Woozles Children's Bookstore

Tucked into a quiet South End street, Woozles has been introducing Halifax children to books since 1978 — making it the oldest children's bookstore in Canada. For 43 of those years it operated from 1533 Birmingham Street downtown; in 2021 the shop moved a few blocks south to 6013 Shirley Street, trading the busy downtown corner for a house-like space with a window seat, room for strollers, and the same wall-to-wall children's literature that has anchored four generations of Haligonian families. For more rainy-day ideas, see our indoor things to do in Halifax guide and our Halifax waterfront guide.

The store was founded in 1978 by Liz Crocker, who opened it with her husband Brian Crocker and Anne Brimer — a mother frustrated by the narrow range of children's books available in the city — and her mission — a broad, thoughtful, curated selection rather than a bestseller wall — still shapes the shelves. Today the shop carries books for ages 0 to 12 alongside puzzles, games, stickers, and GUND plush toys, and the staff are known for hand-picking titles to match a child's reading level and interests. As one recent Google reviewer put it, "The girl helped me to find the perfect gift for my son. Top." Another wrote that the service was "professional, efficient, and very easy to work with… I really appreciated the attention to detail."

A Half-Century Reader's Choice Record

Woozles' reputation in Halifax is measurable: the shop is a perennial winner of The Coast's Best of Halifax Reader's Choice award for Best Independent Bookstore — Gold in 2019, Silver in 2024, and Bronze in 2026, with back-to-back gold wins in 2017, 2018 and 2019. That kind of staying power in a city with a strong indie bookstore scene (Venus Envy, Bookmark) says something about customer loyalty. The shop's 43rd-birthday coverage in 2021 drew national attention, with Global News calling it "an iconic small business in Halifax… now writing its next chapter." For visiting families, that pedigree translates into staff who can recommend a book, not point at a shelf.

What's on the Shelves

The selection runs from board books and picture books through middle-grade novels and young-reader non-fiction, with a strong Canadian and Atlantic Canadian section — Sheree Fitch, David A. Robertson, and other regional authors feature prominently. Beyond books, the shop stocks a curated wall of educational toys, puzzles, activity kits, and plush, which makes it a reliable one-stop for birthday gifts on a trip. Reviews consistently mention how well organized the shelves are: "Super cute and lots of selection of books for all ages, puzzles, toys, stickers, and GUND plushies," wrote one December 2025 Google reviewer. The shop is small — plan for a half hour of browsing, longer if you're shopping for picky readers.

Author Readings and Storytime

As Halifax's dedicated children's bookstore, Woozles regularly hosts author readings, book launches, and storytime events, and has for decades — past events have drawn picture-book authors and middle-grade novelists signing new releases. Events are announced through the shop's Facebook page and in-store; if your visit coincides with one, it's a memorable free activity with kids. The store also supports school book fairs and community literacy programs across Halifax Regional Municipality, part of why it keeps winning reader's-choice awards decade after decade.

The Move to Shirley Street

Long-time visitors should note the address change: after 43 years on Birmingham Street, Woozles relocated in 2021 to 6013 Shirley Street in the South End, near the universities. The Coast's coverage of the move noted eager customers arriving at the door before opening, asking "Are you open yet?" The new space keeps the shop's cosy scale while adding the window seat and display flexibility the old location couldn't fit. It's a 25-minute walk from the Halifax waterfront (or a short drive/bus ride), and pairs naturally with the nearby Victoria Park and Spring Garden Road corridor for a half-day outing.

Why a 1978 Bookstore Still Matters

Woozles opened because Liz Crocker couldn't find the books her children wanted in 1970s Halifax. As The Coast told it in their anniversary feature, "what began as one frustrated mother desperately seeking a broader spectrum of children's literature resulted in a Canadian legacy." That origin story is worth knowing because it explains the shop's stubborn independence: nearly five decades later, in an era of online retail, Woozles is still a single storefront where the buying is done by people who read what they shelve. Simon & Schuster Canada has featured the store in its independent-bookstore series, calling shops like it "a cultural and community hub — authors are introduced, works read aloud to an audience and ideas are shared." For travellers, that's the difference between a retail stop and a genuine Halifax institution: you are walking into the oldest continuously operating children's bookstore in the country.

Visiting with Kids

The shop is genuinely child-friendly rather than merely child-tolerant — browse-able low shelves, staff accustomed to small hands, and a compact footprint that keeps toddlers in view. A realistic visit runs 20 to 40 minutes; families doing a birthday-gift run often pair it with the Halifax Common's playgrounds or the Museum of Natural History a few blocks north. The store is wheelchair accessible, offers bike parking, and uses plastic-free packaging where it can. If you're building a book-themed day, the Halifax Central Library's famous fifth-floor living room is a 15-minute walk away and makes a natural second stop.

A Souvenir That Isn't a Fridge Magnet

For visiting families, Woozles doubles as one of Halifax's best souvenir stops: a signed Atlantic Canadian picture book travels home better than a t-shirt, and the staff can point you to the Nova Scotia titles worth packing. Look for Sheree Fitch's rhyme-drenched Maritime classics, David A. Robertson's award-winning books for young readers, and the rotating staff picks that line the front table. Budget ten to twenty dollars for a book-shaped keepsake, or forty for a bundle with a puzzle or plush thrown in — the "GUND plushies" a December 2025 reviewer singled out share shelf space with sticker books and activity kits that make fine plane-ride entertainment on the flight home.

The Practical Details: Location, Hours & Essentials

Address & Location
6013 Shirley Street, Halifax, NS B3H 2M9 (South End, near Saint Mary's University and the Halifax Common). Wheelchair accessible; bike parking available.

Hours of Operation
Monday to Saturday 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM; Sunday 12:00 – 4:00 PM. Holiday hours may vary — call ahead in late December.

Price Range
Picture books typically $10–25; middle-grade novels $12–20; puzzles and plush $15–40. Debit and credit cards accepted.

Reservations
None needed — walk in. For school orders, event bookings, or specific title requests, call ahead.

Parking
Street parking on Shirley Street and surrounding South End blocks, plus a small private lot. Paid lots near Spring Garden Road are a 10-minute walk.

For families building a Halifax itinerary, Woozles is the rainy-day anchor the big-box stores can't match — a 48-year-old institution where the staff still hand-sell books to eight-year-olds, the way Liz Crocker intended in 1978. Pair it with the indoor attractions of Halifax for a full day out with kids.