CHILDREN’S BOOK WORLD has been open since 1986 and is a full-service children’s bookshop in West Los Angeles, stocking over 80,000 titles for children, parents, teachers and collectors. Our commitment is to celebrate diversity, knowledge, and enrichment. A world where every child sees themselves on our shelves and every adult feels like a child again.
Our superior staff does an excellent job of helping customers choose just the right book for each child and assisting educators with their classroom needs.
Our ever-expanding and acclaimed multicultural collection of books makes Children’s Book World a treasure trove for book lovers of all ages! We believe every child should see their stories reflected in the books on our shelves.
CHILDREN’S BOOK WORLD
10580 1/2 W. Pico Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90064
(310) 559-BOOK/2665
cbwchildrensbooks@gmail.com
STORE HOURS
Mon– Fri 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM and Saturday 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Awards and Commendations
Over our thirty plus years, Children’s Book World has received a multitude of awards and commendations. Here is a sampling of some of these awards, with the text that accompanied them, reflecting the essence of what Children’s Book World offers the community at large.
Forbes 2018 Best Bookstores in Los Angeles
“It will be a sad day in Mudville (and let’s hope it never happens) when Children’s Book World says goodbye to its last Sneetch and Hungry Caterpillar in a world too lazy to get out and actually browse. With shelf after inviting shelf of children’s lit, the 1986 holdout in Pico’s Rancho Park area is a magic carpet ride into the imagination for kids and grownups alike. The staff cares so much about these picture books, YA novels and assorted classics, you want to award them whatever the bookseller equivalent is of the Caldecott Medal. And maybe throw in a MacArthur Grant, too. It’s a genius idea to excite children about books this way.”
Finalist 2017 We Need Diverse Books Bookseller of the Year Award
We Need Diverse Books is an organization that advocates essential changes in the publishing industry to produce and promote literature that reflects and honors the lives of all young people, putting more books featuring diverse characters into the hands of all children. Children’s Book World was honored to be a finalist for the We Need Diverse Books Bookseller of the Year Award that recognizes the role that independent booksellers play in curating diverse collections.
Winner of 2017 Pannell Award for Best Children’s Specialty Bookstore
Awarded annually by the Women’s National Book Association. “Jurors noted their (Children’s Book World’s) commitment to carrying a diverse selection of titles and the way Children’s Book World embodies the idea of a bookstore as a place of discovery, citing their quarterly poetry slam for readers ages 8-13; their Teen Readers Council; and the “Readers & Writers Rock!” program through which they bring authors to low-income schools and underserved children.”
2017 Horace Mann Upstanders Award: Sharon Hearn, owner Children’s Book World
“The Horace Mann Community Upstander Award is given to a member of our community who demonstrates the social justice attitude and perspective that is consistent with our book award and vision and mission of Antioch University. This book award is to encourage young readers to be activists and to engage their rights.”
2011 Dorothy C. McKenzie Award for Distinguished Contribution to the Field of Children’s Literature
This award, from the Children’s Literature Council of Southern California, is named for the organization’s founder, Dorothy C. McKenzie. The award is given periodically in recognition of an individual’s contribution to the field of children’s literature. “Southern California is filled with people and organizations passionate about children’s literature and the desire to connect that literature with children and teens. Sharon Hearn, owner of Children’s Book World, is one of the most passionate and effective advocates for books and reading. The store has been open since 1986, but it’s not just the longevity of the store but also Sharon’s commitment to those who don’t have access to books that made her our choice for the 2011 Dorothy C. McKenzie Award.”
Time Out Los Angeles: The Best Bookstores in Los Angeles–January 2017
“This store carries more than 80,000 titles, as well as music, audio books, DVDs, puppets, stuffed animals and craft and science kits. The book selection is open-minded (gay-friendly, multi-cultural) and well-organized, divided into age-appropriate sections. There are cozy spots to snuggle up and read in, as well as play areas for the wee ones; peek around the corner of any aisle and you’ll find a happy kid with her nose in a book. Regular events include book signings and story hours.”
Los Angeles Magazine: Best Children’s Book Store–August 2014
“Whether your kid is three or 13, into puppies or Greek mythology, the staff at Children’s Book World can make a recommendation, or several. Their knowledge is impressive; they seem to have read (and to recall the particulars of) every children’s and young adult book ever written. Special sections on subjects such as divorce, new babies in the house (aka siblings!), and moving are noteworthy. Saturday mornings feature a rotating lineup of free entertainment: storytime sessions, puppet shows, and musical acts.”
Los Angeles Magazine: Best Baby Gifts–August 2016
“A basket filled with, say, Dr. Seuss tales from CHILDREN’S BOOK WORLD will stand out among the flood of pastel onesies and booties at any party. The savvy staff create custom packages and pride themselves on choosing classic yet surprising titles (I Took the Moon for a Walk instead of the ubiquitous Goodnight Moon).”
LA Weekly: Best Place to Recycle Kids’ Books–2009
“Perhaps, as important as it is to purchase a new title, when those gently or once-read volumes are not challenging enough for your child, Children’s Book World will take them off your hands to share with programs and centers where books are less plentiful. “It’s important for children to have their own books, and one they choose for themselves,” Hearn explains. The book-recycling program was started when Ann Martin, author of the Baby-sitters Club books, was doing an in-store reading. As part of her participation, she required that the shop incorporate a charitable aspect, so Hearn set up a donation bin. Books are donated to teachers of low-income students, and to homeless and domestic-violence shelters, and more.”
