Last week, I visited The Rabbit HOle, a museum in North Kansas City dedicated to children’s literature. The museum features displays based on a wide variety of children’s beloved and award-winning books, from Goodnight Moon to Mike Mulligan and the Steam Shovel to Crow Boy. Although I have lived in the Kansas City Northland for forty years, the museum is located in a former warehouse in an industrial area I seldom drove through. So even getting there was a novel experience.
And then, the museum overwhelmed my senses as soon as I walked inside—sights and sounds and shapes. And kids everywhere.
I realized as I walked down Alice’s rabbit hole and into the immersive exhibits (each one devoted to a classic book or a well-known author) that I have not kept up with developments in children’s literature over the last thirty years. My favorite displays were the ones featuring books I remembered from my own childhood, such as Madeleine and Babar. Another favorite was Bedtime for Frances—I loved reading it and other Russell Hoban books to my younger siblings.
There were a few books I remembered from my kids’ childhood, such Richard Scarry’s I am a Bunny and Shel Silverstein’s Where the Sidewalk Ends. But many of the exhibits featured more recent publications I did not recognize.
I also realized as I toured the museum that it would have been more fun if I’d had a child with me. Many young visitors raced from display to display (despite the museum’s prohibition on running). Some hid among the holes and hollows. Some exclaimed at characters they recognized. Some lounged quietly reading the books provided near every exhibit.
After touring the exhibits (I think I missed a few things), I spent almost half an hour browsing the shelves in the museum’s bookstore. The store was as large as the children’s department in most mall bookstores. Its selection covered board books, early readers, and books for pre-teens, and the topics ranged from classic tales from around the world to Harry Potter and other modern fantasies.
Of course, I could not leave the museum without buying my granddaughter a present. I picked out a t-shirt with The Rabbit Hole logo and two board books. Someday, I’d love to go there with her and let choose her own books, but she’s not ready for that yet.
Which books were your favorites when you were a child?
So glad you were able to go, Theresa!
For Christmas, my husband bought me tickets for “Opening Day.”
I loved it and look forward to going back again. They are always adding new displays.
I also was able to attend an author visit and purchase one of his signed books for our grandchildren. Always watch for special events they have.
I’m so happy we have such a beautiful museum in our city like this.
Thanks, Rosie. It is a wonderful museum. What a treat that you could be there on Opening Day.
Theresa
Sounds like a good resource and fun for the kids, too!
Pam, it is definitely worth a field trip with grandchildren!
Theresa
MY SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN, by Jean Craighead George, first published in 1959, is what did it for my sister and I. We LOVED that book. I recently sent my sister a new copy of it for her 72nd birthday.
Irene,
I’ve never heard of this one, but it certainly looks interesting.
Thanks for the recommendation.
Theresa
I loved Hiawatha – Native American legend retold for children. I also loved the classical fairy tales. And, when a little older, Alice in the Mirror and Alice in Wonderland.
I do not know the stories you mentioned in the post, and for me Babar is a French cartoon with an elephant. I liked it, but I saw it when grown up.
Marina, I loved Hiawatha as well. But I didn’t like Alice in Wonderland — I thought Lewis Carroll’s books were weird. Yes, Babar is a French elephant, first depicted in books. Only later did the books become a cartoon.
Thanks for reading, Theresa