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BAY AREA
Five Little Monkeys
VARIOUS LOCATIONS
5littlemonkeys.com
With six locations around the Bay Area and a string of Readers’ Choice wins, Five Little Monkeys focuses on being a community based, hands-on toy store providing unique, high-quality toys in a fun and friendly environment. Great care is taken with the toy selection, emphasizing creative toys for imaginative minds that are educational, sustainable, and have exceptional play value. Convenient catalog ordering also available.
SAN FRANCISCO
Ambassador Toys
(415) 345-8697 EMBARCADERO CTR.
(415) 759-8697 WEST PORTAL
ambassadortoys.com
Named the Best Toy Store in San Francisco, Palo Alto and Truckee, and of course a favorite of J.’s readeres, Ambassador Toys focuses on educational books, music and toys “teaching children about the world,” says president Linda Kapnick. “We do not carry any guns or toys of violence.” Brands include Lego, Madame Alexander and Steiff. With two San Francisco stores and others in Palo Alto and Truckee.
EAST BAY
Mr. Mopps’
BERKELEY
(510) 525-9633 • mrmopps.net
They made our list again! Berkeley’s Mr. Mopps’, with a toy shop and book annex, avoids mass-market products and features mostly low-tech toys that foster open-ended play and inspire creativity. The store is a source of Equal Read books, celebrating diversity in children’s literature.
SOUTH BAY/PENINSULA
Adventure Toys
LOS ALTOS
(650) 941-6043 • adventuretoyslosaltos.com
This independent toy store in the heart of Los Altos on Main Street carries perhaps the largest selection of unique toys, gifts and teacher supplies in the entire area. They specialize in high-quality toys from around the globe including some best-known brands: Lego, Creativity For Kids, Thames & Kosmos, Ravensburger, and Micro Kickboard. Shop online, have the toy wrapped up and pick up at the store. Or go in and browse — it will bring back the kid in you!
