Wonderfully cozy and bright bookstore that kids and folks of all ages will enjoy. Great place for kids' birthday party gifts, whether books or Linden Tree gift cards. Service is always friendly. Linden Tree is a fun local business in downtown Los Altos to support. read more

Linden Tree Books is a children's bookstore located in downtown Los Altos, but they sell adult and YA books as well. Super cool that they host author events here and also have storytime for kids on the weekends. Cute decorations and in a cute little neighborhood, right next to Manresa Bakery. In the past, I've visited to see Stacey Lee and Stephanie Garber for a book tour event. Bought plenty of books here before. Will definitely be coming back! read more

See all

Wonderful book store in downtown Los Altos. Very family friendly with a good selection of kids books and toys. Wish they were a bit bigger (store is a bit packed and the shelves are close together), but overall a fun place to look around in. read more

Linden Tree Books - Bookstores Near Me - Los Altos, California

What a cute store in Los Altos! I had no plans on dropping in while exploring Los Altos on holiday, but I'm glad I found this somewhat hidden bookstore in this cute small town. The store has a variety of children's books and kid lit for all grade levels. I was able to find a book for my nephew that focused on Filipino culture. I appreciate the diversity here! Service was friendly, I introduced myself as an author and they were stoked! Value and price is at MSRP but you can find some rarities and hidden local gems here too. There is also a section for adults to get books for themselves too but it's a good day for adults and their kids to browse around. This place really leans into the fact that books are magical! read more

See all

I've, literally, walked past this children's bookstore every week for years, and I've never walked in because I buy children's books like maybe once a year. I found a really interesting book about bibimbap here. For my little nephew. His dad spent years in Seoul, so I thought a children's book about bibimbap would be a great book for him to read to him. The book is called Bee-bim-Bop! A Korean American girl celebrates food and family in this cheerful book about cooking a special meal by Newbery Medalist Linda Sue Park. I bought another book for my nephew called Kindness Makes Us Strong by Sophie Beer here. But then almost immediately after buying it, I gave it away to a friend whom I bumped into just a few steps from the bookstore. Her son was with her in his stroller, and he's just a few days older than my nephew. read more

What a beautiful bookstore! It's so cozy, modern and super inviting. Love the variety of subjects. The owner I met, Flo, very clearly loves books, authors and the community that gathers at Linden Books. read more

Linden Tree Books - inviting space - Bookstores Near Me - Los Altos, California

See all

This is really an amazing little bookstore in downtown Los Altos. First off want to say they have some of the most friendly and helpful staff I've come across. Really focused on children books of all ranges from fiction to fact. Good little section on science which was our search of the day. For a small off big brand name store the prices were super reasonable especially given the fun nature and environment. Would like to give this establishment our 5+ rating for just being perfect stop in experience. Highly recommend read more

Kevin Lu's group introduced us to this wonderful bookstore. Definitely bring your kids in. The staff is friendly and there are lots of selections. You don't see many bookstores this size anymore. Family friendly! read more

What great local bookstore with a huge selection of kid books! It's really nice to see their attention to Asian authors. We found a ton of Chinese story books and even a complete section dedicated just to Lunar New Year! It's wonderful to see so much Asian representation through books at a bookstore. Absolutely love it! Another plus is their friendly staff, well kept store and book prices aren't marked up. read more

See all

This review is long overdue! Whenever we're in town, we always make sure to stop by. Whether it's to look for a gift, pick up the most recent release of a book series for our book worm, attend one of their in store events, or to simply browse after having some lunch or an afternoon play date. They have a huge selection of books, especially for kids! The prices are reasonable, the store is nice & clean (not to mention their bathrooms have a kid sized toilet & sink), & their staff are very friendly & knowledgeable! read more

Linden Tree Books - Bookstores Near Me - Los Altos, California

See all

I always enjoy my visit to Linden Tree Books. Their employees are very polite and always make an extra effort to help you find titles, or select books for gifts. It is an excellent bookstore for both children and adults. Although their books for young adults/adults is a bit smaller, any bibliophile can tell that it has been carefully curated by someone who understands the art of selecting well-written, articulate, and impactful books, especially in an age where bad books and unnecessary fluff are commonplace. They recently had an Asian American book display for the month of May, which showcased both serious literary works and works of entertainment. Last but not least, please take your kids here, so they can enjoy the wide selection of books and also explore reading in one of the many reading corners in this bookstore! read more

Linden Tree Books - AAPI history month selections - Bookstores Near Me - Los Altos, California

What a joy to walk into this store. Though most of the books are for kids (yes!) there is a section for adults to browse, while their kids are making discoveries. The staff recommendations, the way the bookstore is laid out, all make for a delightful browsing experience. Also, the staff I spoke to were particularly helpful, and kind in helping me find the books I was looking for. This place is a gem. read more

Linden Tree Books - Ive never seen it put so eloquently - Bookstores Near Me - Los Altos, California

See all

Fabulous independent local bookstore filled with great gifts and friendly staff. They host author appearances! Yes Amazon is cheaper but occasionally it's great to support local! read more

Cozy and friendly bookstore. It's always nice to go to look for books for kids. I hope they have more books about Japan.

Wonderful bookstore in downtown Los Altos with one of the biggest selections of kids books! I loved all the unique book themed decorations around the store. Even the bathroom is decorated with puzzles. My niece and nephew loved browsing and looking through all the different collections. Great place to stop and browse for books!! read more

Linden Tree Books - Creative displays - Bookstores Near Me - Los Altos, California

See all

Linden Tree is the place to be if you need kids' books. Such a great selection and wonderfully knowledgeable staff. They value the local authors and make sure customers have chances to meet authors when new books come out. Linden Tree makes me want to be a kid again so I can spend hours browsing. The store is well organized into sections for every level of reader. They also have educator discounts and work with PTAs for fundraisers and book fairs. read more

Linden Tree Books is a really cute bookstore in Los Altos. Located off State and 2nd Street. It's a wonderful place to bring kids to help them learn the joy of reading. They have an amazing selection of books for all ages, but the store is primarily filled with books for younger readers. In addition to books they sell stuffed animals related to characters in books, fun but educational game books like Mad Libs, and the occasional cute knickknack. Overall a wonderful book store with lots to explore. I highly recommend checking it out with someone who loves to read. read more

Honored my 10 year old gift certificate. I like seeing such a long running and reputable business these days. Also very nice place to browse for gifts for kids. Their staff always has good suggestions. read more

What a lovely Friday afternoon! A mother is reading a book to her child, and the sun lighting up the entire bookstore with warmth and happiness. Girls are wearing summer skirts, holding their books/toys in their hands. Projects about Earth Day are on the wall. A ton of local authors offer their books to the public from a special display. Linden Tree bookstore is a hidden gem for children, and it attracts adults as well. They have massive new book collections. The adventure will never end here. read more

Linden Tree Books - Bookstores Near Me - Los Altos, California

Such a great bookstore for kids. The staff here are so great and fully knows all the kids books, what is popular and upcoming for all ages. Today I brought with me my two grandkids to each pick out a book. One is 7 and the other is 4. The people helped pick out the perfect book for each one and while we were there they had a promotional free book offer for the 7 year old from a new author. We really love coming here letting the kids read books and come back home to read. read more

This is a splendid store, and popular, as there were lots of customers and activity while I was shopping there. The store sports a unique and large collection of children's books (and a smaller but thoughtful collection of books for grownups too). The staff was super friendly and patient, and the owners are uniquely passionate folks. From the street, it's the best looking store in the whole downtown! Kids and their parents will find this to be a great place to actually experience books before buying them, something lost in the online experience. Linden Tree Books is a real treasure. read more

Noelle's Yelp Notebook 2014 FELLOW YELPERS BE WARNED- rudeness, racism or both? 5 Yelp Stars for the book selection 0 Yelp Stars for the rude customer serivce Despite the bad customer service, I purchased my books totaling $144 today. THE BAD: I'm a loyal customer to Linden Tree Books and was sincerely appalled at the horrible customer service I encountered with a sales associate by the name of Jennifer. I told Jennifer that the Corduroy Book Sets on the floor (Corduroy Book + Corduroy Bear) were slightly dented and extremely dusty, inquiring if they had any in the back. She looked it up on the computer and said all they had was out on the floor. She stated she would give me 10% off, I agreed to that and left a stack of books on the counter (with a bookmark sign stating I was still shopping). While I was looking at the Passover books, I heard Jennifer talk to another employee lamenting if she should really give me the 10% discount off. I guess they didn't care that I was within earshot of the snarky comments they were making about me. After making my final selections I went up to the register. Jennifer said she couldn't give me the 10% discount off because she didn't feel like doing so. I told her the box sets that were on the floor were not in pristine condition. She looked at me as if I were speaking Aramaic. I repeated myself and she inquired what the word "pristine" meant. To make matters worse in a sarcastic tone, she said "Oh, by the way we don't accept returns on plush items." I looked her square in the eye and said, "I'm a loyal customer at Linden Tree Books. I've never returned anything here before. It won't be a problem," with that said I signed the receipt and ripped the tag off the Jack Russell Terrier plush toy. A FEW NOTES TO LTB: 1. Don't tell customers one thing and do another. 2. Talking in a snarkey manner about customers with fellow employees is not right. 3. Being rude to a customer is in poor taste, without customers you wouldn't have your hourly waged job. 4. Thank you for inspiring me to purchase the Corduroy Book Set at another bookstore today. THE GOOD: They have an excellent selection of books, journals, note cards- which I purchased today and in the past. IN CLOSING: It's my sincerest hope the owner does a refresher course for her employee in the finer points of good customer service. read more

See all

Fabulous book selection, staff is super helpful. Opens at 9am on the weekend which is a huge win with little kids!

I've been frequenting the downtown/Main St. area of Los Altos for the past month or so. On the whole, it's fairly charming, but lacking a few essentials that would make it really great, a fishmonger, a butcher & a proper bakery (the place up by the gas station that sells 5 dollar croissants doesn't count), among them. Fortunately, downtown is not without an independent book shop (or two). Although Linden's primary target audience is actually 'under 18s' there are a few dedicated shelves stocked with books for adults and books that aren't age specific. I went in on a lark hoping they had a well-reviewed memoir published in 2013 I'd read about some months ago. As luck would have it, a hardback copy was on the shelf. As I was making my way to the counter, a chipper young employee asked if I needed any help. I was hoping that she could be able to locate a paperback copy of said memoir. Linden's computer records showed that two paperback copies were in store. -problem was that they were not where they were supposed to be. The young woman offered to take my no. &, if she were to find the errant copies, then she'd call, she told me. I asked, too, if she could order a new copy lest the others stayed 'missing'. I was still dawdling around downtown when my phone rang some twenty minutes later. The book in question had been incorrectly shelved. I returned and purchased the book. Easy-peasy. Linden is fairly large yet tidy, and like many businesses in the area, has both back and front entrances, which I like. The shop is divided into different sections from mysteries to travel; books for students of various ages & 'language resources' which I found out meant grammar books and the like. While perusing the adult section, I spied a memoir by queer-punk author Michelle Tea, much to my amazement. Given Linden's primary focus, I should think that those shopping for children would do very well here. For book store lovers, sans kids or not, Linden is a must-visit when visiting Los Altos. Bonus: seats for both big and small found around the shop for those who wish to sit and browse. read more

See all

Best little bookstore! My son and I come at least once a month to buy books from here. They have a wonderful curated selection to choose from. My son loves to read and he even expressed to one of the employees here today that this is his favorite bookstore. I couldn't agree with him more ! read more

I was hoping the bad feeling I left with last time was attributed to the stress of Covid but unfortunately it. My second visit today. I like strolling after having lunch with my family and our two young boys. The other reviews gave me comfort and they listed the reasons more eloquently than I can at the moment. The staff is racist, their tone is condescending, & passive aggressive. They clearly followed us around and watched my (brown skinned) children like hawks. OWNERS IF YOU DISREGARD ALL THESE REVIEWS AND DO NOTHING, YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM IN THE WORLD. Never going back. read more

This bookstore is a beautiful little oasis for our twinklers! We bring our preschoolers for read-alouds and visits and the staff always has a lot of beautiful new books and ideas ready for them. It's a WONDERFUL place for children and parents! read more

I've been to Los Altos so many times & have passed by this place on numerous occasions but never had the opportunity to visit the place. It's a great little bookstore with unique and fun books for kids. Probably pricier than if you buy it on Amazon but it's great to support local small businesses so that you have wonderful places like this. Seems like they also have story telling on occasion too. I would love to bring my daughter when she's a bit older. read more

See all

A bookstore with a fabulous toddler section. They had a cute little black couch that my 3 year enjoyed sitting on. We primarily focussed on the picture books section that's against the wall. All the on display books (probably selected by the staff) were excellent. The staff was super knowledgeable and seemed genuinely interested in hanging around there. The restrooms were clean. They even had one of those junior potties that my toddler was accustomed to using by herself. Was pretty cool. They are also directly facing a Baskin Robbins. Kind of hard to go wrong planning an afternoon of reading and some icecream indulgence. read more

Linden Tree Books - Comfy seating for the little ones - Bookstores Near Me - Los Altos, California

We have been here several times over the years. Super cute bookstore, especially the children's sections. BUT the vibe in the store has always been AWFUL, just like today. 2 associates working. Not greeted when we entered (ONLY ones in the store when we arrived and they clearly saw us), didn't ask if we were finding what we needed. Nothing. Even at check out- no conversation, nothing! I was cringing it was so cold vibed. The last time we were in (within a few months), one of the associates had the AUDACITY to yell at my 2 boys (3&5) because they jogged up the ramp (in which I immediately scolded them & the associate heard- BUT she still proceeded). i stormed out that day and swore I would never go back. Stupid of me to go in today. Do not waste your time. They are miserable and RUDE. Los Altos deserves so much better!!!! read more

A big YAY for bookstores that are still open! Make sure to stop by when you are in the area and support a local business. Good for you and good for the neighborhood. read more

This is a lovely bookstore with a great selection of books, helpful staff, and free gift wrapping. It's nice to support a local business as well. read more

Linden Tree is a great children's book store; the people who work there know their books and are really helpful. They have a wide selection of kids books from board books to young adults. I have a serious upper-elementary aged reader, and the staff has been able to steer me to books that she loves but aren't too mature (in terms of subject) for her. They also have a much smaller selection of adult books, which seem thoughtful and well chosen. They have a points program for regular customers and also often support local schools with a special book day. read more

OK, I read the book by the cover.. I walked in because the place is so darn cute! Immediately I zoomed in on "Every Cat is Aspberger's"... what an excellent book. I bought it and looked at nothing else.. I'm not a child, I don't have a child.. I have no business spending money there and yet I could not resist.. suffice it to say I'm happy this place exists. Cute. read more

Linden Tree Books - i couldnt resist! the text is even more precious than the pics! - Bookstores Near Me - Los Altos, California

This type of business is the reason why Amazon exists! I shopped there on 8/18 and the two gals(don't want to call them ladies -they don't deserve it) just looked at us as if we just landed from another planet. No welcome nothing but just bad looks. We just went on with our business (my son wanted a book). We left and I recommend you to do the same. And maybe don't shop there they don't like brown people and customers. read more

Definitely the best independent bookstore on the planet...or at least in Santa Clara County. I mean, come on! From the outside, it may look a rainbow-y, happy happy joy joy funhouse for lil' children, but it is much more than that, I guarantee you. There are books for people of all ages, even adults! I recommend this place to anyone who loves to read and/or browse around bookstores. read more

I have been coming to the Linden Tree in its original location since I was in the second grade...which means forever. I would walk there levers times a week during the summer and hang out in the corner browsing the Babysitters Club section and spending a lot of time picking what I would purchase. I was so happy when we moved back in town and I was able to take my own kids there - but in the new location. The book selection is always plenty for all interest and age ranges. The staff is super nice and extremely knowledgeable about the book selection. I have never been given a bad recommendation. They also always help me out with pre-orders and special orders. I know the store is transitioning into online only due to the shelter in place but I wanted to place an order to help our very loved local businesses. I submitted an order last week most of which was special order or pre-order via a question form through the website. Grace responded to my email right away and helped me get my order placed. I told her that I could pick up as things come in or when everything comes in. We were not in a rush/very flexible. To my surprise I got a knock on my door today and a very cute package with the signature Linden Tree Bow/sticker was hand delivered on my porch with the books that were in stock. The girls were so excited and selected their books and went to their reading spots. Thank you again Linden Tree! You are awesome! read more

Though the lure of great books and a cuteness of the store that is Linden Tree is strongly appealing, I will NOT support and enable bad service! I can take my hard earned money elsewhere! I really really really should have read the more current reviews than just go by these yelp stars. I will not deny the bookstore is cute and has an incredible selection. The customer service on the other hand- was non existent. My younger sister had bought my son some great books from here last year and he loved them so much, I vowed to come by and check it out for myself. Random Saturday afternoon found us walking in and getting excited about this great experience we're about to have- I really really should have read the most recent reviews because what I found was three employees huddling at the front register talking loudly about their co-workers, their busy schedules, their professors, and on and on and on. My son and I were there wondering for over half an hour and not once were we greeted or even made eye contact with. They were too busy complaining-LOUDLY! My sister had insisted they were knowledgeable and great at recommending books so I finally went up to them for some of these supposedly great recommendations. I told them my son's age group, what he's interested in and the books he loves right now...hoping they wouldn't turn my sister into a liar. The older of the tree reluctantly left the safety of their huddle and continued to reluctantly "help" me. She didn't listen to anything I said as she randomly tossed 3 books at me and ran away. Despite wanting to just walk out on principle, I promised my little man some good reads so I just got the books I saw and wanted to buy at Whole Foods. I really should have just bought the ones there instead of waiting to experience Linden Tree. Shopping for books at Whole Foods would have been a much more pleasant experience. I pity the owners. Again, even though the lure of great books and a cuteness of the store that is Linden Tree is very appealing, I will not support and enable bad service! read more

I really enjoyed the exterior of this bookstore. It is catered more toward kids but there is a back section for adults as well. There is a bathroom which is a plus in my books with kids. The people who worked here was very helpful. There is a Saturday storytime. I just wished the storytime space was a bit bigger. I also wished there was a train set for kids to play with which I didn't see. This is definitely a PLUS for the community like Reading Bug in San Carlos. read more

So I've come to this bookstore for about 3 years and the service has greatly diminished in my last 3-5 visits and today was the last straw. I perused a section for an hour looking for good books for a 2 year old: no greeting, no assistance, no eye contact. In fact while searching for childrens books on my own, two employees walked over me (bumping into me) without so much as a word to acknowledge my presence. Made me feel even better when they hurried to greet and assist other people immediately after walking over me...(This makes me think my treatment might have been due to my race...) When I did ask for help, service was cold and detatched. Checking out was just painfully awkward, even my attempts to be nice (even after my mistreatment) were cut off... I give this place stars for cleanliness and good selections of books, but I don't think I am ever coming back again. It's sad, because this is the place I would go to for recommendations on books for my nephew and other children for their birthdays and Christmas... read more