I used to go here a lot with my mom when I was younger. The shop is set up very nicely and organized, and they have a great selection of books for kids. However, while I was there with my mom, the... More

I used to go here a lot with my mom when I was younger. The shop is set up very nicely and organized, and they have a great selection of books for kids. However, while I was there with my mom, the salespeople were super nice to us. I just went back there a couple months ago, now all 'grown up'. I went there to pick up a job application, actually. I also browsed around a bit. Both the salespeople --the owner and saleswoman--kept their eye on me. They glared at me as if I were going to steal something. Sheesh! I was about to pick up an application until I remember my friend told me that she went there a few weeks before to ask for an application with her mom. They said they refuse hire minors because they claim teenagers don't work, which is not true in ALL cases.
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A Whale of a Tale is a wonderful store. Don't be fooled by its relatively small size, you don't need a superstore for an excellent selection. The people who choose the books really know what... More

A Whale of a Tale is a wonderful store. Don't be fooled by its relatively small size, you don't need a superstore for an excellent selection. The people who choose the books really know what they're doing. Not only is there a great assortment of quality titles, but the staff is very knowledgeable and helpful. They also have great programming, like story time and author visits.
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Whale of a Tale does seem like a great setup, but I haven't had the best of experiences there myself. Basically, if you aren't either a child or obviously old enough to be the parent of one, you are... More

Whale of a Tale does seem like a great setup, but I haven't had the best of experiences there myself. Basically, if you aren't either a child or obviously old enough to be the parent of one, you are going to get a pretty frosty reception. (This despite the fact that it's directly across the street from UCI.) A few friends have reported the same thing. While the staff won't actually ask you to leave, they won't give you any help either. I'm rating them at two stars because I guess they do do a good job for the people they're willing to exert themselves for.
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If you’re looking for a children’s bookstore that has a great selection, layout and expertise, this is the place. The store is extremely kid friendly, and the staff really knows children’s books. In... More

If you’re looking for a children’s bookstore that has a great selection, layout and expertise, this is the place. The store is extremely kid friendly, and the staff really knows children’s books. In addition to books, the store offers a great stuffed animal selection. As you might expect with a high-quality children’s bookstore, this place has great story hours for young readers.
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