I was in the neighborhood today and decided to drop in.
I subsequently found my new favorite urban retreat in New York City.
I'm a kid at heart. That's about all I can say.
When first I entered the Children's Center at the New York Public Library on 42nd street, my whole demeanor changed. I was in wonderland.
First of all, the room is super colorful, and you know how much I love colors. Second, it is filled, from floor to ceiling, with PICTURE BOOKS!!
The Children's Center opened in November 2008, but I never made my way down there until today. Apparently, it is home to over 50,000 children's books, hundreds of CDs and DVDs, and even has an original Winnie the Poo bear.
I absolutely love the artwork on the walls - the murals depict landmarks of New York City.
I sat in the Children's Room for an hour (I could have stayed much longer, but real life was beckoning) reading picture books. Did you know that "the picture book" is a real form of literature? Well, it is. It takes quite a talent to write an amazing picture book.
I focused on the picture books by Shel Silverstein (author of The Giving Tree) and Patricia Pollaco (wrote too many books to count, each one better than the next). I could have spent hours there perusing the shelves, reading and reading.
The Children's Center is located in the same building as the Rose Reading Room which I wrote about a few months ago. But I so much rather this world of children over the stuffy, rigid world of grown-ups ;-).
Maybe I shouldn't have called it wonderland. I think the Children's Room is my personal Neverland. Peter Pan, here I come!
I subsequently found my new favorite urban retreat in New York City.
 |
| Credit: www.mommypoppins.com |
When first I entered the Children's Center at the New York Public Library on 42nd street, my whole demeanor changed. I was in wonderland.
First of all, the room is super colorful, and you know how much I love colors. Second, it is filled, from floor to ceiling, with PICTURE BOOKS!!
 |
| Credit: www.timeoutnewyorkkids.com |
The Children's Center opened in November 2008, but I never made my way down there until today. Apparently, it is home to over 50,000 children's books, hundreds of CDs and DVDs, and even has an original Winnie the Poo bear.
I absolutely love the artwork on the walls - the murals depict landmarks of New York City.
 |
| Credit: www.timeoutnewyorkkids.com |
I sat in the Children's Room for an hour (I could have stayed much longer, but real life was beckoning) reading picture books. Did you know that "the picture book" is a real form of literature? Well, it is. It takes quite a talent to write an amazing picture book.
 |
| credit: www.timeoutnewyorkkids.com |
I focused on the picture books by Shel Silverstein (author of The Giving Tree) and Patricia Pollaco (wrote too many books to count, each one better than the next). I could have spent hours there perusing the shelves, reading and reading.
The Children's Center is located in the same building as the Rose Reading Room which I wrote about a few months ago. But I so much rather this world of children over the stuffy, rigid world of grown-ups ;-).
Maybe I shouldn't have called it wonderland. I think the Children's Room is my personal Neverland. Peter Pan, here I come!
What a wonderful space! A wonderland for a child or an adult. The library was my personal refuge when I was a kid. We lived just a few blocks from our local branch in the Bronx and I went almost every day. We moved to New Jersey when I was 13 and that was the biggest loss for me, no access to the library anymore. Nothing was within walking distance. When I became a parent myself, being close to the library for my kids was a big factor in choosing where to live. I am a grandmother now, and I still love children's literature! And picture books. :)
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