Eric Carle Museum, Amherst, MA

On the grounds of Hampshire college sits this unusual building with it's enormous windows and gnarled apple trees studding the lawn.
There are several areas inside to explore. The staff and volunteers at the museum are very friendly and knowledgeable.
In the art room, children are invited to do a project. They can also choose to color on a papered table. If they are not interested in, or too young for, the project, they can play with a variety of toys in an attractive play area.
In the library, board books, toys and puzzles are available for play. Thousands more picture books line the shelves.

The gallery has some great exhibits, but we usually skip it. It is best seen with a 1:1 child-parent ratio.
The cafeteria is a large sunny room equipped with high chairs. There is no longer any food served there, but there are several vending machines with drinks, snacks, and lunchy items from Atkins Farms. I'm sure the food is good, but it's also quite expensive.
The movie theatre is well appointed. We have seen a couple of shows there.
The gift shop looks lovely, but I've been telling my children for years that it is off-limits to children. I've never really looked around.
The outdoor space is beautiful and we always spend time out there when the weather is nice.
The restrooms are immaculate, cute, and each has a child size potty. Best restrooms ever.
Parking is copious, but there is no shade in the lot.

Eric Carle Museum

Granby Public Library, Granby, MA

I had a great first visit to this library today. The children's room is separated from the rest of the library, with the whole downstairs to itself. (The videos are located upstairs, which could be a boon or a burden. I found myself glad about it today, because the kids were more focused on books than DVDs). The restroom was clean and well equipped for children. There was a train table as well as another play table with plant and dinosaur legos. I browsed the parent - oriented books, such as crafts and activities. The selection was fantastic. There were lots of themed backpacked available to check out. Plenty of puzzles too. Two computers were set up, but I didn't bother checking whether they were library-catalogue only or had internet access.

The room is small and cramped, but has a well cared for and friendly feeling. A large table had coloring sheets and library information, but it was being used more as a work surface during my visit there. There was an adult sized chair that I sat in to nurse the baby, but in a small space it's hard to create true privacy.

When I checked out my books, on the main level, the children's librarian introduced herself and welcomed me to the library. All in all, a really nice small community library.

Granby Public Library

Odyssey Book Shop, South Hadley, MA

This is a fantastic bookstore and it does a lot for children. The children's book section itself is fun and well stocked. Additionally, the Odyssey hosts storytimes and in the summer, weekly saturday morning family entertainment.

I'll confess I don't go there often, I think I went to a reading by Jenny Boylan several years ago and haven't gotten back. I plan on returning soon, however. A local writer (and parent) named Samantha Wilde will be reading from her new, mommy-lit, novel at the Odyssey on June 25, 2009 - you can check out her website, linked below.

A South Hadley afternoon might include a visit to the Mt. Holyoke Conservatory, or the Art Museum. The Village Commons, where the Odyssey is located, is an interesting outdoor mall with businesses that include a delicious deli, movie theatres, and a few stores.

Odyssey Book Shop

Samantha Wilde

Hitchcock Center, Amherst, MA

Near the Larch Hill Reservation and the Bramble Hill Farm, this low brown building houses a gem of a nature center. Not only a great selection of books for browsing (borrowing if you are a member), but a live turle, goldfish, stick bugs, madagascar hissing cockroaches, millipedes, and more. Stuffed (as in, taxidermically) animals surround you, animal-themed puzzled, puppets and toys abound. There's a clean restroom there. It is a small space. The storytime at 11 on Tuesdays is fantastic and includes a nature walk. The walk is usually well under one mile and geared toward the group on any particular day. It is guided and the children are engaged in nature study- finding tracks, buds or birds' nests.
Hitchcock Center
Hitchcock Center History

Bramble Hill Farm

Barnes & Noble, Hadley, MA

The children's section is a mixed bag. Of course, it is filled with beautiful books. It is also filled with so many shelves that your toddler is out of sight the instant he lets go of your hand. It is also filled with toys in boxes that require close supervision so that toddlers don't rip open packages. It is moreover filled with stuffed animals begging to participate in elaborate reenactments of Diego in the middle of the floor where people are trying to walk.
I have only attended one storytime here, but the fact that it was a disaster had nothing to do with the location and everything to do with my day. The story area is a slightly raised stage and is surrounded by child sized tables and chairs. Very cute.
At the other end of the section is the second "play area."
The restrooms are clean and nice, but inconvenient to the kids' area.
The food is Starbucks, so good coffee and high prices.

Barnes & Noble

Clapp Memorial Library, Belchertown, MA

This is my local library. The building is charming, if controversial. The space is small, but the kids' area features a lego table, and my middle son knows exactly where the dinosaur aisle is. The librarians (ANNE, NANCY, GAIL AND MARY - THANK YOU!!!) at this library are the best ever, but again, it's my local library! Jennifer Whitehead, the children's librarian, creates and hosts wonderful programs for kids all year long. Storytimes from infant to school age children, music programs, science programs, and more. In coming years this quaint library may expand, which we are looking forward to. For now, the staff of the Clapp make this small space efficient, friendly, and one of the anchors of Belchertown's downtown and community.
We are obviously fans!

Clapp Memorial Library
Friends of the Clapp Memorial Library

Palmer Library, Palmer, MA

Located on the main drag in Palmer, this library has one of the most beautiful childrens' areas I've seen. There is ample space for kids of all ages, including a separate room filled with toys and art supplies. A toy train runs along a track in the ceiling (ask a librarian to turn it on for you). A large saltwater fish tank provides entertainment. There are several dozen computers, so that you can actually check your email while the kids play.

Palmer Library

Jones Library, Amherst, MA

The Jones is a wonderful library with a cozy and fun children's room. There is a story time on Thursday mornings at 10:30. Storytime is held in an adjacent room, which can be nice if you have several children and they can't all sit for a story. There is a very convenient restroom steps away from the main play area. It's very well equipped for changing diapers. This is the library of my childhood, so I admit bias.
In the basement of the building there is a large room for special events. One event I attended (travelling zoo) was so crowded we left. Another event (kids' pop band) was a lot of fun.
There are a few spaces on the street directly in front of the building, but you will probably end up parking in the lot across the street, at a meter. There is a crosswalk.

Jones Library