Monkeyshines Children's Bookstore (www.monkeyshinesbooks.com)
Monkeyshines, in Marda Loop, is Calgary's one and only kid's bookstore. Monkeyshines is locally-owned, and carries beautiful books for babies through teens. They do Storytime for preschoolers every Thursday morning at 10:30 am.
Self Connections Bookstore (www.selfconnection.ca)
Self Connection has beautiful, Earth-loving, heart-based children's books. At our last visit, my little one picked out three for me to read to her, and all three made me cry. They have a south location in Willow Park Village Mall at 10816 Macleod Tr. S, and a new location at 4611 Bowness Rd. NW.
Room to Grow (www.room-to-grow.ca)
You can access Usborne books and Melissa and Doug toys through Room to Grow, as well as playgroups, and both parented and unparented preschool. They also put on a variety of other events for moms and moms and tots, from movie nights to Shantala massage classes. Room to Grow hosts great birthday parties, too! Just off of 17th Ave and 14th St. SW.
Bug and Blossom (www.bugandblossom.com)
Bug and Blossom has beautiful, carefully chosen, quality toys and more for babies and children, at their two locations in North Hill Centre and West Market Square. They have a great play area for kids which makes it easy to shop, and feature very friendly, inviting staff. There is definitely a reason that Bug and Blossom won the 2009 Calgary's Child Parent's Choice Award!
The Chic Boutique (www.thechicboutiquesite.com)
This online Calgary-based store carries a great line of comfortable clothes that can work before, during, and after pregnancy, as well as a variety of organic baby Stuff.
Pixie Hut (Waldorf School) (Pixie Hut Link)
Hidden away in the Waldorf School (Cougar Ridge), the Pixie Hut is a great place to shop for beautiful, natural kid's toys and gifts. Don't miss the Waldorf Faire, either, each year around November, for candle-dipping, apple-peeling, story-telling, and an artisan's fair. I always call (403) 287-1868 before visiting the Pixie Hut, just to make sure there's not a school holiday that day.
Ten Thousand Villages (www.tenthousandvillages.ca)
Another wonderful place to find gifts. Ten Thousand Villages carries fairly traded items from all over the world, so each of the products has an inspiring story to go with it. On Crowchild just north of Kensington Road.
Lee Valley Tools (www.leevalley.com)
Lee Valley, online or in south Calgary by IKEA, carries a number of child-sized tools, toys and games, and a toolbelt for the little ones as well.
Spruce It Up Garden Centre (www.spruceitupgardencentre.com)
After searching all over Calgary, I found a child-sized real (non-plastic) wheelbarrow here! Woohoo!
The Michael Olaf Store (www.michaelolaf.com)
A Montessori-based catalogue for the home, which carries a wide range of practical, child-sized kitchen items, tools, and other household items, as well as wonderful, beautiful, intelligent toys, books, and games for children 0-12. The Michael Olaf store is in California.