Programs
Kids Museum Passports
A partnership between Museums Work for Chicago and the Chicago Public Library
Witness the birth of a star, stare down menacing moray eels, come nose to antennae with fragile butterflies or sway upon the rigging of a huge schooner. Wander galleries and marvel at both ancient and modern art. Journey backward to a time when dinosaurs ruled the earth, or step back just far enough to trace the growth and changes of Chicago and the nation.
All of these adventures and much, much more are possible without even leaving Chicago. It’s all waiting for you and your family at any Chicago Public Library location by checking out a free Kids Museum Passport to 15 of Chicago’s world-class cultural institutions. Made possible by Museums Work for Chicago, the Kids Museum Passport program represents the organization’s commitment to support the development of Chicago’s kids.
How the Kids Museum Passports Work
- Adult residents of the City of Chicago may check out a Museum Passport at any Chicago Public Library location with their valid Chicago Public Library card.
- One Museum Passport can be checked out per person, per loan period. The loan period for each Kids Museum Passport is ONE WEEK.
- A group must include at least one child under 18 for the pass to be valid. A maximum of two (2) adults are admitted with the pass. See specific rules for each museum below.
- Each library location has a limited number of Museum Passports for each of the 15 museums.
- The overdue fine for Museum Passports is $2 per day, with a maximum overdue fine of $20. The charge for a LOST Museum Passport is $60, plus any overdue fines.
- Only one Museum Passport per household may be checked out at one time.
- Museum Passports must be returned to the main desk of the library location where they were checked out.
- Museum Passports cannot be renewed or reserved.
- There will be a waiting period of 24 hours after returning a Museum Passport before another passport from the same museum may be checked out to any adult member of the same family.
Please read over the information below for specific museum guidelines.
Read more about the collections of each museum by checking out the related books listed under each museum.
The Library recommends checking the website of each museum to note current hours and exhibition information.
For information on how to reach the museums by public transit, please visit each museum’s website or the Chicago Transit Authority.
Enjoy your visit to Chicago’s great museums and the Chicago Public Library!
Quicklinks: Adler Planetarium | Art Institute of Chicago | Brookfield Zoo | Chicago Botanic Garden | Chicago Children’s Museum | Chicago History Museum | DuSable Museum of African American History | The Field Museum | Institute of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture | Lincoln Park Zoo | Museum of Contemporary Art | Museum of Science and Industry | National Museum of Mexican Art | The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum | Shedd Aquarium | Museums Work for Chicago
Adler Planetarium
1300 S. Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60605
(312) 922-7827
Closed: Thanksgiving and Christmas
Visit the Adler Planetarium for an out-of-this-world experience! Discover the thrills of space exploration. Check out the Gemini 12 spacecraft and the Lovell Collection of personal space artifacts. Take a kid-friendly adventure to explore Planet X. Experience one of three immersive theaters. There is something for everyone at the Adler!
The Kids Museum Passport allows a family of four (4) general admission during regular public hours. Groups must include at least one child under 18 for the pass to be valid. A maximum of two (2) adults are admitted with the pass.
General admission to the Adler Planetarium includes admission to all exhibitions including Planet Explorers. Shows and experiences, including Deep Space Adventure and the Historic Atwood Experience, are available for an additional fee. Guests between the ages of 3 and 11 qualify for child rates.
Library books to extend your visit:
Almost Astronauts: The True Story of the “Mercury 13” Women
By Tanya Lee Stone
Candlewick, 2009 (Ages 10-14)
Amazing Solar System Projects You Can Build Yourself
By Delano Lopez, illustrated by Shawn Braley
Nomad, 2008 (Ages 9 and up)
Boy, Were We Wrong About the Solar System!
By Kathleen V. Kudlinski, illustrated by John Rocco
Dutton, 2008 (Ages 7-10)
Every Planet Has a Place: A Book About Our Solar System
By Becky Baines
National Geographic, 2008 (Ages 4-8)
Exploring the Solar System: A History With 22 Activities
By Mary Kay Carson
Chicago Review Press, 2008 (Ages 10-15)
Mission to the Moon
By Alan Dyer, illustrated by Bill Slavin
Simon & Schuster, 2009 (Ages 8-12)
Moon Over Star
By Dianna Hutts Aston, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney
Dial, 2008 (Ages 4-8)
NASA
By Steve Kortenkamp
Capstone, 2008 (Ages 4-8)
Our Solar System
By Seymour Simon
Smithsonian/Collins, 2007 (Ages 8-12)
Team Moon: How 400,000 People Landed Apollo 11 on the Moon
By Catherine Thimmesh
Houghton Mifflin, 2006 (Ages 9 and up)
Art Institute of Chicago
111 S. Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60603
(312) 443-3600
Closed: Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day
From picture book exhibitions to interactive computer games, arms and armor to the beloved period miniature rooms, the Art Institute is a perfect family outing with something for everyone and every age. Start your art adventure at the Ryan Education Center, a state-of-the-art space designed specifically for kids and families, where admission is always free. Then continue your journey through 5,000 years of artistic expression—from ancient Greece to Impressionism to today’s most innovative artists. Discovery and inspiration abound!
The Kids Museum Passport allows a family of four (4) general admission during regular public hours. Groups must include at least one child under 18 for the pass to be valid. A maximum of two (2) adults are admitted with the pass. Children under 14 are always free.
The passport is for general admission only and does not extend to lectures, performances or exhibitions where there is a special charge.
Library books to extend your visit:
Amelia Bedelia’s Masterpiece
By Herman Parish, illustrated by Lynn Sweat
HarperCollins, 2008 (Ages 4-8)
The Art Book for Children
By Amanda Renshaw and Gilda Williams Ruggi
Phaidon, 2005 (All ages)
Babar’s Museum of Art
By Laurent de Brunhoff
Abrams, 2003 (All ages)
Chasing Vermeer
By Blue Balliett, illustrated by Brett Helquist
Scholastic, 2004 (Ages 9-12)
Faces, Places and Inner Spaces: A Guide to Looking at Art
By Jean Sousa
Abrams, 2006 (Ages 5-12)
Getting to Know the World’s Greatest Artists series
By Mike Venezia
Children’s Press (Ages 7-12)
The Jumbo Book of Art
By Irene Luxbacher
Kids Can Press, 2003 (Ages 8 and up)
Katie’s Sunday Afternoon
By James Mayhew
Orchard, 2005 (Ages 4-8)
The Shape Game
By Anthony Browne
FSG, 2003 (Ages 5-10)
The Sixty-Eight Rooms
By Marianne Malone
Random House, 2010 (Ages 9-12)
Stealing Magic: A Sixty-Eight Rooms Adventure
By Marianne Malone
Random House, 2012 (Ages 9-11)
When Pigasso Met Mootisse
By Nina Laden
Chronicle, 1998 (Ages 5-8)
Brookfield Zoo
3300 Golf Road
Brookfield, IL 60513
(708) 688-8000
Open every day of the year
A world-renowned attraction since 1934, Brookfield Zoo is located just 12 miles west of downtown Chicago. Enjoy exciting dolphin shows and naturalistic exhibits featuring exotic animals such as African wild dogs, snow leopards, Humboldt penguins and more! Check the zoo’s website for special events and activities for all ages.
The Kids Museum Passport allows a family of four (4) general admission during regular public hours. Groups must include at least one child under 18 for the pass to be valid. A maximum of two (2) adults are admitted with the pass.
The Dolphin Show, The Carousel, Hamill Family Play Zoo, Motor Safari, special exhibitions, tours and parking are available for an additional fee and may require a timed-entry ticket. Guests between the ages of 3 and 11 qualify for child rates.
Library books to extend your visit:
Actual Size
By Steve Jenkins
Houghton Mifflin, 2004 (Ages 4-8)
Animal Stackers
By Jennifer Belle, illustrated by David McPhail
Hyperion, 2005 (Ages 5-9)
Animals Like Us
By Andrea Mills
DK, 2005 (Ages 9-12)
At the Zoo!: Explore the Animal World with Craft Fun
By Judy Press, illustrated by Jenny Campbell
Williamson, 2002 (All ages)
Grin and Bear It: Zoo Jokes to Make You Roar
By Sharon Friedman, et al., illustrated by Brian Gable
Carolrhoda, 2005 (Ages 5-8)
Keepers and Creatures at the National Zoo
By Peggy Thomson, photos by Paul Conklin
Crowell, 1998 (Ages 8-12)
Lunch at the Zoo: What Zoo Animals Eat and Why
By Joyce Altman, illustrated by Rick Chrustowski
Henry Holt, 2001 (Ages 7-12)
My Visit to the Zoo
By Aliki
HarperCollins, 1997 (Ages 5-8)
Wild About Books
By Judy Sierra, illustrated by Marc Brown
Knopf, 2004 (Ages 5-8)
Zoo’s Who: Poems and Paintings
By Douglas Florian
Harcourt, 2005 (Ages 5-10)
Chicago Botanic Garden
1000 Lake Cook Road
Glencoe, IL 60022
(847) 835-5440
Open every day of the year
Climb a waterfall garden, visit a rooftop garden, roam in the woods, learn how to grow organic vegetables, discover the latest in science and plant conservation, or skip across bridges connecting the garden’s nine islands. You can do all this at the Chicago Botanic Garden, where there are 26 display gardens and four natural areas to explore, all within 385 acres of wonder. A magical place for visitors of all ages and cultures, with its world-renowned plant collections and displays, the Chicago Botanic Garden is one of the country’s most visited public gardens and a pre-eminent center for learning and scientific research.
The Kids Museum Passport entitles cardholder to 50 percent off parking for one vehicle (car level only). Group must include at least one child under 18 for the pass to be valid. Admission to the Chicago Botanic Garden is always free.
Valid every day of the year except Antiques & Garden Fair weekend, Mother’s Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day and Columbus Day. Admission to Wonderland Express, the Model Railroad, Tram, and Butterflies & Blooms are available for an additional fee.
Library books to extend your visit:
101 Kid-Friendly Plants: Fun Plants and Family Garden Projects
By Cindy Krezel
Ball, 2007 (Ages 9-12)
And the Good Brown Earth
By Kathy Henderson
Candlewick, 2003 (Ages 4-7)
The Gardener
By Sarah Stewart, illustrated by David Small
FSG, 1997 (Ages 4-8)
My Garden
By Kevin Henkes
Greenwillow, 2010 (Ages 4-7)
Grow: A Novel in Verse
By Juanita Havill, illustrated by Stanislawa Kodman
Peachtree, 2008 (Ages 9-12)
Grow It, Cook It: Simple Gardening Projects and Delicious Recipes
Edited by Deborah Lock
DK, 2008 (Ages 9-12)
Notes from the Dog
By Gary Paulsen
Wendy Lamb, 2009 (Ages 10-14)
Quiet in the Garden
By Aliki
Greenwillow, 2009 (Ages 3-6)
Seedfolks
By Paul Fleischman, illustrated by Judy Pedersen
HarperCollins, 1997 (Ages 9-14)
Weslandia
By Paul Fleischman, illustrated by Kevin Hawkes
Candlewick, 1999 (Ages 5-8)
Chicago Children’s Museum
Navy Pier
700 E. Grand Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 527-1000
Closed: Thanksgiving and Christmas
Want world-class fun? Splash, climb, build, learn and explore at the award-winning Chicago Children’s Museum, located at Chicago’s famous Navy Pier. There are three floors of fun for children and families! Climb on a ship, hide in a treehouse, construct a building, invent a flying machine, dam up a river, drive a fire truck, make art to take home and so much more. There’s always something new and exciting to discover at Chicago Children’s Museum!
The Kids Museum Passport allows a family of four (4) general admission during regular public hours. Groups must include at least one child under 18 for the pass to be valid. A maximum of two (2) adults are admitted with the pass.
Library books to extend your visit:
Around-the-World Art and Activities
By Judy Press, illustrated by Betsy Day
Williamson, 2001 (All ages)
A Cool Drink of Water
By Barbara Kerley
National Geographic, 2002 (Ages 4-8)
Insectlopedia
By Douglas Florian
Harcourt Brace, 1998 (Ages 7-12)
The Milestones Project: Celebrating Childhood Around the World
Photographs by Richard Steckel and Michele Steckel
Tricycle, 2004 (All ages)
The Skin You Live In
By Michael Tyler, illustrated by David Lee Csicsko
Chicago Children’s Museum, 2005 (Ages 3-8)
There’s A Big, Beautiful World Out There!
By Nancy Carlson
Viking, 2002 (Ages 3-5)
To Be a Kid
By Maya Ajmera
Charlesbridge, 1999 (All ages)
Wake Up, World!: A Day in the Life of Children Around the World
By Beatrice Hollyer
Henry Holt, 1999 (Ages 5-8)
We All Sing With the Same Voice
By J. Philip Miller and Sheppard M. Greene, illustrated by Paul Meisel
HarperCollins, 2001 (Ages 4-8)
You and Me Together: Moms, Dads and Kids Around the World
By Barbara Kerley
National Geographic, 2005 (All ages)
Chicago History Museum
1601 N. Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60614
(312) 642-4600
Closed: Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day
Learn everything you ever wanted to know about the city’s vast and colorful history. Immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of the city’s past. Climb aboard the first ‘L’ car. Imagine what the city was like during the Great Chicago Fire. Check out Chicago sports memorabilia. Listen to jazz and blues from legendary Chicago clubs. From the moment you step in the door, take in Chicago’s rich, colorful culture through the museum’s vast collection of memorable treasures. Permanent galleries and special exhibitions, plus exciting events and programs, invite people of all ages to experience Chicago’s rich past, better understand its present and envision a new urban future.
The Kids Museum Passport allows a family of four (4) general admission during regular public hours. Groups must include at least one child under 18 for the pass to be valid. A maximum of two (2) adults are admitted with the pass.
Library books to extend your visit:
1, 2, 3 Chicago: A Cool Counting Book
By Puck, illustrated by Kevin Somers
Duo, 2009 (Ages 1-4)
ABC History Mystery: A Chicago Historical Society Alphabet
Edited by Gwen Ihnat
Chicago Historical Society, 2000 (Ages 3-8)
ABC in Chicago: 110 Original Photographs and Over 150 Vocabulary-Building Chicago Words
By Robin Segal
Murray Hill, 2007 (Ages 4-8)
Chicago 101
By Brad M. Epstein
Michaelson Entertainment, 2009 (Ages 1-5)
Chicago History for Kids: Triumphs and Tragedies of the Windy City, Includes 21 Activities
By Owen Hurd
Chicago Review Press, 2007 (Ages 8-12)
Creepy Chicago
By Ursula Bielski, illustrated by Amy Noble
Lake Claremont, 2003 (Ages 8-12)
The Great Fire
By Jim Murphy
Scholastic, 1995 (Ages 9-12)
Our Abe Lincoln
By Jim Aylesworth, illustrated by Barbara McClintock
Scholastic, 2009 (Ages 5-8)
Shoeless Joe and Me: A Baseball Card Adventure
By Dan Gutman
HarperCollins, 2002 (Ages 8-12)
Surviving the Great Chicago Fire
By Jo Cleland, illustrated by Pete McDonnell
Rourke, 2010 (Ages 9-12)
A Wreath for Emmett Till
By Marilyn Nelson, illustrated by Philippe Lardy
Houghton Mifflin, 2005 (Ages 12 and up)
DuSable Museum of African American History
740 E. 56th Place
Chicago, IL 60637
(773) 947-0600
Closed: Mondays, Easter, July Fourth, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day
Visit the nation’s oldest museum dedicated to the history and culture of Africans and African Americans. Visitors can view beautiful carvings, textiles and other artifacts from various parts of Africa. Hear echoes of America’s past while gazing at photographs, documents and other memorabilia chronicling the progress from slavery, through the harsh days of segregation and into the ongoing struggle for freedom and equality. Find out about prominent African Americans who have added to the richness of Chicago’s diverse culture, through business, education, aviation and social action.
The Kids Museum Passport allows a family of four (4) general admission during regular public hours. Groups must include at least one child under 18 for the pass to be valid. A maximum of two (2) adults are admitted with the pass.
Passes will not be honored on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day or DuSable Day.
Library books to extend your visit:
Africa for Kids: Exploring a Vibrant Continent, 19 Activities
By Harvey Croze
Chicago Review Press, 2006 (Ages 9-12)
Freedom Song: Young Voices and the Struggle for Civil Rights
By Mary C. Turck
Chicago Review Press, 2009 (Ages 12 and up)
Harold Washington: Mayor With A Vision
By Naurice Roberts
Childrens, 1988 (Ages 8-10)
Jean Baptiste DuSable
By LaVerne C. Johnson, illustrated by Craig Rex Perry
Empak Enterprises, 1992 (Ages 9-12)
A Kid’s Guide to African American History
By Nancy I. Sanders
Chicago Review Press, 2000 (Ages 6-12)
Marching for Freedom: Walk Together, Children, and Don’t You Grow Weary
By Elizabeth Partridge
Viking, 2009 (Ages 10 and up)
Michelle Obama: An American Story
By David Colbert
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2009 (Ages 9-14)
The Rock and the River
By Kekla Magoon
Aladdin, 2009 (Ages 12 and up)
We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball
By Kadir Nelson
Jump at the Sun/Hyperion, 2008 (Ages 8-14)
Yes We Can! A Salute to Children from President Obama’s Victory Speech
Scholastic, 2009 (All ages)
The Field Museum
1400 S. Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60605
(312) 922-9410
Closed: Christmas
Come face-to-face with Sue, the largest and most complete T. rex ever found. Then unwrap the secrets of ancient mummies, marvel at the man-eating lions of Tsavo or travel among the people of Africa.
The Kids Museum Passport allows a family of four (4) general admission during regular public hours. Groups must include at least one child under 18 for the pass to be valid. A maximum of two (2) adults are admitted with the pass.
Special exhibitions and 3-D films are available for an additional fee and require a timed-entry ticket. Guests between the ages of 3 and 11 qualify for child rates.
Library books to extend your visit:
Around-the-World Art and Activities: Visiting the 7 Continents Through Craft Fun
By Judy Press, illustrated by Betsy Day
Williamson, 2001 (All ages)
Arrow to the Sun, A Pueblo Indian Tale
By Gerald McDermott
Puffin Books, 1974 (Ages 6-10)
Dinosaurs, Dinosaurs
By Byron Barton
Harper Trophy, 1989 (Ages 3-6)
Dinosaurs in Your Backyard: The Coolest, Scariest Creatures Ever Found in the USA!
By Hugh Brewster, illustrated by Alan Barnard
Abrams, 2009 (Ages 7-10)
A Dinosaur Named Sue
By Pat Relf with the SUE Science Team of the Field Museum
Scholastic, 2000 (Ages 9-12)
Egyptology: Search for the Tomb of Osiris (Being the Journal of Miss Emily Sands, November 1926)
By Emily Sands, illustrated by Ian Andrew, Nick Harris and Helen Ward
Candlewick, 2004 (Ages 8-12)
Eyewitness Crystal and Gem
By R.F. Symes and R.R. Harding, special photography by Colin Keates
DK, 2004 (Ages 9-12)
The Field Mouse and the Dinosaur Named Sue
By Jan Wahl, illustrated by Bob Doucet
Scholastic, 2000 (Ages 4-8)
The Hunter: A Chinese Folktale
Retold by Mary Casanova, illustrated by Ed Young
Atheneum, 2000 (Ages 4-8)
Mummies: The Newest, Coolest and Creepiest from Around the World
By Shelley Tanaka, with Paul Bahn
Abrams, 2005 (Ages 5-12)
A Pride of African Tales
By Donna L. Washington, illustrated by James Ransome
HarperCollins, 2004 (Ages 6-10)
Rocks and Fossils
By Chris Pellant
Kingfisher, 2003 (Ages 5-10)
Institute of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture
3015 W. Division Street
Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 486-8345
Closed: Sundays and Mondays, Martin Luther King Day, Memorial Day, July Fourth, Labor Day, Thanksgiving (Thursday and Friday), Christmas Eve, Christmas, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day
Located in the historic Humboldt Park Stables and Receptory in the heart of the Puerto Rican community, the Institute of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture is the nation’s only museum devoted solely to the promotion, integration and advancement of Puerto Rican art and culture. IPRAC is about the past, present and future. It provides a one-of-a-kind showcase for the vast array of traditional and contemporary arts. IPRAC is a cultural center for all people to learn and appreciate the Puerto Rican experience both in the United States and on the island.
The Kids Museum Passport entitles cardholder and family (maximum 4 people) to VIP admission for all museum exhibitions (must be accompanied by one adult), one guided tour (reservation must be made in advance) and a 10 percent discount at the museum store. Admission to the Institute of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture is always free.
Library books to extend your visit:
Clemente!
By Willie Perdomo
Henry Holt and Co., 2010 (Ages 6-11)
El Lorito Pelón
By Hilda Perera
Lectorum Publications, 2009 (Ages 4-7)
The Golden Flower: A Taino Myth from Puerto Rico
By Nina Jaffe
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 1996 (Ages 4-8)
La Gran Sorpresa de Museo
By María del Rocío Costa
Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, 2006 (Ages 5 and up)
Grandma’s Gift
By Eric Velasquez
Walker Childrens, 2010 (Ages 4-8)
Grandma’s Records
By Eric Velasquez
Walker & Co., 2004 (Ages 4-8)
Puerto Rico
By Darlene R. Stille
Children’s Press, 2007 (Ages 10-13)
Puerto Rico in American History
By Richard Worth
Enslow Publishers, 2007 (Ages 10-13)
Rafi and Rosi: Carnival
By Lulu Delacre
Rayo, 2006 (Ages 4-8)
The Song of el Coquí and Other Tales of Puerto Rico
By Nicholasa Mohr and Antonio Martorell
Viking, 1995 (Ages 6-9)
There’s a Billy Goat in the Garden: Based on a Puerto Rican Folk Tale
By Laurel Dee Gugler
Barefoot Books, 2003 (Ages 3-7)
Lincoln Park Zoo
Cannon Drive at Fullerton Parkway
Chicago, IL 60614
(312) 742-2000
Free and open every day of the year
A world of wildlife just minutes from downtown Chicago, Lincoln Park Zoo offers unforgettable animals in a state-of-the-art setting. As lions roar, chimpanzees climb and red wolves howl, guests experience nature and conservation through a green oasis that is free and open every day of the year.
The Kids Museum Passport entitles cardholder and family (maximum of 4 people) to a 10 percent discount on food and retail purchases. Admission to Lincoln Park Zoo is always free. Groups must include at least one child under 18 for the pass to be valid and a maximum of two (2) adults.
Library books to extend your visit:
African Acrostics: A Word in Edgewise
By Avis Harley, photographs by Deborah Noyes
Candlewick, 2009 (Ages 9-12)
Animal Dads
By Sneed Collard III, illustrated by Steve Jenkins
Houghton Mifflin, 1997 (Ages 4-7)
Good Night, Zoo
By Adam Gamble, illustrated by Cooper Kelly
Our World of Books, 2007 (Ages 1-5)
Little Beauty
By Anthony Browne
Candlewick, 2008 (Ages 4-8)
Marimba! Animales from A to Z
By Pat Mora, illustrated by Doug Cushman
Clarion, 2006 (Ages 4-8)
Me and My Animal Friends
By Ralph Covert, illustrated by Laurie Keller
Henry Holt, 2009 (Ages 4-8)
Safe, Warm and Snug
By Stephen Swinburne, illustrated by Jose Aruego and Ariane Dewey
Harcourt, 1999 (Ages 4-8)
Welcome to the Zoo
By Allison Jay
Dial, 2008 (Ages 4-7)
What Do You Do With a Tail Like This?
By Steve Jenkins and Robin Page
Houghton Mifflin, 2003 (Ages 5-9)
Who Works at the Zoo?
By Alyse Sweeney
Children’s Press, 2007 (Ages 4-9)
Museum of Contemporary Art
220 E. Chicago Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 280-2660
Closed: Mondays, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day
MCA Chicago is a multidisciplinary, artist-activated, audience-engaged museum for producing art, ideas, community and conversation around the creative process. The MCA documents contemporary visual culture through painting, sculpture, photography, film and video. The museum’s performing arts program, MCA Stage, features leading performers from around the world in its 300-seat theater. The MCA also features a gift store, a restaurant and a terraced sculpture garden with a view of Lake Michigan.
The Kids Museum Passport allows a family of four (4) general admission during regular public hours. Groups must include at least one child under 18 for the pass to be valid. A maximum of two (2) adults are admitted with the pass.
Library books to extend your visit:
600 Black Spots
By David Carter
Little Simon, 2007 (Ages 3 and up)
ABC POP!
By Rachel Isadora
Viking, 1999 (Ages 3-8)
Art Attack: A Short Cultural History of the Avant-Garde
By Marc Aronson
Clarion, 1998 (Ages 11 and up)
The Calder Game
By Blue Balliett, illustrated by Brett Helquist
Scholastic, 2008 (Ages 9-12)
Gizmo
By Barry Varela, illustrated by Ed Briant
Roaring Brook, 2007 (Ages 5-9)
Kids’ Art Works!: Creating with Color, Design, Texture and More
By Sandi Henry, illustrated by Norma Jean Martin-Jourdenais
Williamson, 1999 (All ages)
Make it!
By Jane Bull
DK, 2008 (Ages 6-10)
Modern Art (Off the Wall Museum Guide for Kids)
By Ruthie Knapp and Janice Lehmberg
Davis, 2000 (Ages 7-10)
Pick Me Up
By Simon Adams, et al.
DK, 2006 (Ages 9-12)
Sandy’s Circus: A Story About Alexander Calder
By Tanya Lee Stone, illustrated by Boris Kulikov
Viking, 2008 (Ages 5-10)
The Sculptor’s Eye: Looking at Contemporary American Art
By Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan
Delacorte, 1993 (Ages 12 and up)
Museum of Science and Industry
5700 S. Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60637
(773) 684-1414
Closed: Thanksgiving and Christmas
With nearly 14 acres of science fun under one roof, your first question might be: Where should we start? “Diving” into a real German submarine captured during World War II? Controlling the dynamics of a 40-foot air vortex? Watching lightning crackle from a giant Tesla coil? Seeing your heart beat 13 feet tall? Witnessing a baby chick’s first steps? Watching live science demonstrations? Do all of this and more at the Museum of Science and Industry, the largest science museum in the Western Hemisphere.
The Kids Museum Passport allows a family of four (4) museum entry during regular public hours. Groups must include at least one child under 18 for the pass to be valid. A maximum of two (2) adults are admitted with the pass.
The Omnimax®, U-505 on-board tour, Coal Mine, special exhibitions, tours and ticket packages are available for an additional fee and require a timed-entry ticket. Guests between the ages of 3 and 11 qualify for child rates.
Library books to extend your visit:
Cool Stuff Exploded: Get Inside Modern Technology
By Chris Woodford
DK, 2008 (Ages 9-12)
The Human Machine: An Owner’s Guide to the Body
By Richard Walker
Oxford University, 2008 (Ages 10-13)
The Miner’s Daughter
By Gretchen Moran Laskas
Simon & Schuster, 2007 (Ages 10-14)
The New Way Things Work
By David Macaulay with Neil Ardley
Houghton Mifflin, 1998 (Ages 7-12)
Our Farm: Four Seasons With Five Kids On One Family’s Farm
By Michael J. Rosen
Darby Creek, 2008 (Ages 8-12)
Robots
By Clive Gifford, illustrated by Frank Picini
Atheneum, 2008 (Ages 7-12)
Science on the Loose: Amazing Activities and Science Facts You’ll Never Believe
By Helaine Becker, illustrated by Claudia Dávila
Maple Tree Press, 2008 (Ages 9-12)
Steam Locomotives: Whistling, Chugging, Smoking Iron Horses of the Past
By Karl Zimmermann
Boyds Mills, 2004 (Ages 9-12)
Submarines and Ships
By Richard Humble
Viking, 1997 (Ages 9-12)
Where Do Chicks Come From?
By Amy E. Sklansky, illustrated by Pam Paparone
HarperCollins, 2005 (Ages 5-8)
National Museum of Mexican Art
1852 W. 19th Street
Chicago, IL 60608
(312) 738-1503
Closed: Mondays; Martin Luther King Day, Memorial Day, July Fourth, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day
Bilingual materials available
Experience the arts of Mexico and the Mexican communities of the United States at the Midwest’s first and the nation’s largest Mexican museum. View critically acclaimed exhibitions of Mexican art, including Mexicanidad: Our Past Is Present and other exhibits ranging in theme from the traditional to the avant-garde.
The Kids Museum Passport is valid for a maximum of four (4) VIP admission tickets for all museum exhibition previews (must be accompanied by one adult), one guided tour (reservation made in advance of visit) and a 20 percent discount at the museum store. Admission to the National Museum of Mexican Art is always free.
Library books to extend your visit:
ABeCedarios: Mexican Folk Art ABCs in English and Spanish
By Cynthia Weill and K.B. Basseches, illustrated by Moisés and Armando Jiménez
Cinco Puntos, 2007 (Ages 5-8)
Clara and Señor Frog
By Campbell Geeslin, illustrated by Ryan Sanchez
Schwartz & Wade, 2007 (Ages 4-8)
Day of the Dead
By Tony Johnston, illustrated by Jeanette Winter
Harcourt, 1997 (Ages 8-12)
Frida
By Jonah Winter, illustrated by Ana Juan
Arthur A. Levine, 2002 (Ages 4-10)
Horse Hooves and Chicken Feet: Mexican Folktales
Selected by Neil Philip, illustrated by Jacqueline Mair
Clarion, 2003 (Ages 8-12)
A Kid’s Guide to Latino History: More Than 70 Activities
By Valerie Petrillo
Chicago Review Press, 2009 (Ages 8-12)
Magic Windows: Cut-Paper Art and Stories/Ventanas Mágicas: Papel Picado y Relatos
By Carmen Lomas Garza
Children’s Press, 1999 (Ages 6-12)
Mexican Art & Culture
By Elizabeth Lewis
Raintree, 2004 (Ages 12 and up)
Paper Crafts for Day of the Dead
By Randel McGee
Enslow, 2008 (Ages 6-10)
Secrets of Ancient Cultures. The Maya: Activities and Crafts from a Mysterious Land
By Arlette N. Braman, illustrated by Michele Nidenoff
J. Wiley, 2004 (Ages 9-12)
The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
2430 N. Cannon Drive
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 755-5100
Closed: First Friday in May, Thanksgiving and Christmas
Connect with the wonders of the outside world at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum! Marvel at over a thousand butterflies in the Judy Istock Butterfly Haven, splash around in the interactive water exhibit River Works, play your way through a farm and learn about the life cycle of food in Nature’s LunchBox. Every day our visitors can take part in butterfly releases, critter connections and animal feedings that will inspire a sense of wonder. The museum also offers many public programs aimed at connecting urban dwellers to the natural world. The museum has 11 permanent and three rotating exhibits, all in the heart of Lincoln Park. Spend an hour or a day, and find out why the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum really is the urban gateway to nature and science!
The Kids Museum Passport allows a family of four (4) general admission during regular public hours. Groups must include at least one child under 18 for the pass to be valid. A maximum of two (2) adults are admitted with the pass.
Library books to extend your visit:
A Butterfly Is Patient
By Dianna Hutts Aston
Chronicle Books, 2011 (Ages 5 and up)
A Child’s Introduction to the Environment: The Air, Earth and Sea Around Us – Plus Experiments, Projects and Activities You Can Do To Help Our Planet!
By Michael Driscoll and Dennis Driscoll, illustrated by Meredith Hamilton
Black Dog & Leventhal, 2008 (Ages 7-12)
The Nature of Chicago: A Comprehensive Guide to Natural Sites in and Around the City
By Isabel S. Abrams
Chicago Review Press, 1997 (Ages 10 and up)
Backyard Bird Watching for Kids: How to Attract, Feed and Provide Homes for Birds
By George H. Harrison
Willow Creek, 1997 (Ages 8-14)
Illinois Plants and Animals
By Andrew Santella
Heinemann/Raintree, 2008 (All ages)
Living Sunlight: How Plants Bring the Earth to Life
By Molly Bang and Penny Chisolm, illustrated by Molly Bang
Blue Sky, 2009 (Ages 5-9)
Nic Bishop Butterflies and Moths
By Nic Bishop
Scholastic, 2009 (Ages 4-8)
Organic Crafts: Earth-Friendly Art Activities for Ages 3-9
By Kimberly Monaghan
Chicago Review Press, 2007 (Ages 3-9)
The Prairie Builders: Reconstructing America’s Lost Grasslands
By Sneed B. Collard III
Houghton Mifflin, 2005 (Ages 8-12)
Song of the Water Boatman and Other Pond Poems
By Joyce Sidman, illustrated by Beckie Prange
Houghton Mifflin, 2005 (Ages 5-10)
Spiders
By Nic Bishop
Scholastic, 2007 (Ages 7-10)
Waiting for Wings
By Lois Elhert
Harcourt, 2001 (Ages 3-6)
Shedd Aquarium
1200 S. Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60605
(312) 939-2438
Closed: Christmas
Strap a mask and flippers onto your imagination and chart a course to Shedd Aquarium. Have you ever gotten eye-to-eye with a dolphin? Or met a penguin on a stroll to the South Pole? Or immersed yourself in an Amazon flooded forest? At Shedd, it’s all possible.
The Kids Museum Passport allows a family of four (4) general admission during regular public hours. Groups must include at least one child under 18 for the pass to be valid. A maximum of two (2) adults are admitted with the pass.
The Abbott Oceanarium, Polar Play Zone, Wild Reef, special exhibits, 4-D Experience and aquatic show are available for an additional fee. Guests between the ages of 3 and 11 qualify for child rates.
Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Library books to extend your visit:
About Fish: A Guide for Children
By Cathryn P. Sill, illustrated by John Sill
Peachtree, 2002 (Ages 2-6)
The Aquarium/El acuario
By Jacqueline Laks Gorman
Weekly Reader Early Learning, 2005 (Ages 5-8)
Awesome Ocean Science! Investigating the Secrets of the Underwater World
By Cindy A. Littlefield, illustrated by Sarah Rakitin
Williamson, 2003 (Ages 8-12)
Crafts for Kids Who Are Wild About Oceans
By Kathy Ross, illustrated by Sharon Lane Holm
Milbrook, 1998 (All ages)
Down, Down, Down: A Journey to the Bottom of the Sea
By Steve Jenkins
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2009 (Ages 6-12)
A House for Hermit Crab
By Eric Carle
Aladdin, 2002 (Ages 5-8)
Mister Seahorse
By Eric Carle
Philomel, 2004 (Ages 3-8)
Otters Under Water
By Jim Arnosky
Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers, 1999 (Ages 3-6)
Penguins!
By Anne Schreiber
National Geographic, 2009 (Ages 6-10)
Shark Life
By Peter Benchley, adapted for young people by Karen Wojtyla
Delacorte, 2005 (Ages 10-14)
Whaling Season: A Year in the Life of an Arctic Whale Scientist
By Peter Lourie
Houghton Mifflin, 2009 (Ages 9-12)
Wild About Dolphins
By Nicola Davies
Candlewick, 2001 (Ages 8-11)
Chicago’s world-class museums and zoos are really working hard for the Chicagoland area and for you. In addition to offering engaging and fun experiences, Chicago museums and zoos are education centers, with some of the most unique collections in the world. They inspire people of all ages to learn about and appreciate science, art, history, wildlife and nature. But they do even more. Chicago’s 15 top museums and zoos are also key economic engines, generating more than $1 billion in economic impact in Illinois annually. Chicago museums and zoos are the reason hundreds of thousands of tourists each year make the Windy City their destination.
A few more great books about museums:
Behind the Museum Door: Poems to Celebrate the Wonders of Museums
Selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins, illustrated by Stacey Dressen-McQueen
Abrams, 2007 (Ages 7-12)
Fancy Nancy at the Museum
By Jane O’Connor, illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser and Ted Enik
HarperCollins, 2008 (Ages 4-8)
Maisy Goes to the Museum
By Lucy Cousins
Candlewick, 2008 (Ages 4-6)
Mrs. Brown on Exhibit and Other Museum Poems
By Susan Katz, illustrated by R.W. Alley
Simon & Schuster, 2002 (Ages 6-10)
The Museum Book: A Guide to Strange and Wonderful Collections
By Jan Mark, illustrated by Richard Holland
Candlewick, 2007 (Ages 8-12)
Museum Trip
By Barbara Lehman
Houghton Mifflin, 2006 (Ages 4-9)