Kiddin' Around: Story time at Headhouse Books
Queen Village shop Headhouse Books invites kids for free readings of a dozen or so books every Friday.
The long: Queen Village bookshop straight outta "You've Got Mail" crams in kiddos and their caretakers to hang out, hear stories and maybe even stock up on Mo Willems and Paddington (along with wooden trains, French play food, Little Prince plush) in cozy, sky-lit setting, 11:15 a.m. Fridays, and, starting next week, 11:15 a.m. Wednesdays.
The short: When Miss Claire reads The Giving Tree, 15 fidgety toddlers actually pay attention.
The basics: Headhouse Books, 619 S. 2nd St., 11:15 a.m. Friday (and 11:15 a.m. Wednesdays, as of Feb. 18), free, 215-923-9525, headhousebooks.com.
The demo: Stay-at-home parents, nannies and their charges, ages 1 to 3.
The idea: A business catering to a neighborhood stocked with young families. Fancy that.
The vibe: Laid back, even when jam-packed. As usual, kids are better at not speaking to each other for 30 minutes than their grown-up counterparts.
The time: Lasts 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the kids' reactions.
Busiest times: Holidays and summer, when school-age children come along.
Popular books: Anything Dr. Seuss; The Day the Crayons Quit, by Drew Daywalt; and Oliver Jeffers.
New books: Little Elliot, Big City, by Mike Curato; Hug Machine, by Scott Campbell.
If you drive: On-street parking, two-hour and metered.
If you SEPTA: Bus routes 25, 40, 57.
Other options: Nearly every branch of the Free Library offers story time, too, some with music, some specifically tailored to babies, toddlers, preschoolers, etc. To find one near you, go to freelibrary. org, select "Events" and click on "storytime."