Mabel’s Fables

My favourite book store in the city. I’ve been taking my kids here since they were babies and the owner and staff know all our names by heart. Have helped my children all become readers by the time they started kindergarten and lovers of books today. Always an adventure in this beautiful, warm and welcoming shop.

I own a business owner near this wonderful book store and cannot tell you how lovely it is to have such a beautiful place to both purchase wonderful books, but also enjoy the experience of the character and charm this landmark has. I support local and always will, and even if they don’t carry a specific selection, they will order it in or discuss different options. The customer service is incredible and the staff know exactly what they are talking about; if you have a question they are well versed in getting you an answer… it seems like they have read every book out there, lol! It is truly a pleasure to support this place, and I will continue to do so!

Every time I’m wandering along Mount Pleasant, I have to stop into Mabel’s Fables. The store is delightful — a whimsical, independent oasis when compared to the big bookstore chains out there. Two floors packed full of books for children and young adults, with some adult books here and there as well. They have a great selection and the staff is always really friendly. I try to pick up something every time I go in — I like supporting a store that obviously has such a huge sense of community. It’s the kind of store I would have been in love with as a child, and I only wish there were more kids in my life to give me more excuses to shop here!

A very cute children’s bookstore, a very welcoming atmosphere starting with the exterior of the store. A beautiful use of colour catches the eye and draws you in. The interior is small and hard to get around with a stroller, but the décor is so perfect.
My daughter had a blast in here with the cat and all the little knick knacks, and she just loves books. A wonderful spot to check out for sure and books do still make a great gift, especially for kids.
This is now on our radar and I hope this place can hang on as everyone seems to be going electronic these days. No need to rush our kids into that, they’ll have enough time for tablets and computers I’m sure, nothing like reading an old fashioned book to them.

«Oh, magic hour, when a child first knows she can read printed words!»
– A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
First off, let me begin by saying I really go out of my way to support the indie bookstores before I’d give Heather Reisman a plug nickel of my hard earned money. Top of my favourite indie bookstore list still remains Nicolas Hoare Books on Front Street and right behind it is Mabel’s Fables. I have been a customer of this book retailer for more than 20 years, discovering them a few years after our daughter was born in 1984. At that time the bookstore had two locations, the original on Mount Pleasant and the second down by Royal York and Bloor. Both stores were inhabited by funny, affectionate felines who often wandered around the store and were frequently found laying the window displays, sleeping in the warm rays of the daytime sunlight, preening themselves and smiling at the passersby as if to say «come in to the most purrrrrfect bookstore for children.»
The second site has been closed for a few years but I’m pleased to say that the original store remains a literary oasis that has survived the onslaught of the Costco’ish book buying institutions that have blossomed around it. I have always thought that Mabel’s Fables was the model used as the bookstore in the movie «You’ve Got Mail». It’s got that kind of feel. The staff in the shop are excellent, taking time to speak with you to understand the reading levels and needs of the children you are buying books for. Once when our daughter was young, the clerk sat down on the floor with her to talk to her about what she liked to read.
Our daughter has grown up so we no longer make our monthly sojourns to Mabel’s Fables but as a Great Auntie with five great nieces and one great nephew, all under the age of 10, Mabel’s Fables continues to be the go to place for gifts and books for the little people in our lives. Funnily enough the last time I was in the shop the gal who served me told me that I have bought more copies of Robert Munsch’s «Love Me Forever» & Roch Carrier’s Canadian Classic «The Hockey Sweater» than any other customer they had over the years. To this day I cannot read «Love Me Forever» without tearing up.
The only downside of this shop is the location can be a toughie in finding a parking spot, for those who travel by car, because the Mount Pleasant hood is a busy one. It, like Nicolas Hoare on Front Street is worth the effort of making sure you’ve got some coins in your pocket to feed a parking meter. Also much like Nicolas Hoare’s, Mabel’s Fables offers all sorts of special in store events. I highly recommend this charming little bookstore for anyone in the market for a book for one of the little people in your lives.