When the pace of life slows and the weather invites you to snuggle in, there’s nothing quite like getting lost in a good book — especially when you can share the joy together as a family. Local bookstores across the metro invite families in with cozy, welcoming spaces to slow down, sip something warm and reconnect through stories. From lively, music-filled story times to shelves packed with adventures for every age, these hometown shops offer the perfect recipe for relaxed, meaningful family fun — one page at a time.
Bookish
1005 NW 36th St, OKC
shop-bookish.com
OKC’s only locally owned used bookstore, Bookish, began as a pop-up that quickly built a loyal following of readers who value sustainability, affordability and community. Inside you’ll find gently loved books waiting for their next chapter — alongside a locally sourced coffee shop, vibrant local art events and a welcoming atmosphere that invites you to stay a while.
Why we love it: The owners created Bookish as a true third space — a place where anyone can read, relax and feel at home. Bookish gets its “neglected narratives,” as they call them, from a local recycling company. They’ve found new homes for over 10,000 books so far!
Fun events not to miss at Bookish:
- Rockin’ Roly Polys Saturday Morning Sing-A-Long,
third Saturday at 10:15 a.m. - Graphic Novel Book Club, first Tuesday at 6 p.m.
- Yoga Flow, first & third Tuesday at 6 p.m.
- Ok Anime VHS Club, second Wednesday at 7 p.m.
Bookish’s recs for cozy reads:
- The Tale of Despereaux, by Kate DiCamillo, best suited for
ages 7-10 - The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, by Mark Haddon, best suited for ages 10 & up
Literati Press
3022 Paseo, OKC
literatipressok.com
Literati Press is a community-owned bookstore — owned and led by its members, which means it’s a creative ecosystem built by and for readers, writers and artists. The local publishing company opened its bookstore in 2016 to help readers discover the books they didn’t know they were looking for. Inside you’ll find comics, novels, poetry and so much more.
Why we love it: The book selection at Literati is carefully curated by avid readers and writers passionate about their specific genre of interest. You are sure to find unique reads on every shelf. A community space with a train table, puzzles and games invites families to relax and hang out.
Fun events not to miss at Literati Press:
- Reading Journal Workshop, Jan. 10 from 6-8 p.m.
- Bookworm Story Hour, Thursdays at 10:30 a.m.
Literati Press’s recs for cozy reads:
- Rez Detectives: Justice Served Cold, by Steven Paul Judd & Tvli Jacob, best suited for ages 8-12
- Hiro Doggie: Space Corgi, by John Eric Osborn, best suited for ages 8-12
- Any book by Ben Hatke, good for all ages
- ¡VAMOS! series, by Raúl the Third, great for early readers
- In the Town Where All Things are Possible, by Charles Martin (Literati’s original owner), best suited for ages 16 & up
Second Story Books & Café
718 Culbertson Dr, OKC
secondstorybooksokc.com
Tucked off Lincoln Blvd, Second Story Books is a women-owned indie shop bursting with charm. The cozy store offers shelves of new reads, UK editions, locally made art and book merch. Their café serves locally sourced coffee, teas and pastries.
Why we love it: With 16 book clubs covering just about every genre from history to romance, plus weekly story times, the “Booking It” audiobook walk and even live music from The Rockin’ Roly Polys, there’s always something happening at Second Story. Whether you’re sipping coffee, chatting about books or joining in on a craft after story time, OKC’s bookworms are sure to feel right at home.
Fun events not to miss at Second Story Books:
- Middle Grades Book Club, first Saturday of the month at 10:15 a.m.
- Kid Book Club, first Saturday of the month at 11:30 a.m.
- Booking It Audio Cardio, Sundays at 9 a.m. (adoptable dogs often join this fun event)
- Story Time with Amanda, Sundays at 10:30 a.m.
Stay up to date on all the fun activities by following Second Story on social media.
Second Story’s recs for cozy reads:
- Shady Hollow, by Juneau Black, best suited for ages 14 & up
- The Lost Library, by Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass, best suited for ages 9-12
- Anne of Green Gables series, by Lucy Maud Montgomery, best suited for ages 8 & up
- Jasmine Green Rescues series, by Helen Peters, best suited for ages 7 & up
Other popular local bookstores perfect for families:
- Full Circle Bookstore, 1900 NW Expressway, OKC, weekly story time on Saturday mornings at 10:15 a.m.
- The Floating Bookshop, 3 NW 9th St, OKC
- Commonplace Books, 1325 N Walker Ave, OKC, weekly story time at 10 a.m.
Discover your next read
When the weather turns chilly, there’s no better place to warm up than your local library. With comfy reading nooks, endless shelves of stories and the quiet hum of curiosity, libraries are the perfect spot to unwind. Plus, library staff are a great resource to find your next cozy read. Create your own curated reading list using Metro Libraries’ Tailored Titles personalized reading lists at metrolibrary.org under the Discover tab. They also have genre-based newsletters you can sign up for.
Here are a few cozy read recommendations from Paula on the collection services team:
- Cozy, by Jan Brett, best suited for ages 4-8
- These Precious Days, by Ann Patchett, best suited for ages 16 & up
- More than a Little, by M.H. Clark, good for all ages
Find more cozy reads at https://catalog.metrolibrary.org/MyAccount/MyList/68548
