Secret Garden Bookshop
Ballard, Seattle, WashingtonNorthwest Region
A women owned general bookstore on NW Market Street in Ballard with roots back to 1977 and a long reputation for children's books, plus free gift wrapping, author events and a monthly in store book club.
About
Children's author Nancy White Carlstrom, best known for the Jesse Bear books, opened Secret Garden Books in Green Lake in 1977. Christy McDanold bought the store in 1995 and soon moved it to 15th Avenue NW in Ballard, then about five years later to its current spot on NW Market Street, where she turned a children's only shop into a general interest bookstore. The store describes itself as women owned and marked 48 years of independent bookselling in 2025.
Today it calls itself a full service general bookstore with a particular specialty in children's books, and The Seattle Times named it probably the single best children's bookstore in town. Staff picks, a children's illustrated bestseller list and the Kids' Indie Next List help with choosing, gift wrapping is free, and special orders and shipping are available. The in store book club meets monthly at 7:15pm, next on October 15, 2026, and the shop runs author events and school bookfairs around the city.
The Shelves
New Books
Specialty Focus
In the Store
Kids Section
Events
Book Club
Hours
| Monday | 10am to 7pm |
| Tuesday | 10am to 7pm |
| Wednesday | 10am to 7pm |
| Thursday | 10am to 7pm |
| Friday | 10am to 7pm |
| Saturday | 10am to 6pm |
| Sunday | 10am to 5pm |