What an amazing local book store. And they don't just sell books. They have a vast array of stickers, socks, totes, journals, pens, and other book ish goodies. Plus a ton of books to browse. The way they organize makes it really easy to find your next favorite book. They have staff recommendations but also have a ton of genres so it's easy to find what you want. They also have a very generous rewards program! The staff is super friendly and caring, and able to order what you want if it's not in stock for you! read more

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I deeply wish I could give Curious Iguana 10 stars. It's an independent bookstore, so it's already high on my list. But it goes so much further. They are inclusive and welcoming, and their selection is fantastic. The children's section is one of the best, in terms of inclusive books. My kiddo loved it when she was little and now enjoys the middle grades books. I love the selection of horror/mystery/true crime. One of my favorite things is to buy books that are staff picks. They have not let me down. Their staff highlights the best books. The pricing isn't lowest you'll find, but I'm ok with that because I'm supporting people and a message, and not a big chain. Also, they host a ton of book events. There's something for everyone! read more

Curious Iguana - Bookstores Near Me - Frederick, Maryland

Did a day trip with one of my friends and was recommended this place from a tik tok. It was a small space but a lot of books. I bought two. I didn't really have any books in mind but love a good experience in a book store. It looked like they had an author in the back for a signing/reading. I think the value is comparable to online. I'd say that I love supporting a small business versus buying on Amazon. When I checked out the person that checked me out was super friendly. I didn't necessarily ask for recommendations but I feel like if I did they would have a few. Around the store they did have labels with recommendations from staff. I like when places do that. read more

Curious Iguana - Bookstores Near Me - Frederick, Maryland

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My favorite bookstore in Maryland! It's local and great vibes! The selection is superb. Doesn't have every book in existence but the popular ones you would be expecting. Excellent children's books section in the back. Really what sets this place apart is the service and uniqueness. They do a great job of suggesting books based on your preferences. For valentines day and Halloween they also have blind dates with a book setup. Great for the last minute gifts. read more

My best friend and I stopped in here on a whim. I'm so glad we did!! Such a nice store with friendly staff. The selections were great and we each bought a couple of books we hadn't seen in big box stores. We loved getting to support a local business as well. read more

Curious Iguana - Signage - Bookstores Near Me - Frederick, Maryland

I can't particularly speak to the prices/sales of the books, as we were just browsing titles- I'm all for supporting local small businesses, but I'm a library book gal through & through- ...but what I love about exploring bookshops is exactly what Curious Iguana did well- flashy interesting displays that call attention to unknown books, building my to-be-read list The quaint little shop uses its space well- they have a lot of great displays highlighting different genres & suggested books within, they call attention to specific books with highlight card summaries & some 'if you liked that, then try this' ideas- i loved reading these cards; I added a number of books to my TBR because of their helpful notes- a really cozy book nook read more

This place is so cute! They have a great children's section in the rear of the store and it's well organized. We have found some beautiful books here. The store is small but seems well organized. The staff are friendly. And BONUS, they have a -free- rewards program! All of the "big box" bookstores make you pay $25ish a year for a membership! Don't pass up this little local gem if you are in downtown Frederick. And for the kids, they have a sister store called Dancing Bear Gifts and Toys just around the corner, check them out as well. :) read more

This is a GREAT little independent bookstore. My book group met there to browse and shop before going out to lunch. The clerks at the counter were very helpful. There is a really cute childrens room in the back of the store. I was there about an hour, but I could have stayed all day. They have new releases, staff favorites, signed copies of some titles, and just lots to choose from. read more

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Curious Iguana is one of the best bookstores in Frederick. Located in historic Frederick along N. Market Street, it has a wide collection of books from travel to novels to best sellers. What we loved most about Curious Iguana is the children's section in the very back. Each book is thoughtfully picked to teach kids about empathy, other cultures and the world. If you have small kids and want to teach them about how to be good people, take them here! read more

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Love this quaint, cozy book store!! The display window caught my eye and the name.. Curious Iguana! Who wouldn't want to stop in?! Pro's -Staff is friendly, helpful, and very sweet! -COVID warning: Only 8 customers allowed inside at a time. Hand sanitizer right when you walk in. Masks on Maryland! -Small but powerful selection of books. I wasn't overwhelmed with the duplicate copies or large selection. The choices they had were books I haven't seen, especially in the children's section. -Children's section was organized beautifully with feelings, family, culture, history, language, mental health/yoga etc. Loved diving into these selections for the kiddos! -Well organized, clean shop with a few chairs to sit around in No cons for me! We really enjoyed our visit and can't wait to stop by again! read more

I love to visit and support independent bookstores, so a friend and I stopped in at Curious Iguana when we were shopping along Market Street during a visit to Frederick a few weeks ago! The store definitely isn't large, but it is well stocked! I very quickly found a book I didn't want to leave the store without! And the customer service was great. All in all, a lovely little bookstore that I'd happily visit again! (And side note: folks, you can order books from your local, independent bookstores - even if they don't have the book in stock! It may take a few days more than ordering from The Online Retailer/Bookseller That Shall Not Be Named, but you get to support a local business! Check out their websites or give them a call!) read more

This is one of the most delightful, warm and caring bookstore within a 100 mile radius from DC. The choice of books is vast, the customer service is caring and warm, and the store itself is welcoming and very accessible. read more

Nice store, located just off the main drag in Frederick. It is unfortunately a small space -- they really pack a lot of books into the square footage, but because of the size they can't compete with the selection of a larger bookstore. The back, I don't know, sixth of the store maybe? is a kids' section, which is a lot of space proportionally, but I would've liked a bit more selection in the "early chapter books" range. A LOT of that section is early childhood or very specific areas of interest (the store is VERY organized by topic). I would also have liked a better selection of SFF and even general fiction, but again, small space. The staff are very friendly. read more

Cute book store. My daughter enjoyed the visit but hard to compare to large chains with more options.

Amazing bookstore. Amazing staff. Amazing experience. As I walked in, I was genuinely greeted by two smiling staff members who welcomed me. When I left, I received that same treatment, too. Definitely a plus. They have so many books with all kinds of protagonists and settings. Authors of the books they carried came from all sorts of backgrounds. There's modern. Classics. Everything. You name it. They also had new releases. All of these things are very important to me. Of course, they also sell things like tote bags, pins, and bookmarks. I don't have pets, but I noticed they were pet-friendly. A pet owner walked in with large dog, and the staff complimented the pet and offered a dog treat. I'm sure this would be important to some folks. Plus, I love the whole ambiance. It was organized. Decorative. Lit perfectly. Basically, it's a book lover's dream. I wish I could've stayed there all day. Obviously I couldn't. Oh, they also provide a 10% teacher's discount. If you ever happen to be in the area, please go check them out because it's a pretty rare experience, especially since, unfortunately, bookstores in general aren't abundantly everywhere. read more

Curious Iguana - Bookstores Near Me - Frederick, Maryland

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One of my favorite shops in Downtown Frederick and one of my favorite bookshops ever. They also host great events throughout the year too!

Discovered this charming bookstore when my daughter went to look at Hood College, she has long since graduated and yet, I continue to make the hour long trip to visit the store. Of all the bookstores in the DC region, this is probably my favorite one. It's small, but it packs a powerful punch. I always find something I want there. Friendly, helpful staff. Love Curious Iguana. read more

I could spend hours strolling through a bookstore looking at all the titles and displays. While Curious Iguana isn't huge, it packs a lot in and has something for everybody. I love seeing the window display change regularly and their rotating displays of similar themed books up front. There's always something that catches my eye or a new read to discover. Curious Iguana puts on a lot of community events with guest authors and book clubs. All the employees are super friendly and excited to share their enthusiasm for a new book with you. Bonus points for always having treats behind the counter for the dogs that visit! :) read more

A great little bookstore I recently discovered. Was looking for 3 specific titles and the store looked so small I didn't think that it would possibly have all 3 titles, but they did. The two very nice and helpful people at the cash register knew their stock, and could put their hands on each instantaneously (even though I didn't have two titles quite right). I try to patronize ONLY small independent bookstores, so was glad to add this charming store to my list of places to buy books. read more

Worth the drive for this wonderful store. Great selection of contemporary world authors and strong LGBTQ representation in their stacks. We always spend more than we say we will, and they have a great small gift selection as well. Staff really knows their stock- as it used to be and always should be. Would rather drive an hour than buy from Amazon. Small stores like this are heritage sites. read more

I can certainly echo what others have said. Fantastic staff! i went in looking for signed first editions. The person who asked me if I needed help pointed me right to the counter where they had a nice signed first edition of D-Day Girls by Sarah Rose. I had to dig down the pile a bit to find a first edition with the number one in the print one, but I got one. Then I asked her to please remove the autographed copy sticker on it. No problem! I didn't have a great deal of time to look for more, but a really nice store, gracious staff, and Frederick is a great little town! A lot of barbershops! One great bookstore! Go! read more

I absolutely loved the environment of this store! It was so cozy and cute when I was in the area. I was only in Maryland briefly for a college tour but I just couldn't help but stop here. It really drew me in and is part of the reason I chose to go to school there. They have such a wide and inclusive selection and were very welcoming. read more

I love that the book store is adorable AND genuine -- it has staff recommendations for all types of reader. The staff members have always gone out of their way to send me away with a book that fit what I was in the mood for! read more

I love this place! I did use my self-control powers not to buy anything but next time it is game on. ;) I was looking for aromatherapy books. The lady working there said that they do get requests on that a lot and they are thinking of adding a holistic section. They have a note that the staff will be happy to recommend a book for you. Cute little indie bookstore. read more

Customer service is fabulous here! Since my initial review, I've had friendly staff members offer to order books for me, as well as suggest I try Abe Books if I'm searching for something that's hard to find. On my most recent visit, I headed toward the previously unexplored children's area and found wonderful board books for Baby that I otherwise would've never heard of. Considering Frederick is a small town, I was pleased to find a selection of baby books in Spanish and French. That visit also happened to be CI's one year anniversary and they were celebrating by giving customers a chance to win a prize upon checkout. The super sweet cashier had me keep drawing tickets until I pulled a winner and I took home an awesome set of new cookbooks! Thank you Curious, you have made a loyal customer out of me! read more

Curious Iguana - My awesome new cookbooks - Bookstores Near Me - Frederick, Maryland

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What a fun little bookshop! I'm a huge book lover, and as a teacher I'm always interested in finding great new children's books. Curious iguana did not disappoint. First of all, the shop itself is eclectic and eye catching. There are so many books and crannies to explore and the picture books are even in a section that looks like a kids clubhouse. The older kids chapter books are sorted in a way that displays new or uncommon books, and many books even have book recommendations right by them to help you pick a great book for you. I saw a ton of books I've never seen before at stores like Barnes and Noble. They have fewer copies of each book but there is a huge variety to choose from for such a little store. I didn't browse the adult books much because I was low on time but I'll definitely be going back! read more

Curious Iguana - Children's book displays with kids clubhouse area in the back for picture books. - Bookstores Near Me - Frederick, Maryland

Really cool independent book store that you have to see to get a true representation. They have a bit a everything some really unique items as well. I liked seeing the different books they carried. read more

Curious Iguana - Bookstores Near Me - Frederick, Maryland

i cannot even begin to say how much i love this little shop! i've been coming here since i was 15. the service is absolutely amazing and they are always more than willing to work with you to find a book in their very wide selection of books. all of the employees are so nice. my personal favorites are shelby and cydney. there are quite a few signed books as well, holding much value. if you're a book lover. come here right away! read more

A fabulous gem! Love the staff and the selection ~ also check out the events they put on...i've been to a few and they were great. They have cute bookish items for sale as well and book clubs with a wide variety of reading topics. I don't get to visit as often as I'd like, but still highly recommend this bookstore :) read more

I *love* this bookshop - it is cozy, and very well curated. Everywhere I looked I saw dozens of books I'd be interested in reading. The kids' section was particularly wonderful and diverse. They also have various events - we happened to be in the store about an hour before the author of a new biography of Francis Scott Key was to speak, so we came back to hear him. read more

Great bookstore just slightly off the highway. I used Yelp to help me find bookstores on the drive back to Ohio from Baltimore. This one popped up and the weird name intrigued me. It was worth the stop. Found several local author books signed at no higher price than the cover price and several great books about permaculture and backyard forest gardening. Not your usual beach reads kind of shop, though they had that as well. Interesting cards, buttons, some tea and coffee mugs rounded out the potential gift items. A nice store in a good location in a beautiful neck of the woods. Check it out! read more

Wonderful bookstore !!! stop in an take advantage of all the wonderful books and they even have a fun kids room!! p.s. I don't read and i don't have children but if i did i would be going there haha read more

I am absolutely in love with this adorable children's bookstore. Did you know they work with children's librarians to select the most interesting books for kids? They appeal even to the pickiest readers. Excellent variety, my son was enthralled for nearly 2 hours. Never happens at Barnes & Noble :) I just wish there was a store of this caliber near where we live. Curious Iguana is definitely worth an hour drive. read more

Love this bookseller! Friendly and knowledgeable staff! Beautiful quaint store! Perfect downtown Frederick location!!

Great bookstore! We were able to ask questions, get great suggestions and what an amazing children's selection!! We will certainly be back!!

This place is great. The Y.A. section is especially good, as is the children's section. I am also a fan of the indie best sellers section, though I still look through the whole shop when I am in there. They are really good about keeping up with current book trends. I love that the staff have read most of the books and are ready to talk to me about them, honestly. They will also order most books for you if you can't find what you're looking for. read more

I make a point of browsing in and buying from independent bookstores instead of ordering books online, and visited Curious Iguana as part of a day drive to Frederick, MD to experience some late October fall foliage. My one complaint is that the person at the checkout desk talked very loudly almost the whole time I was there, both to her two colleagues and while reeling off and commenting on the books she was viewing online. That discouraged me from lingering, and I left without making a purchase. read more

As others have mentioned, it is a small space. However, they have access to just about any book you want if you are willing to have patience and wait a few days for them to get it in. I'm guessing it is simply economy of scale. They can't carry a selection of 10,000 books simply due to overhead and space. They carry a diverse selection in a small space and their staff has always been very accommodating and I have ordered two books from them. They arrived in a timely manner and were very reasonably priced. I would rather wait a few days for a book and support a wonderful local business like this instead of funneling more of my money to faceless corporations. Great addition to Frederick and I wish them many years of success! read more

I always enjoy stopping at The Curious Iguana when I visit Frederick. It's a very charming independent bookstore with a terrific staff and a small but carefully curated selection of books. Yes, you'll pay more than you will at a website named after a jungle, but I can never leave empty handed. I'm proud to support local businesses that clearly value and cherish their customers. read more

We called in by accident, looking for a place that sells stamps, and immediately got drawn into the wide selection of books! The friendly staff helped with recommendations and were happy to help, we ended up buying two books ( Wonder and No Dream is Too High, by Buzz Aldrin ) which were both thoroughly enjoyable! I would like to see Curious Iguana bookstores in England someday! And if you are wondering, they did have stamps! read more