About The Reading Bug


We're children's booksellers on a mission...

Find us at www.thereadingbug.com

The Reading Bug is a family-owned, independent, children's bookstore in San Carlos, CA.  We've created the Reading Bug Box to extend the reach and mission of our independent bookstore store outside of our community - and help connect families and grow imaginations across the globe!

We are your local, family owned, independent bookstore! Founded in 2008 by Diane Savage and her Daughter-in-Law, Lauren Savage, The Reading Bug has always been about creating experiences that bring families together and promote a love of literacy. Imaginatively designed to look like an enchanted forest - complete with toadstool seating and surprises around every corner, The Reading Bug bookstore isn't just a place to buy books.  It's a unique place for families to shop, learn, play, socialize, expand imaginations, and grow. The Reading Bug's staff is dedicated to our mission and delights in matching the perfect books to each reader that comes through our doors.

The Reading Bug bookstore offers an extensive calendar of special events to keep parents and kids busy nearly every day. Storytimes, sing-alongs, author visits, discussion groups, book clubs and craft days are just a few of the many activities you can find at "The Bug." In 2011, we expanded our store to more than double its original size, offering even more room for books and gifts, as well as a dedicated event space to host the wide variety of activities and authors that we offer.  

In 2015, we expanded again - this time with a global audience in mind. Reading Bug Box was born out of a successful Kickstarter campaign and our desire to bring the personalized, intimate, independent bookstore experience to communities who aren't fortunate enough to have an indie bookstore of their own.  Delivering a personlized selection of books to children across the globe, Reading Bug Box has thrived and we now ship books to children in every one of the 50 United States and beyond!

Our most recent endeavor is the Reading Bug Adventures podcast, a story podcast for kids, written, produced and performed by us! With this podcast, we hope to introduce children everywhere to new adventures, new worlds and new books - and to have a lot of fun on the way of course.

The decision to open and run a children’s bookstore is an endeavor that has involved the entire Savage family - and you can find most of us in the store throughout the week. We're constantly thinking of new ways to support our mission and are exctremely excited about the next chapters ahead of us.Thank you for your help in supporting our independent business!  

Ready to get started?

The Reading Bug Box is a subscription box that matches the best in children's literature and other educational extras to your child's age, gender, interests and reading level - ensuring that each delivery gets children and their parents excited about reading, learning and discussing new topics. From read-aloud books for the whole family to enjoy, to early-reader and chapter series for new readers, the Reading Bug Box will grow with your child, adjusting and improving as they acquire new skills and interests.

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    Discover treasures and meet incredible ocean creatures while learning what it means to be kind in our latest episode of Reading Bug Adventures! #bekind #choosekind #lostcityofatlantis #mermaids #octopus #applepodcasts #spotify

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    Did you know Reading Bug Adventures podcast narrator, Lauren is live on Facebook with weekday storytimes? Fly on over to facebook.com/readingbug and find story and craft videos or tune in live at 11am Pacific time! #storytime #kidlit #kidskeepingbusy

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    This family with 3 boys ages 6-10 is about to get the coolest care package from The Reading Bug! Graphic novels, story writing, engineering, sports and drawing were just a few of the interests I covered here! Get yours at thereadingbug.com/care

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    Today on #applepodcasts or where ever podcasts are heard...our mini musical episode with shout-outs to some big fans!

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    Cute new wooden bookmarks thanks to @nightowlpapergoods !!! Our Reading Bug Adventures characters on one side and ruler on the other! #readingbugadventures #ruler #bookstagram #bookmarks

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    Loving our author-signed copies from @ryan_t._higgins ! Many of our Reading Bug Box subscribers have requested these and also available on our bookstore website thereadingbug.com while supplies last! @disneybooks

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    Thank you Delia! We are so excited for you to go to kindergarten (and for the virus to be over ;))We love our fan mail from our podcast, Reading Bug Adventures!

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    We may be under shelter in place for another month in CA, but it isn’t stopping us from putting together and shipping the most adorable customized care packages! You can get yours with books, crafts, plush, puzzles and more hand picked by me at thereadingbug.com/readingbugbox/personal-shop. Or for just books, our monthly subscription is a great option too at readingbugbox.com

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    Head on over to our Facebook page for live storytime...follow The Reading Bug to view. We will try to be live every day at 11am Pacific and look out for some special bedtime stories and songs too!

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    Sayler’s favorite episode of Reading Bug Adventures is our Egypt adventure. She likes to laugh at the Scarab’s voice and her favorite part of every episode is stretching and wiggling her toes. What’s your favorite episode?

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    Turn your sound on and chugg into our mystery episode! Who stole the books?! Find out on part 2 of Reading Bug Adventures train episode on apple podcasts or where ever podcasts are heard. #train #trains #mysterybooks #mysteriesforkids #kidlit #musicforkids #storytime

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    New episode of Reading Bug Adventures podcast! It’s a #train mystery with an all new train song that you won’t want to miss! Find us on apple podcasts or where ever podcasts are heard. #mysteries #steamtrain #20thcenturylimited #steamtrain #chuggachuggachoochoo #kidsmusic #kidlit

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    Evelyn, age 6 wrote a fantastic letter about our podcast! Her favorite episode was our Thanksgiving story. Tune in to #readingbugadventures this week for part 2 of our NEW race car adventure and “Go Girl, Go!” #racing #applepodcasts #racecars #kidspodcasts #podcasts #podcastsforkids #musicforkids #familytime @cookiegilbert

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    Thanks to @flossandrock for the best tea set we have ever carried at The Reading Bug bookstore! #construction #planestrainsandautomobiles #ifyoubuildittheywillcome

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    Reading Bug Adventures fan mail day is our favorite day! We aren’t sure which episode this fantastic piece of artwork is from...can you guess? What do you think, Reader? We think maybe Lauren and The Reading Bug on our ocean adventure? Or maybe inside our magic book bag? #podcast #kidspodcast #readingbug #readingbugadventures #storiesforkids #musicforkids #musicforkidsandfamily

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    Go Girl Go! Racing into season 5 of #readingbug adventures ! Listen today on @applepodcasts or where ever podcasts are heard! Today’s episode is sponsored by @scholasticinc and new middle grade book Lila and Hadley by @kodykeplinger - be sure to check it out! @cookiegilbert #gogirlgo

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    #avocado #avocadotoast #bookstagram #youcompleteme

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    The bunnies are here! #bunnies #easter #spring

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    Our new podcast story season begins in April! Get ready for all new music and and adventures! In the mean time, check out our author visit series...The Reading Bug and Lauren just interviewed Kevin Henkes! Find Reading Bug Adventures on apple podcasts, kids listen, Spotify or where ever podcasts are heard. @harperkids #kevinhenkes #podcastsforkids #podcastsforfamilies #authorvisit

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