57th Street Children's Book Fair

WHAT: Join an upwards of 10,000 people for an afternoon of storytelling, music, dance and of course books. The fair kicks-off with a parade of classic and contemporary storybook characters led by none other than Mother Goose. New to the fair this year are characters from the popular qubo Channel children’s program VeggieTales. Those attending the fair will have an opportunity to take free photographs with the VeggieTales characters Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumber by visiting the qubo Channel Pavilion. Family fun activities provided by some of Chicago’s most prestigious cultural institutions, include:
• The Museum of Science and Industry
• The Peggy Notebeart Nature Museum
• The Art Institute of Chicago
• The Oriental Institute

WHERE: 1300 block of East 57th Street and the 5600 block of South Kimbark Avenue. This location is 4 blocks west of the Museum of Science & Industry and 2 blocks east of the University of Chicago campus in the historic Hyde Park neighborhood.

WHEN: Sunday, September 28, from 1-6 p.m

COST: Free

NEED MORE INFO: visit www.57CBF.org or call 773 619-8371

Help spark young imaginations and creativity!

Brookfield Zoo + World Animal Day + Sharks!

WHAT: The Zoo is open year round, but this is the last weekend to get hands-on with the rays. Sharks! at Stingray Bay, features a 16,000 gallon saltwater tank and surrounding tropical paradise. Imagine touching cownose rays and southern stingrays as they glide beneath your fingertips. It's a safe, fun adventure for the whole family.

Celebrate World Animal Day with an entire day devoted to the celebration, education, and observation of animals. Join the animals at Brookfield Zoo for a fun-filled day of activities for the whole family including:
- National Geographic Photographer teaching with Fisher-Price Kid-Tough® Digital Cameras
- Screenings of Mama Mirabelle's Home Movies
- Music and Movement Classes
- Crafts and More!

WHERE: Sharks! is inside Stingray Bay and World Animal Day will take place in the Carousel Plaza inside the zoo. Brookfield Zoo is located at First Avenue between Ogden Avenue and 31st Street in Brookfield, Illinois, just 14 miles west of downtown Chicago. There are exits to First Avenue from the Eisenhower Expressway (I-290) and from the Stevenson Expressway (I-55). Signs on First Avenue will direct you to the zoo's main entrance and zoo parking—or you can just follow the lion's roar.

WHEN: Sharks! ends Sept. 28th. World Animal Day will be Sunday, September 28th from 11am-3pm. Brookfield Zoo, managed by the Chicago Zoological Society, is open every day of the year! Hours change seasonally, as indicated on the web.

COST: 2008 General Zoo Admission: $11 for adults, $7 for seniors, and $7 for children 3-11 (members are free). For special event/exhibit tickets visit the Brookfield Zoo website.
Note of interest: Free Admission Starting October 2, 2008 through December 30, 2008 zoo admission is free on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Free zoo admission is good only during normal zoo hours. Zoo admission fees apply to Holiday Magic dates.

NEED MORE INFO: visit http://www.czs.org/czs/Brookfield/Zoo-Home

The Field Museum + Story Time

WHAT: The Field Museum offers something for everyone any day of the year. Besides viewing the exhibits, Kraft is offering story time during September. Take a seat in the Crown Family PlayLab, hear a story, and make an art project to take home, all in 20 minutes! Selected titles in September include When the Wind Stops by Charlotte Zolotow, Mama by Jeanette Winter, The Wind Blew by P. Hutchins, and Rain by Manya Stojic.

WHERE: Crown Family PlayLab in The Field Museum

WHEN: Saturdays and Sundays in September1:30 p.m.

COST: Free with Museum admission

NEED MORE INFO: call (312) 922-9410 or visit http://www.fieldmuseum.org/

World Music Festival: Chicago 2008

WHAT: Chicago showcases the best of international music at the 10th annual World Music Festival: Chicago 2008. The multi-venue festival showcases both traditional and contemporary music from many diverse cultures. The 2008 festival line-up features more than 70 events at 21 venues. Events include a mix of free and ticketed concerts, live radio broadcasts, in-store performances, and more.

WHERE: Navy Pier Beer Garden

WHEN: Friday, September 19 through Thursday, September 25, 2008

Saturday, September 20

12:00 p.m. Seckou Keita Quartet (African World Jazz)

1:30 p.m. Rupa and the April Fishes (French Indian Gypsy Jazz Fusion)

3:30 p.m. Chicha Libre (Peruvian Cumbias/Surf)

Sunday, September 21

1:00 p.m. Reelroad (Russian Folk Rock)

4:00 p.m. Cordero (Latin Rock)

7:00 p.m. Moscow Nights (Russian Folk)

COST: Free admission for most concerts

NEED MORE INFO: visit http://www.navypier.com/things2do/entertainment/special_events.html#worldmusic and click on World Music Festival: Chicago 2008 or for a full schedule of World Music Festival events citywide, visit www.cityofchicago.org/WorldMusic

Story Time at Lincoln Park Zoo

WHAT: Lincoln Park Zoo holds story time. Story Time is free and held every Monday and Wednesday at 9:15-9:45 a.m. and 10-10:30 a.m. in the yellow Farmhouse on Stockton Drive at the Farm-in-the-Zoo Presented by John Deere. On Mondays, Professor Boonie delights young audiences with his funny tales and silly songs. On Wednesdays, Mr. Singer 's colorful costumes and interactive show charms the audience.

WHERE: Lincoln Park Zoo- located off Lake Shore Drive

WHEN: Open every day- Story time held Monday and Wednesday

COST: Lincoln Park Zoo is always FREE!!

NEED MORE INFO: call (312) 742-2000 or visit http://www.lpzoo.org/index.php

Arthur at KiddieLand Amusement Park

WHAT: wttw11 is bringing out an old favorite to Kiddieland one last time this season, it's Arthur. Arthur will be here for his final visit to Kiddieland to meet and greet guests from 2-7pm on both Saturday & Sunday at the Kiddieland gazebo. Get a picture of the entire family with this friendly character and enjoy entertainment and giveaways from Pepsi.

WHERE: Kiddieland Amusement Park

WHEN: September 13 & 14, 2008 (Arthur will meet guests from 2-7pm, both days)

COST: Cost varies depending on age of child/adult. Coupons are available at http://www.kiddieland.com/coupons.asp and at local Jewel-Osco stores.

NEED MORE INFO: call (708) 343-8000 or visit http://www.kiddieland.com/default.asp