Chicago’s Many Museums: Books for Kids

One of my favorite things about Chicago is all the museums. If you feel the same way, pick up one of these books featuring Chicago museums!

Want a picture book that’ll make you go “aww?"  Pup 681 tells the true story of Luna, a rescued sea otter pup who now lives at Shedd Aquarium.

I'm sure you've heard of SUE, the Field Museum's famous T. rex. But do you know about Sue Hendrickson, who found the fossil? The biography When Sue Found Sue is great for budding paleontologists!

Have you seen the incredible Thorne Miniature Rooms at the Art Institute of Chicago? Ever wished you could go inside those rooms? In The Sixty-eight Rooms, two friends discover a magic key that lets them do just that!

In The Ambrose Deception, three middle schoolers are recruited for a mysterious scavenger hunt through Chicago with a $10,000 prize. The hunt takes them to landmarks around the city, including some museums. But I won’t say which ones—that’s for you to figure out!

On top of these big, famous museums, Chicago has lots of cool smaller museums. I like the Robie House, built by Frank Lloyd Wright. In The Wright 3, three kids try to save the house from destruction, even as mysterious things start to happen. As a former resident of Hyde Park, I love how many details about the neighborhood are in this book. 

If reading about these museums makes you want to visit, check out one of our Kids Museum Passports, or take a look at our monthly news post listing Illinois resident discount days.

What's your favorite Chicago museum?