Once Upon a Time

A family-friendly staple on the main stretch of Montrose—the idyllic neighborhood near La Cañada Flintridge—Once Upon a Time is the oldest dedicated children’s bookstore in the country. There are tons of books for kids of all ages, as well a curated selection for parents to browse while kids flip through picture books in the red-barn-shaped playhouse. There’s a full calendar of family-friendly programming, including author appearances and PJ story times every Friday morning. The shop is celebrating 60 years—it originally opened in 1966 on a Montrose corner, but it relocated down the street in 2007. Throughout the decades, it’s maintained its magic and the power to instill imagination and a love of reading in little ones—just like it did for me when I spent many afternoons there as a kid.