As an avid reader myself, I have a vested interest in making sure my children have a love of books. And my husband knows that we can’t walk by a bookstore without me at least popping in for 5 minutes an hour. Along with my boys, I spend a lot of time looking up local libraries and children’s bookstores on the SF Peninsula, so I wanted to share a list with other families as well! Happy reading!
–
Linden Tree Books – Los Altos
One of my personal favorites, Linden Tree Books is a children’s bookstore nestled in Downtown Los Altos. They have a lovely variety of children’s books, with some YA and adult books as well! They also have many gift items, like puzzles, toys, and games. Visit them at 265 State St. in Los Altos, and check the most up-to-date hours here!
Bonus tiny-human’s-new-favorite-person material: After you visit Linden Tree, pop by The Penny Ice Creamery for a scoop of ice cream!
–
Leigh’s Favorite Books/Bookasaurus – Sunnyvale
Bookasaurus is a spinoff of Leigh’s Favorite Books, and it’s right next door! This Sunnyvale children’s bookstore has toys, games, and, of course, lots of books! Follow them on Instagram for event announcements, and find their store hours here.
Bonus tiny-human’s-new-favorite-person material: Washington Park is a 13-minute walk from Bookasaurus, so bring your new books there and enjoy the playground and grassy fields!
–
The Reading Bug – San Carlos
The Reading Bug is a children’s bookstore located on Laurel Street in downtown San Carlos. They have a fantastic event schedule (including newborn storytime!), and also have a very cool book subscription service where you can get books delivered monthly depending on your child’s age and interests. Check The Reading Bug’s hours here.
Bonus tiny-human’s-new-favorite-person material: After you explore The Reading Bug, pop over to Laurel Street Arts and paint some pottery together! For extra brownie points, head over to Toot Sweet for some delicious self-serve frozen yogurt.
–
Did I miss any children’s bookstores on the SF Peninsula? Let me know in the comments!
I had the best time taking Los Altos High School Graduation Portraits with this beautiful senior! She grew up in the area, and we decided to do her senior portrait session at Foothills Nature Preserve in Palo Alto. This is one of my favorite locations to take photo sessions at because of the vast variety […]
I’ve been there–when you have a newborn baby (or young children in general!), sometimes you are just dying to get out of the house. We are so lucky to live in an area that has good weather so much of the time, and there is no shortage of stroller-friendly hikes near Palo Alto. As a […]
It’s been a while since I’ve used Tinder (long story short: I married my best friend), but I did use it and other apps like it back in my dating years. We all know the trope of the photo of “the guy holding a giant fish”… no more of those, please! So many people have […]
As an avid reader myself, I have a vested interest in making sure my children have a love of books. And my husband knows that we can’t walk by a bookstore without me at least popping in for 5 minutes an hour. Along with my boys, I spend a lot of time looking up local […]
Since moving to California, my family has frequented the farmer’s market a lot. Like, a lot a lot. We absolutely love strolling through and searching for the juiciest peaches and strawberries (among other tasty fruits and veggies). I knew for my baby’s celebration, we just had to do a farmer’s market themed first birthday party. […]
As a mom of an 11mo, I am always looking for drop-in play spaces around Palo Alto and the surrounding areas. It’s surprisingly hard to find places that offer playtime on a whim! Through some research (aka consulting my mom friends), I found the below drop-in play spaces for families. Be sure to check each […]
entries
popular
view the highlights
Capturing the most fleeting, perfectly imperfect moments that tell your family's story
my vision
PRIVACY POLICY
© 2025 AUDREY ANNE PHOTOGRAPHY