6 Magical Children’s Bookstores You Must Visit in Central Ohio

These beautiful children’s bookstores in Ohio will transport you to another world! Check out one of these independent children’s bookstores in Central Ohio for books, gifts and goodies for the kids in your life!

Bookstores are some of the best places, don’t you agree? I could spend all day in a bookstore with a cup of coffee. Maybe visiting bookstores with kids isn’t quite as relaxing as that! But either way, when you visit one of these magical children’s bookstores in Central Ohio, it will come pretty darn close!

Plan Your Visit to one of These 6 Amazing Children’s Bookstores in Ohio:

1. Cover to Cover Books for Young Readers

• 2116 Arlington Ave., Columbus, Ohio 43221

Speaking of being transported to another world, when you step inside Cover to Cover Books for Young Readers in Upper Arlington, Ohio, you might never want to return to reality! This adorable bookstore just for kids is a gem.

Cover to Cover was originally opened by a teacher in Clintonville. The store was bought by another teacher and moved to Upper Arlington in 2018. The store hosts special events and story times with authors on a regular basis.

With books for kids of all ages and stages, you can find everything you need for school projects, gifts or leisure reading. Online ordering is also available on the website!

• Related: Story Times for Kids in Columbus

2. Beanbag Books

• 25 W Winter St., Delaware, Ohio 43015

Beanbag Books began as a teacher supply store and has been in downtown Delaware for over 30 years. They underwent a remodel in 2022 and we revisited in July of 2023 to see it and pick out some books!

This store is full of books for kids of all ages and is a place you must visit with your kids when you’re in Delaware, Ohio! Beyond books, you can also shop for toys, games and craft kits to keep your kids busy throughout the year!

Stop into Beanbag Books as part of a fun day in Delaware, Ohio with your kids!

• Related: 17 Columbus Based Virtual Story Times for Kids

3. The Fun Company

• 136 S Main St., Bellefontaine, Ohio 43311, 937-599-2993

This is a magical toy store in Bellefontaine, Ohio with a cozy book section that will make you want to plop down on a comfy couch and stay a while. This is an amazing hidden gem just outside of Columbus that I didn’t know existed until just a few years ago!

I loved how The Fun Company has little nooks and crannies for playing and reading. It is impossible not to fall in love with how cheery and fun this place is!

Even if you don’t live close enough to pop over to this children’s bookstore, you can order online and have books (and toys) shipped to your house! If you DO live close enough, there are a lot of fun things to do in Bellefontaine with your kids when you visit!

• Related: 6 Easy Day Trips from Columbus, Ohio that are Perfect for Families

4. Gramercy Books

• 2424 E. Main St., Bexley, OH 43209

The children’s section at Gramercy Books in Bexley, Ohio is delightful! This is a place I love to take my kids. And it doesn’t hurt that the bookstore is attacked to Kittie’s Cakes where they sell my favorite chocolate chip cookie in Columbus!

Though the entire bookstore is not dedicated to kids, the children’s space is it’s own little world with fun and colorful displays, enticing toys and a great selection of books for children.

This classy bookstore is an asset to Central Ohio with it’s great selection, author events and commitment to diversity in its offerings.

• Related: 25 Super Fun Things to do in Ohio with Kids

5. The Book Loft

• 631 South Third St., Columbus, OH 43206

Quite possibly the most famous bookstore in Ohio, The Book Loft offers a maze of 32 rooms of books of all subjects and topics – including it’s own children’s book section consisting of 5 rooms!

There are so many books at the Book Loft, they often spill out onto the porch and sidewalk! Make sure to allow plenty of time to visit (and potentially get lost)! The store does provide maps and if it’s your first time visiting this bookstore in the German Village neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio, I suggest picking one up!

On of my favorite parts of The Book Loft is that they play different CD’s in different sections and you can alway look around to find the display of what music is “now playing”!

Additionally, the children’s section is large and full of fun finds for all ages! Online ordering is also available! Check out my list of bookstores in Columbus for more ideas!

6. Storyline Bookshop

• Address: 2108 Tremont Ctr, Upper Arlington, OH 43221
• Website

Storyline Bookshop opened in Upper Arlington during the summer of 2024 and it is a dream! This gorgeous bookstore is divided into themed rooms. The children’s area is pretty special, too! There is a super cute reading nook inside a rocket just for kids.

Visit Storyline Bookshop in the Tremont Center in Upper Arlington right next to The Original Goodie Shop (which makes for a perfect combo if you ask me)!

• Related: Over 100 Fun Things to do in Columbus, Ohio

Plan a visit to one of these magical children’s bookstores in Columbus and Central Ohio and you will not be disappointed! These local gems are some of our favorite places to take our kids! Which one is your favorite?

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