I LOVE big chain bookstores as much as the next nerd. But there is something about independent booksellers that really gets me excited.

So when a bunch of friends organised an informal indie bookstore tour two days ago, I dragged the Supportive Spouse, our two small boys and our domestic helper along.

I was wary of going on the outing at first. Kids plus fine, rare books and crowded shelves, equals recipe for disaster? Surprisingly, no. The boys had a good time, thanks to the relaxed, family-like vibe of every store, and their kind, accommodating owners.

Baby starts crying and needs to drink milk just as you're sticking your nose into a promising- looking read? Instead of shushing you, the shopkeepers are more than happy to usher you to a quiet corner to feed Junior, or help rinse out your milk bottle and top it up with hot water.

Best of all, some of them had in-store cafes, in which we were able to rest our tired feet after traipsing all over Chinatown, where the stores we visited were concentrated.

So, if you're seeking some respite from the Orchard Road crush this weekend with the family in tow, here's a (relatively) manageable itinerary - give or take some challenging-to-navigate pavements for prams:

Start at Books Actually (86 Club Street, tel: 6222-9195, www.booksactually.com), arguably the most well-known hip independent bookstore in town.

We like the hard-to-find works by Singapore writers and a second-floor display full of trinkets and lovely tchotchkes.

If you so desire (as I did), you can pick up a copy of poet Arthur Yap's The Space Of City Trees (2000, Skoob), a numbered boxed set of Humpback Oak band's reissued output, and some cool pencils stamped with author's names.

Afterwards, walk a few doors down to picture-book shop, Woods In The Books (58 Club Street, tel: 6222-9980, www.woodsinthebooks.sg).

There, kids and their parents can browse the selection of cute books published by the likes of Usborne and Phaidon.

There are also sections on Chinese and pop-up books, and some whimsical framed prints for sale on the walls. Everything's lovely to look at, and kids will want to handle the hardback beauties with care and respect.

The next stop is about a 15-minute walk away, if you progress in a leisurely manner and need to carry prams up and down steps in the hilly terrain.

Littered With Books is a gem tucked away in a slightly obscure location in the Tanjong Pagar area (20 Duxton Road, tel: 6220-6824, www.litteredwithbooks. com).

Housed in a 21/2-storey shophouse, it offers literary reads - from your Man Booker winners to your Financial Times-recommended books - on the ground floor, and genres like cookery, travel, sci-fi and romance on the second.

Complimentary coffee is available for those browsing in the store, although you might want to contribute a few dollars to help defray the cost of your cuppa.

Tasteful, comfortable and sunlight-filled, it's a great place to lose yourself in for a couple of hours.

Round off the tour at Books Cellar (19 Bukit Pasoh Road, tel: 6220-9019), a bookstore specialising in horror and collectible books. Coffee, alcohol, sandwiches, a Wi-Fi connection, darts and a foosball table are available.

A little room at the back is great if you're a sizeable party with noisy kids, as you can keep relatively out of the way of the other patrons.

After spending about five hours on our bookstore tour, the kids fell asleep in the car on the way home.

At home, with them conked out early for the night, I settled in bed with a good book.

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