Children's Book World and CBW Teens and Adults

I CANNOT be trusted in a bookstore. I will come to pick up 1-2 books but leave with 5 or 6. Absolutely love coming here with my kids and to pick up gifts. They have a huge selection and the way it’s organized makes browsing very fun, easy, and inviting. The staff here are always helpful and very friendly. They also offer free gift wrapping which I love! My kids get super excited when we go to CBW. I always recommend this store to my local friends.

This is a wonderful bookstore. They have baby board books up to YA. The staff is very helpful. There is also a nice selection of craft & science kits for birthday gifts or just for fun.

Children's Book World is a wonderful place run by wonderful people! My son and I have discovered so many good books thanks to staff recommendations and the fun author events they host. I also buy gifts for kids' birthday parties here - they do a great job wrapping and it's very convenient!

Children's Book World has the best selection of children's books anywhere. The staff is so welcoming. Getting up close and personal with authors and illustrators is a privilege. Watching Lisa Yee and Dan Santat banter about their latest book, The Misfits, was a treat. The first pages have me hooked. As soon as I have a cup of java in hand, I'll return to The Misfits. Thanks to Children's Book World for this (and many other) wonderful experience!

Great little children's bookstore, hidden in WestLa. I love that they seem to regularly invite authors to come share about their books.

Children’s Book World is a true gem and one of my son’s most favorite places to visit (and shhhh, me too!). We could spend hours here easily. My son has such a hard time narrowing down his selections before it’s time to leave. I love seeing all the wonderful selections of children’s books for infants to YA and all kinds of subjects. I have been coming here for almost a decade, and have gotten books for my son as well as plenty of gifts. (They nicely gift wrap your purchases upon request, too, making gift buying so easy!) The staff is extremely knowledgeable about children’s books and oh so patient and has never steered us wrong. Through them, we’ve learned of wonderful new titles. They also carry many books written by and for “children of color” which really pleases me because these books, in general but for children, are hard to come by but oh so important for my son to read and know he’s represented in the literary world. I wouldn’t be surprised if they had a good collection on LGBTQ subjects, stories, and authors, either bc this bookstore celebrates children of all color, race, creed, religion and gender identity. We continue to support this bookstore through the pandemic by ordering online and picking it up “curbside” contactless (by the back door, really). I hope they open their doors for the public to come back in to the store soon as my son is craving to explore more books. Los Angeles is so lucky to have this incredible independent bookstore for children. Thank you CBW!! (Side note, I don’t know why there are so many reviews for this bookstore that are not about this bookstore! This is a children’s bookstore, all new books, not used!)

I needed several books for a friend's kid in Mexico. They were teaching her English or something, and the kid happens to like Halloween themes. Even though it was not Halloween at the time, the storage staff gave me a lot of recommendations and I ended up with five really nice books that were appropriate for the kids level. Sent them off to mexico. The help is very good here, I appreciate. Thank you.

Inspired by my year old grandchildren to seek out this bookstore. Well organized and filled with material for infants all the way into teenage years. We browsed for quite a while, reliving our own childhood favorite reading, but also appreciated the attentive staff when we asked if a specific book was available in boardbook configuration. Will continue to stop by here as the kids advance in their reading abilities.

I CANNOT be trusted in a bookstore. I will come to pick up 1-2 books but leave with 5 or 6. Absolutely love coming here with my kids and to pick up gifts. They have a huge selection and the way it’s organized makes browsing very fun, easy, and inviting. The staff here are always helpful and very friendly. They also offer free gift wrapping which I love! My kids get super excited when we go to CBW. I always recommend this store to my local friends.

This is a wonderful bookstore. They have baby board books up to YA. The staff is very helpful. There is also a nice selection of craft & science kits for birthday gifts or just for fun.

Children's Book World is a wonderful place run by wonderful people! My son and I have discovered so many good books thanks to staff recommendations and the fun author events they host. I also buy gifts for kids' birthday parties here - they do a great job wrapping and it's very convenient!

Children's Book World has the best selection of children's books anywhere. The staff is so welcoming. Getting up close and personal with authors and illustrators is a privilege. Watching Lisa Yee and Dan Santat banter about their latest book, The Misfits, was a treat. The first pages have me hooked. As soon as I have a cup of java in hand, I'll return to The Misfits. Thanks to Children's Book World for this (and many other) wonderful experience!

Great little children's bookstore, hidden in WestLa. I love that they seem to regularly invite authors to come share about their books.

Children’s Book World is a true gem and one of my son’s most favorite places to visit (and shhhh, me too!). We could spend hours here easily. My son has such a hard time narrowing down his selections before it’s time to leave. I love seeing all the wonderful selections of children’s books for infants to YA and all kinds of subjects. I have been coming here for almost a decade, and have gotten books for my son as well as plenty of gifts. (They nicely gift wrap your purchases upon request, too, making gift buying so easy!) The staff is extremely knowledgeable about children’s books and oh so patient and has never steered us wrong. Through them, we’ve learned of wonderful new titles. They also carry many books written by and for “children of color” which really pleases me because these books, in general but for children, are hard to come by but oh so important for my son to read and know he’s represented in the literary world. I wouldn’t be surprised if they had a good collection on LGBTQ subjects, stories, and authors, either bc this bookstore celebrates children of all color, race, creed, religion and gender identity. We continue to support this bookstore through the pandemic by ordering online and picking it up “curbside” contactless (by the back door, really). I hope they open their doors for the public to come back in to the store soon as my son is craving to explore more books. Los Angeles is so lucky to have this incredible independent bookstore for children. Thank you CBW!! (Side note, I don’t know why there are so many reviews for this bookstore that are not about this bookstore! This is a children’s bookstore, all new books, not used!)

I needed several books for a friend's kid in Mexico. They were teaching her English or something, and the kid happens to like Halloween themes. Even though it was not Halloween at the time, the storage staff gave me a lot of recommendations and I ended up with five really nice books that were appropriate for the kids level. Sent them off to mexico. The help is very good here, I appreciate. Thank you.

Inspired by my year old grandchildren to seek out this bookstore. Well organized and filled with material for infants all the way into teenage years. We browsed for quite a while, reliving our own childhood favorite reading, but also appreciated the attentive staff when we asked if a specific book was available in boardbook configuration. Will continue to stop by here as the kids advance in their reading abilities.

Great selection of children's books - love that they have a decent amount of books in other languages besides English! I feel like organization could be better though? Staff was very helpful and patient, and did a beautiful job of gift wrapping.

Visited the store for the first time this past weekend for an author event, and I loved this amazing store. It's a nice space with all the shelves filled with a variety of books. From the classics, new releases, and foreign language versions. I saw some amazing picture books that I would love in my library, but I would have needed a few boxes to get them home. The staff were all friendly, helpful, and eager to help me find a particular book I was looking for(they had it). I am looking forward to my next visit to see what new books they might have.

A spectacular collection of books for children of every age, specific to their reading ability and interests. Kind and attentive staff who greet you with genuine happiness to be with others who are turned on to the wonders of reading and want to share that with kids!!

Adorable book store with such an incredible selection of children's book! Came here to buy books for a baby shower gift and didn't want to leave/*wanted to buy all the books!* The employees are very sweet and helpful. Lots of street (metered) parking. The don't have tap/Apple Pay so make sure you bring your card!

This is our family's favorite place. Friendly and knowledgeable staff make great book recommendations. My only complaint is once we are there I can't get my kids to leave!

Love this spot, it's hands down our favorite kids bookstore in LA. Holden always has the best book recommendations.

Fantastic children's book store with a great selection and thoughtful staff. Nice layout for discovering great new books.

Beautiful store with many children's books options and stuffed animals. The store was very well staffed and the service was great. I wished I knew about this store earlier as I would have visited more in the past. Will return soon!

Wonderful place to get all sorts of books for your children. BUT. the staff here..the women (specifically the elder one) is very UNWELCOMING. Not kind, unhelpful. I walked in with my children, they asked me to wear my mask (post covid 2 years as if it were a hospital). My son was touching and choosing books and I got given nasty looks by the staff. Will not be coming back

The best Children's bookstore around. They have started back on events again and author book signings. It's so amazing to see an entire store just for childrens books. My daughter loves this store and can always find something to read and take home.

Great place -- from the quality selection, to the friendly and helpful staff, to the free gift wrapping -- everything is exceptional. (And they seem to have books for adults, as well, so that's another part of the store to explore.)

I had the BEST time here!!!! What a lovely selection of books! So organized and so many different types of books on any topic you can imagine. Books I've never even heard of before that I'm so glad I found! I also want to add that it's a great place to get gifts for babies/ baby showers bc they have premade gift baskets of board books with a cute plush rattle. I will definitely come back here for my own kid as well as gifts for other kids! The staff was also really nice and helped me find all the types of books that I was looking for. Five stars isn't enough.

A landmark in my neighborhood, I recently went In to buy books for a friend in Japan who teaches English to kids. The offerings were enormous. I remember they always had great authors come to read and sign books for the kids. These included Tom Kinney and Rick Riordan!!! My son met both and read all their books! May you continue to be of service to young audiences and their families!

Children's Book World is a wonderful place run by wonderful people! My son and I have discovered so many good books thanks to staff recommendations and the fun author events they host. I also buy gifts for kids' birthday parties here - they do a great job wrapping and it's very convenient! We've been coming here for nearly ten years now and it's definitely my favorite bookstore in Los Angeles.

We came here today for an author reading & signing with Michele Wong McSween. She wrote the newest lunar new year book with Gordon & Li Li. We gOt our 2 books autographed! Took photos with her and our kid did some coloring pages. We listened to the story telling too. Fun way to spend 30 minutes on a Saturday morning!

As an illustrator and a parent I Love this place so much. The workers are so knowledgeable and give amazing recommendations! It's our favorite bookstore and we always stop by when we're in LA.

3 years later and still requiring masks. Literally the only store. So sad. Been wanting to buy more books to read to my grandchildren have tried so many times to go there. (But did not want my little babies to wear a mask.) they have lost my business forever.

I'm so glad I found Children's Book World! First, it's a beautiful and charming book store, one that I wish there were more of. I remember as a child the thrill of discovering a new book at a store and then rushing home to read it. Stepping into Children's Book World instantly brought me back to my childhood. Second, the staff were SO friendly and helpful. They went above and beyond to help me with my purchase. This will be my go-to whenever I need to buy gifts for nieces, nephews, and children of friends and family...and I won't be surprised if I discover a terrific new book for me as well.

There are few things more awesome in the world than a speciality bookstore that has been around round forever serving its community. One is when that bookstore is for kids and it has been around for so long you remember being excited to go as a kid yourself over 30 years ago. Simply put this is the best place to expose and get kids excited about reading. They have all the classics you might expect but then a fascinating and deep selection of works that will fit whatever a child might be interested in. The staff is outstanding and is extremely knowledgeable and helpful in terms of selecting workings that will be the best fit for your need. I made the mistake about forgetting about this store for about ten years but will not make that mistake again.

Hands down, this is the best kids' bookstore I have ever been to. It isn't just the selection (which is ENORMOUS and covers everything from classics to new publications), it's also the staff that makes this store so memorable. Looking for a book for the five-year-old who is narwhal obsessed? The ten-year-old who loves space? Just tell a staff member what is needed and he/she will provide several options. It's also gratifying to support an independent bookstore instead of lining Jeff Bezos's pockets.

I ran across this shop after a business meeting in Century City and fell in love. It has as many children's books as you could ever ask for, a charming staff, and they host readings and events. I could come here daily! It's so comforting. I bought several charming Halloween books for my little one and will plan a trip back next time I'm over in this area.

This store is truly amazing. My whole family loves coming here. They have an amazing book selection and their employees are always helpful and have wonderful suggestions. This is my favorite place to buy birthday presents for kids (they have toys too!). They also have a decent selection of foreign language books (I've purchased some books in Spanish) and can special order anything. This shop is definitely a gem in our neighborhood!

I've been coming here to buy gifts for friends' kids and then for my own kid once she was born. If you ever need help finding a gift, the staff are great at providing suggestions. Children's Book World is heaven for bookworms. The staff is super nice and won't bother your child if they happen to be reading a book. We've seen several authors here and had books signed, which are among my daughter's most prized possessions. If you're lucky, you can even pick up a signed book as a gift. Speaking of gifts, they provide free gift wrapping! If you're as challenged at gift wrapping as I am, it's an added bonus. If you're pressed for time, they'll give you some gift wrapping to take with you. Sure, it's cheaper to order books on Amazon, but I'd rather support Children's Book World.

Had some last-minute shopping for a birthday party, and they were life savers. A wide range of books (from Hip Hop Speaks to Children: A Celebration of Poetry with a Beat to 1992's Mirette of the High Wire to the 1946 Caldecott Medal winner Pedro: The Angel of Olvera Street), plus a super friendly and helpful staff. They have in-store readings on a regular basis, and all the staff with whom I spoke seemed to have a deep knowledge of, and affection for, children's literature. As it turned out, I had done a bunch of online research before proceeding into the store (just the opposite of what often times happens in the real world, where people browse in-store and buy online), so I didn't need to avail myself of their expertise, but the way they spoke of the authors I'd chosen led me to believe I would have been perfectly served just by placing myself in their capable hands. I can't say I will shop here often, because I don't have kids, but if you do, or need to buy presents for some, by all means hurry on over here.

Why did I never come here as a child? They're awesome- they work with local authors & give them opportunities to share their work. I have lived in this neighborhood my entire life - wish I knew about this hidden gem when I was younger!

This book store has a great selection of books and children toys. I will definitely be back.

I love this book store and brought my kids here for years. They always have the best recommendations. Now, in these unprecedented times, I've rediscovered this lovely place. Since Covid, I've placed two separate orders. I placed an order to support our school holiday book drive and they sent the books directly to school on my behalf. They also ordered a few books and shipped them to me. This close to the holidays, I'd probably opt for the parking lot pick up. Delighted to support our local book store.

I LOVED coming here as a previous teacher and school administrator. This place has now lost another customer. It has a richness in diversity in their books. Unfortunately, it is not reflected in their staff or their actions.

Not sure how this store has stayed in business as long as it has, perhaps because it's one of the only ones in LA. The owner gave me such a hard time this morning about returning an opened toy (within the specified time frame on the receipt). The toy's only packaging was some shrink wrap. I was going to spend more money to buy some other books and exchange the unusable toy (they were letter magnets and we later realized we don't have a magnetic fridge, and they were also not really appropriate for her age). that being said, the receipt and posted return policy state that you can exchange within 14 days, and ONLY audio and video merchandise can't be returned when opened. probably 40% of their merchandise is "packaged", so the return policy should actually say "no refunds or exchanges of ANY opened merchandise". I also did not at all enjoy the way I spoken to (owner had a major attitude problem), and it seemed like everything my two year old touched in the store was "off limits". The other staff were helpful enough, but I would not say particularly friendly. My adorable daughter seemed more of a nuisance than a welcome customer. Treating customers this way will surely lead to a decrease in sales... I should add that after arguing my case about how the return policy is misleading, the owner reluctantly agreed to exchange the item.

This is my favorite kids bookstore in LA. Their book selection is excellent and the staff is very knowledgeable. You can always count on them making great suggestions. Plus, they have weekly story time. You can take your kids to enjoy free concerts, puppet shows, and other cool performances every Saturday morning. It's perfect for kids under 5.

This is an amazing bookstore for kids. Kind of a hole in the wall spot because it's easy to overlook. They have a good selection of books from all categories. I came in looking for a book to buy my niece for her bday and ended up leaving with 3 books. Even as an adult I was entertained in there with some really funny books they have in there. The store is really near and organized with a super friendly staff that can help you find a book and even give you recommendations. They also offer free gift wrapping (if you need it) which I think is awesome. I definitely will be coming back here.

Wow! What an amazing children's book store. Came in today for one book to buy as a present. They gift wrap the books for you if you are giving them as gift. Came out with almost 10 books. The associates that work there are so helpful and knowledgeable and help you find the perfect books for your little ones.

Exceptional place to browse, buy or banter about books. That said, all you need to do is show up. This is a sweet gem of a store that seems in no danger of disappearing. With their crack staff and impressive inventory, one can easily find something for the younger set. And this goes into Young Adult, too. I've been here maybe half a dozen times, and have always had very positive experiences. And, I recently discovered they have awesome complimentary gift wrap, too. Books, some games, some media stuff (music and films) are here. But, don't go looking for video game stuff like manuals and bric-a-brac. There are plenty of places for that. CBW is the kids book store you once knew, or maybe once dreamt about.

Neighborhood bookstore does not support local authors who self-publish. Recently, I visited Children's Book World to ask if they would carry my children's book. The employee stated in a rather condescending tone that they never consider self-published books. She did not look at the book, which I had in hand, nor did she consider the high quality uniqueness of it (w/augmented reality app). Such a policy/business practice is out of step with today's highly competitive marketplace. Furthermore, if you pride yourself on being a bookstore for the community then why not support local authors?

I came in here looking for children's books for my nieces and I just loved all the options! This place even has cookbooks haha! The one I decided on was "look inside our world". Very informative for a young child! Great store

What a magical place for any children's book lover! Books are obviously carefully chosen and displayed. And the staff was friendly and knowledgable. I can't wait for my next visit!

When was the last time you wandered into a store and left feeling better about the world? (Umm, well...for me, it was actually the last time I went to a great independent bookstore, of course--and they've become far too rare in LA). Today, a thoughtful CBW staff member immediately approached and helped me identify three relevant, smart, and engaging novels, perfect for a certain young person's birthday. What a difference it makes, to have store staff who clearly love what they do. It would have been an efficient trip, had I not sat down on a stool to look at six more books. There is much literature here for adults who love children's literature, too. Then, the complimentary, colorful gift wrap. Infinitely more fun than buying books online--I could spend hours in this place. Thank you, Children's Book World, for persisting and thriving.

This review is for today's trip only. Was not offered gift wrap and had to ask multiple times for a gift receipt. Also had to listen to the person behind the counter belittle local schools and speak in a negative way about many of the parents he deals with and how they don't understand child development and are doing damage to their children. Unbelievablely pretentious and self serving and condescending.

I am a college student currently taking French classes and have spent months looking for French books, specifically children french books to get my practice in reading. I was very excited to see this place had many language books including French! I do plan on coming back soon but also hope they make their collection bigger since it is very hard finding these books. Please please make your collection bigger since i noticed most of the books were only for the very very young and beginner readers! I will be recommending this place to the Language Department in my school!

Thus place has the best books! I love hiw their goal is to inspire children and make their world happier. The coustomer is awesome too! This place is great for people who love books,l, and don't. For the people who like to read, it encourages you to keep reading. For people who don't like books, if you try one of their books your guaranteed to start reading a ton!

Such a small, lovely bookstore with a great staff. Tell them what you kid likes/needs to learn/has read and they'll steer you right to the perfect books.

This is my family's favorite Los Angeles bookstore, hands down! We've been coming here for about 11 years and while their selection for all ages of children is amazing, it's their staff that really makes this independent bookstore so special. They know and love all their books and are able to make such helpful suggestions for books my kids will find interesting. My kids always leave with armfuls if books they love. The staff also just makes the store feel warm and cozy--like the perfect reading nook it is. I don't exaggerate when I say that, for me, this is the most important and wonderful store in all of Los Angeles!

Super cute bookstore.... Huge variety of books for little and big kids.. Great selection of multilingual books as well as translations of already published stories... Adorable puppets, games, little toys, and stuffed animals based on characters from your favorite childhood stories. The staff was friendly and relatively competent although they didn't provide many specific suggestions or experiences with certain books and just directed to certain sections, which was helpful although I would've liked a more personal feel. There wasn't employee hovering, inquisition, or pressure eto purchase, so I really enjoyed taking my time to explore and take in all that the store had to offer.

CRISIS. 9PM on a Friday night. My wife asks me, "Aren't you going to read to the boys?" "Read? Read what?! We've read everything in the house." I reply, my head in my hands. "You've got to be kidding." She walks to the shelf in the boys' room and starts rifling through. "You've read this? (Treasure Island)" "Yes." "And this? (Holes)" "Yes." "And this? (A Wrinkle in Time) And this? (Belly Up) And this? (The True Meaning of Smekday) And this? (The Giver)" "Yes, yes, yes." The titles continue to fly over her shoulder. A pile of historical fiction. Harry Potter. Narnia. Tolkien. King Arthur. Arabian Nights. Homer. "And even this? (Ender's Game)" "Yes, we finished last night. It was awesome." I nod forlornly. We pause for a moment in silence, staring at the ground, contemplating the long-term developmental implications of going without reading to our children for one entire day. "Well, I guess there's only one thing to do." EMERGENCY MISSION TO CHILDREN'S BOOK WORLD. 9:45 AM on Saturday. We're in the parking lot, leaning up against the side of the car. Kevin is there (thank heavens), bringing some boxes in from the back storage area. I inform him of the situation. "We'll be open in just a few minutes," he says, cheek pressed up against one of the boxes. "It's gonna be ok," he reassures me. And deep down inside, I believe him. Doors open. The boys and I fan out in the children's fiction section. Kevin stands benevolently beside us. We pick some books out and show them to him. As usual, he has read them all. "I really enjoyed that one - excellent for this age, carries some adult themes but without the degree of darkness that you might see in other books of this genre. That one was good, but fell short of expectations since the first in the series was so outstanding; you might pick something else. That's one of Chelsie's favorites: set during the Civil War, really depicts a side of the conflict that most people don't know about. That one? Oh, yes - my girlfriend and I were debating the merits of the various works of Charles Dickens last night over dinner. I would say Oliver Twist before David Copperfield." Kevin. My man. The boys show him some titles. "You sure you want the whole series? How 'bout start with the first one and see how it goes. That one is an excellent sequel if you liked the first one. That one is good, very fast paced with a lot of action." My ten-year-old delves into Poached by Stuart Gibbs, then pauses to look at me seriously. "I get to read this one first." I know better than to argue with him. 30 minutes later, we approach the cash register with three armfuls of books. As Kevin rings us up, I finally feel my pulse coming back to normal. And my breathing is steadier now. Back home, we unload our quarry onto the shelf as my wife moves some of the older volumes to storage. The ten-year-old plops down in his usual reading position on the sofa. He'll be there for the rest of the day. Life is back to normal. WHEW. That was a CLOSE one.

This place is awesome! The staff was so incredibly helpful and offered their suggestions for my son. I will definitely be back again soon.

Such a delightful establishment. You wouldn't believe the struggles I have had with chain bookstores: broken promises to put books on hold (only to find they are not in stock/they were sold to other customers), staff that does not know the difference between paperback and hardcover, and ill-kept inventory records. Doing business with Children's Book World is a huge breath of fresh air. Not only is the staff competent - they are so efficient. I was in a hurry to pick up my books last Friday, and sure enough, I was in and out of the store in less than five minutes. They have great recommendations, too. True bibliophiles to the core. I know it's a children's store, but I just love it. It is everything you hope an independent bookstore will be.

Amazing place! I stopped in with my two little ones on the way to the dentist and found this treasure. The manager was so nice and showed us around. The selection is amazing and the prices are really cheap. We'll keep coming back here for sure!

As far as children's books go this place has an outstanding selection! In fact, my biggest compliment to the owners is kudos for stocking so many books with kids of color as the protagonists! This may seem insignificant but I am always hard pressed to find books for my kids that ever feature images of kids who vaguely resemble them. I know conservative folks say it should not matter, but if white kids had to always look at shows/books/movies that ONLY featured black faces their parents would be pretty damn annoyed to say the least, as they have to explain "No Chelsea, you TOO can fly a rocket ship some day. It's not just LaWanda." (things never said in the history of America) I can always find something interesting and entertaining here for my kids who both enjoy reading. The place is also well organized and not cramped and dusty like many indie book stores. Border's Books can kiss my ass. Children's Book World on Pico Blvd. is a gem.

What a gem of a bookstore you have in Children's Book World! Long-time teacher/book lover. Whenever our family travels, I always search out independent bookstores in the cities we visit. It tells you a lot about the area if they have a good book scene. Children's Book World is a must visit destination! The selection is incredible, and the staff were friendly, helpful, and very knowledgeable. We're going back for a second visit before heading back to Seattle! When we return to Los Angeles in the future, we will stop by Children's Book World for sure!