09/08/05

A national treasure

by mattdoar

This really is one of the best childrens' book-stores in the world. The owner does national TV slots on children's books. The staff can always recommend something that a child will appreciate, and these are good recommendations. There's a bathtub with cushions for children to read in and a train set to play with (I wonder where B&N got that idea?)

~Matt

• Pros: Knowledgable staff, Variety, Friendly

Stepping into Hicklebee's is akin to opening the floodgates of imagination.

by Contributor

The Store
Owner Valerie Lewis may revel in her store's community vibe, but her reputation as an authority on children's books has earned her an international reputation. The combination of Lewis' charisma and the friendly, helpful Hicklebee's staff is what has kept her small independent bookstore in business.

The Space
Life-sized cut-outs of famous fictional book characters mingle amidst aisles of books, educational toys, puppets, stuffed animals and an eclectic costume collection. Not only does Lewis stock her shelves with them, she publishes books focused on children's literature.

Hyped for Harry!
Long before the "Goblet of Fire," Hicklebee's was early aboard the Harry Potter craze. Author J.K. Rowlings has dropped in for signings, and they've got full racks of Potter paraphernalia--from the hard- and soft-covered tomes to Harry-style glasses, stuffed owls and unabridged cassettes of the books.