Hicklebee's Childrens Books & Toys
- Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
31 reviews
Sunnyvale, CA
"What a wonderful feeling I get when I enter this shop. It's like that dream I've always had, that one day I'd have a home with bookshelves…" read more »
17 Reviews for Hicklebee's Childrens Books & Toys
My favorite bookstore ever! Huge selection of books. Great decor.
All in all the perfect place to shop.
You walk into this story and get a calm feeling. I know calm from a kids store? I swear to you. This place is just perfect.
The staff is very helpful and don't think you are weird for encouringa 2 year old to read. My daughter loves books. She sits down and pretends to read to me. I love it, and I adore any place that enourages my kid to read.
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This place is so cute! I wish I lived in the neighborhood and I'd walk there everyday and probably spend every penny I have on books ( I guess that's what the library is for huh?) This place is a teacher's dream where you can find picture books that you wouldn't find at Borders, for all those thematic units. They also have a large selection of board books for kids who like to make a snack out of their literature. This place is a must when trying to find a unique children's gift. They also have a selection of books signed by the author for a special touch. Hicklebee's also offers a book of the month program and a baby registry.
I do wish this store was open till at least 7pm on the weekdays so I wouldn't have to rush after work to visit.
Still wonderful store.
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Great selection of children's books and while the layout is a bit tight, it has that great, comfy indie bookstore feel. My kid loves to look at books, the staff are helpful w/ recommendations and never rush us to get out. I do wish the store was bigger w/ a reading area, but I still love it as does my kiddo!
Always helpful
Fair prices
Quaint and truly a treasure
This place is a wonder. I love the staff and the selection. They frequently have readings and author signings. This store is magical, bring your kids. It's so much fun!
We've been buying books here since they opened in 1979! I recall when our daughter used to curl up in the old fashioned bath tub that was front and center of the store whereupon passersby could look in the tub through the glass window to see a child reading a book or merely looking at the pictures or both! Alas, the tub is no longer in the main window but the sentiment and flavor of a great indie bookstore is still very much evident with Valerie Lewis and Monica Holmes plus dedicated staff to help you with your selections.
I recall when JK Rowling made a visit to this store with her first book and there was not a large crowd in residence...lucky children and adults who attended that day a long ways back!
A fabulous selection of books for children that has never disappointed my children or for other children I have purchased such for. They do have greeting cards and toys as well plus gift wrap for those special occasions.
Stop by when you have time to wander the store and its contents! Service is great and knowledgeable ~ something your big box bookstores can't provide on a regular basis...
Parking in front on Lincoln Avenue or behind the store in the back parking lot. Credit cards, checks and cash accepted.
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I heart books. I heart bookstores. I really heart independent bookstores.
Hicklebee's kicks butt. Even when I don't have a kid to buy for I like going in there and finding good stuff.
If I had a place like this to go to when I was a kid (and if my folks had been into buying books and could have afforded it) I would have been in HEAVEN to visit a place like Hicklebee's.
Like everyone else I'm addicted to the internet. But there is no substitute for the tactile joy of a good book. Do check this place out, people.
By the way they do have a limited selection of toys, greeting cards, and music CDs. And a small selection of books for grown ups. And they will help you find age appropriate stuff if you can't figure it out yourself. So you really do not have any excuse not to try it.
I was amazed at the extent to their selection. Great if you want to get a themed present for a child, like puppets and monsters and animals ect... I got a book on pirates and pirate stuff such as an eye patch, treasure map, and pirate hat for my 3 yr old cousin.
And even though the lady was nice enough to help me with a suggestion and gift wrap my items, I kind of felt like she was slightly judgemental and her tone of voice kind of bothered me (only slightly).
But I will return often when I need a childs gift.
Best place to find a book for yourself or introduce books to a younger person. I always find great gifts for my nephews and neat games for friends kids too.
They also have great events there and I am always surprised by the variety of books available.
Plus if they are out of book they can order one and the return is usually really fast.
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Hickelbee's is such a great store! They succeed against the chain stores because they focus on people. Their employees are really knowledgeable and helpful. They get authors in for signings regularly, and really make a lot out of their limited space.
They have logical sections for kids and adults to discover books in topics they know they already love. My favorite sections of the store are:
- in the far back corner, there is a clawfoot bathtub filled with pillows so kids can lounge and read.
- if you haven't been to the bathroom at Hicklebee's, go! The visiting authors and illustrators are all encouraged to draw on the walls, so every wall has messages, and sketches from favorite children's authors. It is stunning!
- just behind the registers is a small room with all clearance items; books, toys, stuffed animals, games, etc. It is a treasure trove of inexpensive stuff back there. Pick through and you'll find some great stuff!
It is a small space, but that is part of it's charm. Go and enjoy! Make sure you have enough time to get lost in some great (mostly kids) books. --You will love this place.
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I can't gush enough about Hicklebee's! It's a child's dream come true. I take my little cousins here and you should see how happy they get.
The place is just awesome, with a great selection and a cool and helpful staff. Plus, the place has CHARM and character you won't find anywhere else! They have lots of artsy paintings of book characters and fun 'artifacts' from books like 'The Indian in the Cupboard' and Beverly Cleary's The Mouse and the Motorcycle. They have lots of author events. All the big names have been there.
Teachers get a discount. Then there's the independent bookstore factor, and the shop-local factor. You'll feel virtuous spending your money here.
It's just a fabulous place to be. Even as an adult I get a kick out of looking around and they've got a special "staff recommends" section of books that grown-up people can enjoy- and there are some pretty cool finds there that I would never have come across at B&N or amazon. Or, if you were deprived of great picture books as a child this is a great opportunity to discover the magic... or if you're like me and you have fond memories of this or that story or author, you can have a blast just browsing around.
It's easy to find wonderful gifts here that any child would be tickled pink to receive... they've got all the tie-in toys and dolls, arts supplies, do-dads for that extra coolness factor, science stuff. Plus, they have really fun, colorful wrapping paper and seriously know how to make a present look sexy. Maybe that sounds like a small thing, but it makes a difference, especially if you're stopping by the morning before a birthday party.
Oh, and FYI "Pizza My Heart" is just two stores down and it makes a great ending to any kid's Hicklebee's visit.
I just can't gush enough. Absolutely LOVE this place! If you live in the south bay and you haven't discovered Hicklebee's yet, it's just criminal. You've got to check this place out.
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There is no comparison. Best bookstore E.V.E.R.
this is a FANTASTIC independently owned children's bookstore right in my hood! i have shopped here for presents for my nephew and have always been given excellent service. the selection is great, and all at kids level to encourage browsing. the store always has creative displays to spark the imagination of little ones.
so charming!!
also, if you pre-ordered a copy of harry potter here you recieved 20% off and had the option of donating the savings to charity. SO COOL!
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Great place with an extremely knowledgable staff. I've consistantly found new and wonderful books for my kids here that I would have otherwise never been aware of.
A couple years ago, I was fortunate enough to see one of the owners give a presentation on children's books and it completely revolutionized the way I thought of reading with and for my kids. I can't say enough about what a difference it made in our enjoyment of books. AWESOME.
This is also a great place for stocking stuffers....I mean....if there wasn't a santa, which there most certainly is, parents could probably find a lot of little goodies here for their kids.
My compliments for this charming family oriented bookstore just echoes what everybody else had said.
My favourite is the parents' section where they have a diverse selection of parenting books. Different topics and helpful information which should be taken with a huge grain of everything anyway.
I still give this place 5 stars even though there is absolutely no place for a stroller to wander around the store but the way I see it, it is either more books or stroller wars along the aisles. I have had no problems from the staff there when I park my gargantuan Mountain Buggy Double at the entrance.
The staff there knows their books and never forget to check out their sales selection at the back of the store.
I always used to get excited when my mom would take me to Hicklebees's. It is a children's book lovers paradise. Even as teenager, I still love Hicklebee's . The staff is friendly and can give great recommendations.
It's charm and extras set it apart from conventional bookstores like Barnes and Noble.
The bathtub filled with pillows at the back of the store is adorable. The walls that aren't covered in bookshelves have awesome memorabilia from authors, such as signatures and little drawings. You can also purchases signed books from authors who have previously visited the store.
In addition to great books, they carry a variety of fun toys, stuffed animals and art supplies. It's a gem.
Really great neughborhood store, staff isn't too approachable and the aisles are cramped for a stroller but we go anyways because we like the selection and love to support a "small" business. Fun to browse and great selection for kids of all ages.
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