Story Time

Fireflys, also called lightning bugs, appear for only a few weeks in the early summer to delight us with their luminous nighttime dance and light show. During this fun evening family adventure at Maudslay, learn about the life of a firefly and take a firefly walk led by the park interpreter. Bring a net or jar to catch fireflies, and learn how you can help with firefly monitoring. Comfortable walking shoes and bug spray are recommended.  Meet at the park headquarters on 74 Curzon Mill Road.

Daisy Nell, children's book author of Rocky at the Dockside and Stowaway Mouse, will read her stories and lead a sing-along with her husband and musical partner Captain Stan Collinson. This program is a free family event made possible by the Goldhirsh Foundation.

Children 2-5 and their parents, grandparents, or guardians are invited to play in our Children's Room. The children's room depicts Gloucester Harbor and includes 14 wooden buildings, 6 piers, 5 schooners, a dory, Ten Pound Island Lighthouse and various wooden people. Not surprisingly, a 3-5 year old can play in this room for hours.  One of our educators will also read a seafaring children's book during this weekly event. We hope you can join us.

Wenham Museum invites you to come in costume, as a monster, dragon or dinosaur and hear frightfully fun stories, create monster print art and play silly monster games. Explore Wenham Museum’s spring exhibits: 'Draw Me a Story: Paper Monsters' with Ed and Rebecca Emberley a display of lively monster art and 'Pop Goes the Book!' an exhibit of engaging pop-up books.  All Ages.

Come to Peabody Essex Museum and stop by for an interactive reading of The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore , followed by a showing of a short animated film based on the story. Afterwards, kids will learn how to create an animated flip book by making their own to take home!

Celebrate local author, illustrator and artist Virginia Lee Burton with story time, playing and art making in the Children's Activity Center. Burton authored and illustrated some of the most memorable books ever written for children, and won the 1942 Caldecott Medal for The Little House (Sandpiper Books) .

Join us as we share a children's nature story before we explore the woods, fields, and wetlands of the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary. Today: We'll read Beaver at Long Pond by William T. George & Lindsay Barrett George, and then take a walk to Rockery Pond to see a beaver lodge, dam, beaver chews, and scent mounds. As a group, we will build our own lodge.

Peabody Essex Museum hosts a weekend festival full of fun events and activities geared to make you experience life of medieval Europe. Using performances, demonstrations and hands on activities, families will learn about medieval life and the people who lived during that time in Europe.

Join us as we share a children's nature story before we explore the woods, fields, and wetlands of the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary. Today: We'll read A Log's Life by Wendy Pfeiffer, and discover that logs are their own little habitats. Using hand lenses and bug boxes, we will examine salamanders, fungi, and other log dwellers.