One of the city's largest and most beloved independent children's bookstores, Books of Wonder features titles both new and old (rare and out-of-print editions), plus foreign-language and reference titles, and a special collection of Oz books. Used as inspiration for the children's bookstore in the film You've Got Mail, the quaint and cozy shop boasts a spacious retail floor, a gallery and café space. Youngster are treated to weekly storytimes on Saturdays (11am) and Sundays (11:30am)—including a bilingual edition each month—when top-notch authors and illustrators come by to share their tomes. Book launch events, picture book bonanzas and teen book clubs also frequent the space.
These great bookstores in NYC for kids ensure your little ones have access to the best of the best! Who needs to wait for a bedtime story to dive into a great book, anyway? There are so many stellar book stores to visit, and each has its own wonderful character. Many of the picks on our list even have kid-friendly corners so your little ones can do their thing while you browse the shelves for your own reads!
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It's also worth noting that many of our picks also offer free story times for kids on a regular basis, where tykes can meet famous illustrators and authors—even singer/songwriters! Who knows...your kid could even be inspired to write a book of their own one day!
In the meantime, check out our ranked list of the best kids' books and explore other great free things to do with kids in the city!
