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

What an adorable place! How could you NOT love The Reading Bug? It's so cute and has such an amazing selection of books. I also love their games and activity books--they make great gifts for children. I love that it's independently run! And they often have community events or readers' theater (making stories come alive with actors). What a cute place in downtown San Carlos! Next time I head south on the Peninsula I'm definitely stopping by. read more

Absolutely one of the best stores in San Carlos. Find this store has been a blessing. My soon to be 4 year old can walk in, sit down and enjoy the books. This store has the ability to keep his attention for longer than 30 minutes. He loves picking out books for friends birthdays and also picking out a new story for bedtime. Thank you sooo much for being so close to home! read more

Love it! Best children's book store I've ever seen. Delightfully decorated and big space. Clean bathrooms. Great owner and staff. Amazing selection. Awesome storytimes. Good recommendations of books from owner. Plus I didn't feel pressure from her to buy, but I wanted to spend $ to keep them in business. Childrens books need to be opened and read and viewed for the beautiful art. Beyond Goodnight Moon and a few other standards, how do you know if it's worth your money? Online doesn't work for childrens books. You have to touch it. Bottom line: If you are going to spend money on one of THE most important things in your childs life - BOOKS. And if you are going to have to read it... over and over again... you've got to like it too. Or else it's torture reading bad childrens books over and over and over again. I plan to purchase all future birthday gifts for all our parties at this store. Plus of course adding to our library. I'm even thinking of having our next birthday party there. How cool?! Don't let this treasure of a place go out of business. I've spoken with the owner and they aren't advertising. So we've got to spread the word. read more

I am so happy with have The Reading Bug in our community. The place is entertaining and comfortable for grown-ups with their children. There is a play area, a large selection of books for younger kids and young adults and a knowledgeable staff always ready to help. Definitely support this local book store! read more

I mean, this is THE book store. The selection is insane! The set-up is lovely. The staff are always friendly. They have story time daily (I believe) but we haven't made it yet. Perfect place to find a gift for any child (or adult)! Love the location in Downtown San Carlos. Perfect place to stroll the babes and have lunch too! read more

Their new podcasts are just so amazing! The two main characters, the suspenseful and playful story lines, and the amazingly fun and powerful sound effects all had a way of sucking  the listeners into their world of adventures. Hard to believe it's a family production when the singing, the sound production, and  the narrators were all performing at the highest level. Can't wait to listen to the next one. read more

Dream come true for kids (and adults too?)! I wish a place like this existed when I was a kid. There are amazing little nooks and chairs and playhouses to hangout, play and/or read in. All sorts of books are available for babies, kids, teens and adults. There's even a section for bilingual books and CDs. I always come here to pick out gifts for kids because there's such a wide selection of books and some toys to go along. You can't go wrong with books! There's also special activities for kids and adults such as reading/story time, author appearances, yoga and zumba classes (some of these aren't free though). read more

This place is adorable. The staff is always friendly and there's lots of space in this store so it doesn't feel cluttered. They also do gift wrapping for $0.10! read more

I love love love shopping here. Every member of the staff is extremely knowledgable about their offerings. I shop here for books, of course, but also for unique toys, artistic gifts, etc. Rather than guessing at what the children of friends and family are reading, I almost always defer to The Reading Bug staff for guidance. They always have multiple suggestions for me to consider. I am particularly impressed at how well they're handling shopping during the pandemic. While you can't really browse today, they are open and they bring their positive energy and knowledge of their inventory to the front door and enthusiastically bring the store to you! What a neighborhood gem! read more

Impressive children's bookstore! Plus nice selection of toys & gifts. Worth a road trip.

This is the cutest little bookstore around. The entire store is decorated in a fun and inviting way. Books and different sections are easy to locate, and the books on display change frequently so that you can discover new books more often. The staff here is extremely helpful. They have happily gone out of their way to help me find and order books that I wanted to buy for my classroom. Although this bookstore doesn't have the biggest selection of books, they have many of the new books in their store. They can also easily order books that they don't have in the store. It's an easy process, and I've been able to get my ordered books in about a week. I'll continue to buy my classroom books form this place! read more

Great bookstore for kids! Plus they offer community activities. Local business, too. read more

I came back again and again... This time for story time, singing and stretching for babies. The owner Lauren is very talented. We read through many books, sang songs and stretched our babies. I think I had a lot of fun singing along. The place was packed so if you come for story time, come early to get a spot. I am buying gifts for every baby I know from here. They have great books, plus eco friendly toys like eco play dough and wooden toys from Plan Toys. Make sure to put your name in the frequent buyer list to get a discount. They wrap the gifts well in cute ladybug paper. read more

We love the reading bug. My kids can't get enough of it. My son loves the collections they have Big Nate, Magic Tree House, etc. They are super helpful and friendly. We always find great gifts for our family and friends here. They have recently expanded and renovated. Just a neighborhood store, easy to walk in, browse and buy. And we feel great about supporting another San Carlos business. read more

We love this place! My son is 8.5 months now and he has adored story time here ever since we started going (like at a few weeks old). The store itself has so much to offer! Events, indoor play area, story time (everyday), birthday parties, fun merchandise and of course TONS of books! Story time here is amazing! We usually are only able to make it Weds or Fri and usually the owner Lauren does those days. Since we are only able to attend those days, my son has grown to "know" who she is. With this it amazes me that he shows so much excitement for story time/seeing Lauren. We have sometimes been able to go other days too, and love it whenever we go. This is FREE! And being free I feel that we are very privileged to have a place like this where our kids can learn songs and listen to great books! Not only is this just story time, it's a place for your kids to learn and grow as a community. You can also meet new friends here too! We did! Side note to add: they have great big clean bathrooms with changing area for babies! We love this place SO much that even after moving to Hayward, we still try and go once a week at the least! xoxo Attached are some photos to share of my son since we started going to the reading bug!! He's a huge fan!! read more

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Great story times for kids! My daughter loves Jill! Creative ethos for kids & free workshops! Now that it is expanded it offers so much more, too! Great eclectic books for adults, as well! read more

Reading bug is the biggest hidden gem on the peninsula. We come here and kids enjoy the world of books. How can anyone NOT love this place! Come. for buying. come for a birthday party. or just come and enjoy. we buy lots and lots of books here and it always has been a big joy read more

Besides being a beautiful store with a tremendous selection of kids' books and toys, they also carry some adult books, and you can order selections that they don't have in stock. Staff communications are extremely responsive and helpful. They really go the extra mile. Yes their prices are higher than Amazon, but I think it's well worth a few extra dollars to keep a store like this in business. Their COVID protocols are great as well. read more

I love this store. They recently expanded so they are now twice the size they were before. Yay! More books, puzzles, and toys. I personally believe you can never have to many books. My library is always growing and this store has some wonderful finds. Books: They have lots of books for all ages, from babies to teen readers. A large selection of board books, puzzle books, learning to read books, and so on. Toys: I have been a nanny for many years and buy gifts for children all the time. I work with newborns to 5 year olds most of the time. At most big box stores it is hard to impossible to find an item that I would feel comfortable with the child putting in their mouth. But I don't have that problem at "The Reading Bug" they have lots of eco friendly and organic toys. They also carry "Apple Park" which is one of my new favorite companies. Seating: There is seating throughout the store for you to use, from large chairs for adults to small stools for children. Reading Room: They also have a large room in the back of the store with a curtain that can be closed for events. There is also a small entrance just for kids. One side of the room has a beautiful mural on it and the other side is covered in mirrors. This store is just a perfect gem and probably the best kids book store I have ever been to. read more

Fun times at the Adult coloring and wine event! For about $22, you get a lovely new coloring book and 2 hours to hang out and chat with your mates. You can bring food and wine. They have a raffle for cute prizes. Follow them on Facebook or you can get a ticket through Eventbrite. read more

I absolutely love bookstores, especially local neighborhood ones! Small businesses deserve everyone's support! The Reading Bug is a sweet children's bookstore full of really great books, good toys, little finds and a play area for kids under 6 years old in the back. My daughter loves the play area, which has a train set and playhouse that little kids have a lot of fun in. Sometimes we go into The Reading Bug just to window shop the books, but it is really hard not to come out with a treasure - a word my daughter and I use to describe books :). They have story times and they also do birthday parties. We love this place. Insert heart emoticon here. read more

We've been customers since they opened, and still love this store so much! Through their subscription service, my 9 year old finally discovered how awesome reading is!! He has loved every book in his box each month. Their new safety measures also make it a comfortable business for a quick contactless pick up. read more

I want to clone this bookstore and plant it around the planet. It's the perfect bookstore for kids. If you need to get a gift for a child, this bookstore has a huge range and selection. From picture books to youth novels to foreign books. There's also a pregnancy/parenting section, as well as a shelf of the latest adults books in case you want to look while your little one wanders about. The story time area in the back has an adorable mural and the wooden trees they had custom made make the store feel like a magical forest. This is a special place. LOVE IT. ** They also have great book-reading events and I love grabbing a yummy cupcake across the street at Vanilla Moon Bakery when we leave the bookstore. They have small $1 cupcakes that don't give too much of a sugar-overload to your little one. read more

I love going to small businesses and I'm all about about supporting. The Reading Bug was certainly one of them. WAS!!!! Love bringing my daughter here so she may enjoy the atmosphere of books. Each time I'm here, I notice, wait, I felt like the staff is not very friendly. This past weekend was the icing on the cake! I met the OWNER, and she was not friendly. In fact, she didn't apologize after I tried to discuss the issue I had with how she interacted with me and my daughter. Not going to get into details but just to drop by to let others know. This place certainly is a great place for children to hangout, read a book or 2. But, the service feels almost nonexistent. And the owner I had the privilege to meet, I can't support your business because of the way we were treated. Small businesses should differentiate themselves from the big box stores by providing excellent service. read more

This is a great independent bookstore not only for kids but for adults. My kids and I can always find a good book and the staff is very helpful in giving good recommendations. read more

Just the best most personal service! This staff goes out of its ways to celebrate reading and the love of books!!!

Amazing selection of children's books. Felt like the space was set up well and the books were organized by age range and subject. They also have an area for kids to play with trains and a mini house. People were nice as well. We'll definitely be back. read more

How could I have not written a review of The Reading Bug yet? I must have been too busy shopping there to stop and write. We love The Reading Bug, it is beautiful and well organized inside. My daughter wanted to sit in every chair, and read every book. My son just found a book he liked and found a seat in the back, and that was the last I saw of him until it was time to go. I have found books for them, books as gifts, and books to use in my music classes. What a wonderful addition to downtown San Carlos! read more

So disappointed with my first and last experience here. Brought my son in to pick out a few books but left empty-handed after the extremely rude service we received. How can you run a children's bookstore and make it look like you don't like kids? Not even a smile-we felt so uncomfortable amidst the fun and whimsy decorations. I could tell we weren't the only ones feeling that way as the other parents and I exchanged looks. Perhaps it was my mistake in asking for a recommendation. We wanted to support a small business, most especially a children's bookstore. read more

This is a FUN place to go. We enjoyed a story time there last week. The place is decorated so cute. I couldn't stop looking around. Even though my son barely sat still I did not feel awkward attending. It seemed the staff were used to babies his age. Can wait to go back and pick out some fun books. read more

This store is more than just a bookstore, it is an oasis. My little one loved the story time with Miss Anna, and I could not stop singing "Brown bear, brown bear, who do you see?" for the rest of the day. I loved the great selection of books, but what was even better was all of the other unique items that went with the books, so it is super easy to find a gift that is unique that any child (and adult) would love. I am still eyeing the pricess slippers and the bathtime purse, for my kid, not me... Such a great addition to San Carlos and I look forward to more story times. read more

Update: Unfortunately I think you're not understanding my point. When I go to a children's bookstore, my intent is to have a pleasant time engaging with my children and buying some new books for story time. I do not wish to have political books shoved in my face that only depict one side (the liberal side in your case) and then impeachment propaganda at your register. It is blood boiling and ruins the easy going fun family outing that was intended. And if you're so adamant in displaying such reading material in a children's book store, why not display BOTH sides, Republican AND Democrat? Being a small business owner in a world of Amazon and doing what you're doing is basically saying 'Republicans not welcome' and to me that would have a huge impact on my profits. So yes, I do have an open mind and believe everyone has the right to believe what they want to believe in. However you have made it very clear that if I wanted to buy Great Again by Donald Trump...aka OUR PRESIDENT, then I should give my money to Barnes and Noble or Amazon because you only sell books about the Obamas. But Im the one you're telling to have an open mind? You are ruining the innocence of a children's bookstore which is so sad because there aren't many left these days. And no, you can not please all the people in the world because not everyone is a Democrate which seems to be the only people you care to accommodate. Original: I was just in The Reading Bug children's bookstore and found something so inappropriate that we will not be returning to their store any longer. A whole section of political books that only pertain to the liberal party. Nothing but Obama and Michelle Obama books and a large display of 'impeachMINTS' at the register with Donald Trump on them. I'm all about freedom of speech but in a CHILDRENS bookstore? And to pick sides on top of that? Very inappropriate and stomach turning. I called them to complain and was told the owners are liberal and can do what they please and that they choose to promote/seek the liberal community. So sad. Guess Amazon will be getting even more money from me here on out. read more

This book store is so wonderful! The staff is really knowledgeable and helpful. It is also a great place to find gifts for birthday parties or holidays. I appreciate that they offer story time as well. read more

A perfect neighborhood bookstore for children and adults to fall in love with books again. It's so thoughtfully put together by the owners. From the selection of books to the store's decor. read more

Great looking store, really nice people working there. I needed to get stuff for baby showers coming up and this place was perfect. Sheesh, when I was young we didn't have no reading bug, we didn't even have shoes. read more

This is not only a nice neighborhood bookstore but also a great place to spend time educating your toddlers or kids and have lots of fun. The staff is super friendly and the environment is fun, energetic and very pleasant. Their prices are competitive with large bookstores but they offer a lot more because their staff is dedicated and passionate about children books and education. Highly recommended. read more

Great service, good selection (and they can order anything) and beautiful/welcoming store. They offer gift wrap & their shopping bags are so beautiful I just throw some tissue in and it's gift ready! Support your local small business. read more

Great fine. I snapped up a bunch of gift books to keep around for baby birthday parties and the selection is great. It's also very nicely organized so you can easily find the books you remember as a kid, all organized by author, category (trucks & trains, horses, caterpillars:hungry), and age. The owners have clearly put a ton of attention into detail; the store is beautiful, with fun, themed decor and plenty of places for children to entertain themselves and grown-ups to browse. There's even a space in the back for a birthday party or other event. read more

A wonderful children's bookstore offering an assortment of books to select from. With less and less brick and mortar bookstores around these days, it's so great to have a shop like the Reading Bug where kids can explore shelf after shelf of books. I hope you will visit this shop and support this local business. read more