When we think of bookstores in Singapore, large chains like Kinokuniya, Times, and Popular often come to mind. But beyond these well-known names, where else can we discover captivating titles for our little readers? Fortunately, Singapore is home to a vibrant community of independent bookstores, each curated by passionate book lovers who have made it their mission to foster a love of reading among children.
These hidden gems offer more than just books—they provide a welcoming space where kids can embark on imaginative journeys, explore diverse stories, and develop a lifelong passion for reading. Whether you’re looking for classic tales, diverse voices, or the latest releases, these indie bookstores have something special for every young reader.
If you’re eager to nurture your child’s reading habits, look no further. Below, we’ve compiled a list of the 7 best children’s bookstores in Singapore [updated 2024]. Each one is a treasure trove waiting to be explored, offering a wide selection of books that will inspire and delight your little ones.
Elm Tree’s mission is to provide exciting products to spread literacy and life skills to children. They do it by distributing a vast variety of books, audiobooks, educational material, crafts and stationery that help children enjoy the journey of learning.
Elm Tree is also famous as an exclusive distributor for various publishers, including Hinkler, Make Believe Ideas, Kumon, Phidal, and Letterland. Fans of Kumon’s products will find your treasure at Elm Tree’s stores as this book distributor carries the widest range of Kumon stuff in Singapore.
Another highlighted thing about Elm Tree is they constantly infusing their assortment with ever new, latest and innovative products. Please visit their Facebook for the latest updates.
For the little readers, they are refreshing one of their most popular – Never Touch Series!! Touch and Feel books help the young ones develop sensory awareness. Children first learn to explore the world around them through the sensation of touching. Besides, a perennial is their “I Am Feeling” series by Trace Moroney. With these books, children will be exposed to different kinds of emotions and learn the ways to manage them.
Elm Tree’s CDs, learning books, fiction, puzzles, interactive material, and books are available at the retail stores and online. Those products are just perfect for children under 12 years old. Elm Tree’s price ranges from affordable to premium. They are also extending their reach via Shopee and Lazada (via Marketing Agent Round Kids).
Visit their Online Store for Members’ Discount and Birthday Discount. Enjoy a 10% discount on your next online purchase with their membership! In addition, you will get a 20% discount on your birthday month!
It’s easy to understand how the owners came up with the idea of opening a children’s bookstore. It’s because they are huge book lovers themselves and wish to cultivate reading among little kids.
You will find colorful books with dynamic illustrations and huge prints for infants and little tykes, sort of an introduction to the world around them – about alphabet, numbers, colors, shapes, and all those basic concepts.
As the kids’ reading comprehension skill develops, so does the selection of books. There is a wide assortment of fiction books that not only take them to different worlds, but also teach important lessons.
Stepping into Littered with Books is akin to traveling back in time – and, no, it’s not simply because of the literary treasures stashed inside, but because this bookstore is found in a conservation shophouse. As you enter the bookstore, you can play pretend that you’re going inside a shady opium house or gambling den in the 19th century.
Littered with Books has two storeys – and the sight of a bookstore this big in this era of advanced technology is enough to bring a warm, fuzzy feeling to book lovers. If you have no idea what book to pick for your kid, the owners are generous with recommendations or better yet, retreat to one of the many peaceful nooks and leaf through a few interesting titles.
Woods in the Books is a rare gem in the colorful tapestry of shops at Tiong Bahru. The vibrant life-size paintings of fictional characters on the glass doors and windows will give you an idea of the kind of books encased inside.
What makes Woods in the Books perfect for young children is that theowners themselveshandpick the picture books that make it to their shelves. They make their choices by taking in consideration the stories and illustrations that will captivate the kids and ultimately encourage them to read as a part of their everyday life.
Woods in the Books’ unique concept is so successful that they had to open their second branch, Books Ahoy, on Orchard Road.
My Greatest Child has been around for almost a decade now, which means it has survived the emergence of fancy gadgets and distracting social media apps.
The store’s mission is to promote reading to children of all ages by selling books and other educational materials at affordable prices. Much of the books and stationery that they sell at My Greatest Child are imported from Australia, United Kingdom, and the United States.
My Greatest Child is one of the biggest bookstores in Singapore, boasting of more than 1,000 titles in the children’s section alone. This selection is comprised of colorful picture books, early readers, young adult literature, and various reference titles. MGC’s book fairs are well-anticipated because of the huge price drop that readers enjoy.
To open a bookstore in the year 2014 is a brave, commendable move for an entrepreneur. My Imagination Kingdom started as an online bookstore which eventually expanded its operations when the owners realized that they wanted to do more in the name of literacy, to be more proactive in developing a reading habit among the youth. Alas, My Imagination Kingdom bookstore was born.
The books at My Imagination Kingdom are classified according to age and theme, making it easy for both children and parents to pick out the perfect book. Children’s classics are a big hit at My Imagination Kingdom, and so is their selection of award-winning contemporary literature. They also have plenty of pop-up books that are a perfect reward to young kids who behave really well.
Closetful of Books is run by a couple who are wildly in love with books, so much so that they have made it their mission to spread the habit of reading to as many people – especially the young ones – as they can. They are so passionate in carrying out their mission that they handpick every title in the store, which comes handy for parents who need recommendations for their children.
Their book selection ranges from pictures books to early readers to junior fiction to young adult literature to titles from Singaporean authors. Closetful of Books’ eclectic book collection makes their book fairs a huge hit in schools.
Aside from touring schools, Closetful of Books has also hosted several events at the store such as the Asian Festival of Children’s Content.