These businesses were voted Best Local Book Store in Bay Area Parent’s 2025 Best of the Best Reader survey. Read the full list of winners here.
East Bay
Gold: Walden Pond Books. Sells new and used books, comics and board games, in addition to hosting author events. Oakland. waldenpondbooks.com.
Silver: Pegasus Books. Oakland location. pegasusbookstore.com.
Bronze: Pegasus Books. Downtown Berkeley location. pegasusbookstore.com.
Peninsula
Gold: The Reading Bug. This family-owned, independent bookstore offers a wide selection of children’s books for all ages, as well as author events and storytimes. San Carlos. thereadingbug.com.
San Francisco/Marin
Gold: BookShop West Portal. This locally owned, independent bookstore sells books for all ages and interests, and hosts events. San Francisco. bookshopwestportal.com.
Gold: Green Apple Books. Founded in 1967, this independent bookstore sells new and used books and records and hosts a variety of author events. Three locations in San Francisco. greenapplebooks.com.
Silver: Copperfield’s Books. Larkspur and Novato. copperfieldsbooks.com.
Silicon Valley
Gold: Hicklebee’s Bookstore. This Willow Glen bookstore features children’s literature and offers storytimes and author events. San Jose. hicklebees.com.
Silver: Linden Tree Books. Los Altos. lindentreebooks.com.
