SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                                  ------------

                                    FORM 8-A

                FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES
                    PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR 12(g) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                    THE CHILDREN'S PLACE RETAIL STORES, INC.

           (Exact name of the Registrant as specified in its charter)


  DELAWARE                                              31-1241495
 (State or other jurisdiction of                      (I.R.S. Employer
  incorporation or organization)                      Identification No.)


                 ONE DODGE DRIVE WEST CALDWELL, NEW JERSEY 07006
               (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)


If this Form relates to the registration of a class of debt securities and is
effective upon filing pursuant to General Instruction A(c)(1) please check the
following box. [ ]

If this Form relates to the registration of a class of debt securities and is to
become effective simultaneously with the effectiveness of a concurrent
registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933 pursuant to General
Instruction A(c)(2) please check the following box. [ ]

Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

    Title of Each Class                          Name of Each Exchange on
    to be so Registered                    Which Each Class is to be Registered

          NONE

Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

       COMMON STOCK, PAR VALUE $.10 PER SHARE



ITEM 1. DESCRIPTION OF REGISTRANT'S SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED.

The Registrant incorporates by reference herein the description of the
Registrant's Common Stock appearing under the caption "Description of Capital
Stock" in the Registrant's preliminary prospectus, dated September 2, 1997,
included in Amendment No. 1 to the Registrant's registration statement on Form
S-1 (No. 333-31535) (the "Registration Statement") as filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on September 2, 1997, as such description
may be amended in any preliminary or final prospectus included or deemed to be
included in an amendment to the Registration Statement subsequently filed with
the SEC. The Registration Statement will be declared effective concurrently with
this Form 8-A.

ITEM 2.  EXHIBITS.

The following exhibits are filed herewith:

         3.1      Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the
                  Registrant (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Registration Statement
                  and incorporated herein by reference).

         3.2      Amended and Restated ByLaws of the Registrant (filed as
                  Exhibit 3.2 to the Registration Statement and incorporated
                  herein by reference).

       **4.1      Form of Certificate for Common Stock, par value $ .10
                  per share, of the  Registrant.
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**To be filed by amendment.


                                    SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, the Registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized.

                                      The Children's Place Retail Stores, Inc.

Date:  September 12, 1997             By: /S/ STEVEN BALASIANO
                                          Steven Balasiano
                                          Vice President, Secretary
                                          and General Counsel