Donate to The Reading Bug

Since opening The Reading Bug  bookstore in downtown San Carlos over 13 years ago, we have strived to create a space for families that is more than just another retail shop - a community resource, a gathering spot, a place to learn and grow. We've brought incredible authors into our store and our schools. We've delighted children (some now grown and even working for us!) with free story and craft times. Our free story and music podcast, Reading Bug Adventures has been downloaded more than 3.7 million times worldwide! We've hired the best-darned-staff of experts anywhere, and stocked our store with the very best books that we gladly recommend to anyone who asks.

We have some wonderful news! JMS Construction is not quite ready to demolish our building at 785 Laurel St, so we were recently able to negotiate a few more years in our current space! Now, In 2027, JMS plans to tear down and rebuild an expensive 3-story building. Our final date in this space is December 31, 2026. For details on the development, contact your city council and city planner to make your voice heard regarding development of our now perfect downtown. Don't let developers ruin our beautiful street. For now, we are thrilled to be able to continue to deliver all the Reading Bug goodness to you and your families, and to grow and maintain the enthusiasm of all the amazing young readers around us. We are still struggling from the effects of the pandemic and our new hurdle is the rent that will be doubling in January 2023.  Your previous donations and any future donations will go right toward our rent and keeping great booksellers on our staff.

We have launched a GoFundMe campaign to help support our store and our staff.

We know that there are many important and urgent causes that need support right now. Please, donate what you can, wherever you can - as we all face uncertainty in our future. And, if you choose to donate to us, in any amount, we are truly grateful. Thank you for keeping us in your thoughts and in your community. Read more about how we've responded throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic here.  We promise to keep you updated as our search for a new location progresses over the next year!

“What I say is, a town isn’t a town without a bookstore. It may call itself a town, but unless it’s got a bookstore, it knows it’s not foolin’ a soul.”  ― Neil Gaiman, American Gods