Everybody asks, “how did you come up with the name, Five Little Monkeys?”

The answer is simple, there are five kids in our family! (I am the oldest monkey)

Five Little Monkeys is very much a family owned and run business. My mother (Anna Tokunaga) and I (Stephanie Sala) own Five Little Monkeys together. Yet we are not the only monkeys involved in making Five Little Monkeys a fun, unique place to shop. The whole extended family is involved in many different ways. For instance, my brother initiated this web-site; my grandmother sewed our monkey mascot costume; my dad created our logo and is our graphic artist; my sisters help out with gift wrapping; my husband and step father have installed shelves and done countless errands; my cousin and step mother babysit; my grandpa stood in for Santa while the real thing was busy at his workshop on the North Pole; my daughter, siblings, nieces and nephews are all toy testers and always have good advice. This is just the tip of the iceberg. I think you get the idea.

In the fall of 2001 I was headed to graduate school, applying to schools and studying for the GRE. September 11 caused me to reevaluate what was most important to me at that time. After much thought I decided being close to my family, playing an active role in my younger siblings (the other monkeys) lives while they grew up was a priority. We decided to open Five Little Monkeys in October 2001, we opened our doors for the first time on November 16, 2001.

How did I end up opening a toy store? I guess you could say it’s in my blood. My father designs toys (the Whoozit by Manhattan Toy among others) and my mother is co-owner of Sweet Potatoes, the children’s clothing manufacturer. She and I are partners and came up with this concept together. Although she was always very supportive of my plans to become a professor of Religious Studies she always said I was born to go into business.

I look forward to seeing you in the store!

All my best,

Stephanie Sala
Owner and Manager

What We Do

At Five Little Monkeys we strive to offer you a unique selection of quality toys and gifts in a fun and friendly atmosphere. Most of the store is organized around themes such as fairies, pirates, dinosaurs, bath time, science/nature, magic, for starters. But we also have some favorite brands too, such as Groovy Girls, Calico Critters, LEGO, Breyer horses, Corolle dolls, Thomas Wooden Railway, Whoozit, and Creativity for Kids, to name a few.

Our Stores

Albany, California: Our original store is located in Albany, California close to Berkeley. It's on the Kid's Block at Solano Avenue, surrounded by other great children's stores. The store is run by Stephanie Sala, the founder of Five Little Monkeys. Stop by for our unique selection of toys and gifts. When it's time to leave, Stephanie will happily send your child home with a free balloon.

Mandalay Place, Las Vegas: In early 2004, another Five Little Monkeys store opened in Las Vegas, Nevada. It features the same toy selection and friendly atmosphere.