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WHERE READERS GROW AND COMMUNITY BLOSSOMS!

About

OUR STORY

The Story Garden is a locally owned independent children’s bookstore. Owner, Megan Kotsko, is a former teacher, turned stay-at-home mom, and most currently children's bookstore owner. Her passion for children’s literature has taken on its physical form in the transformation of an old run-down shop, into a children’s bookstore. After watching You’ve Got Mail years ago, Megan fell in love with the dream of one day running a children’s bookstore like The Shop Around the Corner - one that puts children’s interests and their innate gravitation towards immersing themselves into the world of story first; a store that was established for and fueled by the love of books for the youngest of readers. Who knew, years later, an old storefront just down the street from her home, would become the place in which that dream could become a reality? When the right time and opportunity presented itself, and with her husband Jason’s full support and constant encouragement, St. Pete's newest children's bookstore, The Story Garden, was born.

03-09-25 TSG  pics by ©sandrasonik-0020.jpg
MISSION & VISSION

OUR MISSION

The mission of The Story Garden is to provide the community of St. Petersburg with a dedicated children's bookstore to discover a specially curated selection of children’s books and to promote children’s love for reading with an understanding of how reading can change their lives. We want all children who enter our bookstore to find books to read in which they see a reflection of themselves, their interests, and their passions. 

OUR VISION

Our vision is to be known in St. Petersburg as the local experts on children’s books. We want to be the place parents choose to take their children to experience the exciting and magical feeling browsing for and buying books in a bookstore together creates. We aspire to be the place children beg their parents to go to to find their next favorite book and to share stories with other children.

What we offer

BOOKS FOR ALL AGES

Babies, Toddlers, Early Readers, Middle Grades, & Parents

QUALITY GAMES, TOYS, CARDS & READING ACCESSORIES

CHILD & CAREGIVER STORYtime & PLAY Me A Story CLASSES

BOOK CLUBS FOR KIDS

WEEKLY STORYTIMES: Wed & Sat at 10:15AM

EVENTS

  • Sing Me A Story with Miss Kara
    Sing Me A Story with Miss Kara
    Multiple Dates
    Tue, Dec 09
    The Story Garden
    Dec 09, 2025, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM
    The Story Garden, 832 14th St N, St. Petersburg, FL 33705, USA
    Join us for some Fall fun! Miss Kara, a children's music teacher, will transform some fun holiday stories into songs for our young readers.
  • Santa Visits Wednesday Storytime @ 10:15AM
    Santa Visits Wednesday Storytime @ 10:15AM
    Multiple Dates
    Wed, Dec 10
    Dec 10, 2025, 10:15 AM – 10:45 AM EST
    The Story Garden, 832 14th St N, St. Petersburg, FL 33705, USA
    Join us this week for a special holiday storytime with a visit from Santa at the end; he'll arrive at 10:45AM. Designed for ages 5 and under, though all are welcome. We'll read stories & sing songs & visit with Santa!
  • Babies in the Bookstore
    Babies in the Bookstore
    Multiple Dates
    Thu, Dec 11
    St. Petersburg
    Dec 11, 2025, 10:15 AM – 11:15 AM
    St. Petersburg, 832 14th St N, St. Petersburg, FL 33705, USA
    Join us for this casual meet-up for new parents and their little babies. It's a time to get out of the house and meet new friends! We'll have a baby mat and some baby toys out in our space for you to sit back and connect! It is intended for those babies who are not yet walking!
  • Play Me a Story - SNOW & ICE!
    Play Me a Story - SNOW & ICE!
    Fri, Dec 12
    The Story Garden
    Dec 12, 2025, 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
    The Story Garden, 832 14th St N, St. Petersburg, FL 33705, USA
    Join us as we immerse the littlest of readers in story & play to foster a love for reading while igniting early literacy skills. Our 1-hr class will feature an immersive read-aloud followed by intentional play experiences tailored to extend the story theme, building connections to the world!
  • Spanish Storytime with Tampa Bay International School
    Spanish Storytime with Tampa Bay International School
    Multiple Dates
    Sat, Dec 13
    Dec 13, 2025, 10:15 AM – 10:40 AM
    St. Petersburg, 832 14th St N, St. Petersburg, FL 33705, USA
    Join us for an immersive, enthusiastic storytime in Spanish as we welcome Bennett Zamoff, the head of the Tampa Bay International School to our store.
  • Holiday Sip & Shop
    Holiday Sip & Shop
    Multiple Dates
    Sat, Dec 13
    The Story Garden
    Dec 13, 2025, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
    The Story Garden, 832 14th St N, St. Petersburg, FL 33705, USA
    A cozy after-hours evening of shopping at our little children’s bookstore. We’re opening our doors for a relaxed night to browse, pick out holiday treasures, and enjoy a little magic among the shelves. We’ll have light snacks & drinks, special surprises, and plenty of bookish cheer!
  • Storytime & Grinch Visit with United Moms for Autism
    Storytime & Grinch Visit with United Moms for Autism
    Dec 14, 2025, 9:15 AM – 9:45 AM
    The Story Garden, 832 14th St N, St. Petersburg, FL 33705, USA
    Join us for this special storytime for the friends and families of United Moms for Autism. The Grinch will be visiting us!
  • Play Me a Story - SNOW & ICE!
    Play Me a Story - SNOW & ICE!
    Mon, Dec 15
    The Story Garden
    Dec 15, 2025, 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
    The Story Garden, 832 14th St N, St. Petersburg, FL 33705, USA
    Join us as we immerse the littlest of readers in story & play to foster a love for reading while igniting early literacy skills. Our 1-hr class will feature an immersive read-aloud followed by intentional play experiences tailored to extend the story theme, building connections to the world!
  • Holiday Art Workshop for Kids (K-2nd Grade)
    Holiday Art Workshop for Kids (K-2nd Grade)
    Dec 20, 2025, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
    The Story Garden, 832 14th St N, St. Petersburg, FL 33705, USA
    Children will enjoy cruising into the holidays with artist and children's art teacher, Breck Moorefield, as she reads aloud Steam Train: Next Stop, Christmas! Following her read aloud of this stunning picture book, children will embark on their own journey to create a holiday art piece of their own.
  • Play Me a Story - SNOW & ICE!
    Play Me a Story - SNOW & ICE!
    Mon, Dec 22
    The Story Garden
    Dec 22, 2025, 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
    The Story Garden, 832 14th St N, St. Petersburg, FL 33705, USA
    Join us as we immerse the littlest of readers in story & play to foster a love for reading while igniting early literacy skills. Our 1-hr class will feature an immersive read-aloud followed by intentional play experiences tailored to extend the story theme, building connections to the world!

SHOP FOR BOOKS

In March of 2025, we opened our brick-and-mortar children's bookstore. You can also support us by buying your books from our shop on Bookshop.org. Haven’t heard of Bookshop? They’re incredible in supporting independent children's bookstores like us. Bookshop is connecting readers and independent booksellers worldwide. ‍They are committed to helping local bookstores thrive, giving us a platform to compete online and financial support to keep bookstore doors open! 

Contact

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CONTACT

Store Location:

832 14th St. N.,

St. Petersburg, Fl 33705

Store Hours:

Monday - Closed

Tuesday - 10AM to 2PM

Wednesday - Saturday 10AM to 5:00PM

Sunday - 10AM to 2PM

Labor Day Weekend Hours:

Fri/Sat -  10AM-2PM; Sun/Mon - Closed

Phone/Text: 727-755-1987

Email: Megan@stpetestorygarden.com

 

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