toys etc. They even have a train table set up now, and kids can easily be addicted to the place! We had our son's 1st birthday party there last weekend, and it was a TERRIFIC venue. Caitlin was an amazing organizer and was so detailed and thorough. She followed through all the details and made sure things happen according to your requests, be it decorations/ story theme etc. My son and his guests all loved her story time, Caitlin was engaging and incorporated all sorts of fun concepts and tools (sign language/ songs/ music etc). It is an old-fashioned neighbourhood gem, that is so rare these days. We have to support local businesses like them, a place where our kids can grow up knowing that there is a "local bookstore" to hang out with families and friends.. Not just buying books online or chain stores where they have no real human behind it. read more

Love this place! We go to (free) infant story time every Wednesday and Friday at 11am. It's always crowded so try to get there a few minutes early if you can. Lauren is fabulous with all of the kids. She sings and reads about 4 books for 30 minutes. The selection is great. We've seen some of our favorites and have learned about new ones. My experience with the staff has always been friendly, helpful and professional. read more

Absolutely love The Reading Bug! Several times I've asked for recommendations for books as gifts for kids and they've always been a hit. I provided the age and interests of the child and they recommended a couple to choose from. I bought my nephew his first Mercy Watson book and he's probably read the entire series by now! There aren't many independent bookstores around and I'm grateful we have a gem in San Carlos! read more

Wonderful local children's bookstore with literature for kids of all ages, a thoughtful selection of toys and baby essentials, and friendly staff. I've been coming here for the last year for pre-natal classes and baby storytime and have enjoyed every visit. The staff is particularly helpful when it comes to helping you find age appropriate books and gifts and their quick-turn-around giftwrapping service price is a total steal! I love supporting local businesses it doesn't get much better than this. read more

5 stars for this quaint bookstore specialized for kids if you have kids this is a great spot to visit for them to expand their mind. they are in the business of books so yeah they got lots of books, they also have a large open space in the back for projects, story time, arts and crafts hour for kids. there leaf seats are comfy, their tree stump looking ottomans are also comfy. they got lil table for lil kids haha got to love that. the staff is super helpful and friendly definitely come by for some browsing or purchases or even for story hour. price $ depends on the book if they dont have it they can order it service ***** very helpful VERY HELPFUL ambiance ***** wide space even for full sized strollers maneuvering is easy. read more