Rare book expert Kenneth Gloss runs this show, so you can be sure to find some rather unusual titles at Brattle Book Shop. Non-collectors enjoy this large store for the selection of inexpensive, used paperbacks. Do not leave without admiring the mural outside, which depicts various authors from Dr. Seuss to Toni Morrison.

The selection at this used record store brings in droves of patrons looking for hard-to-find records, CDs and cassettes. Trade in your used vinyl and discs for cash or store credit because this great barter or cash program keeps the current stock fresh and exciting. Find hidden gems with ease thanks to a helpful staff and some of the lowest prices in town.

Much like the town of Brookline itself, The Children's Book Shop is multicultural, literate and, of course, family-friendly. There is a wide collection of fiction and non-fiction to browse with over 28,000 titles in stock. Topics include parenting, foreign languages, art and race relations. The young adult selection does not condescend; it offers good literature that teenagers can appreciate. Younger children are sure to find a good bedtime story or two. The store also sells books on tape, music tapes and stuffed animals.