New York Public Library, Chatham Square Branch

The branch at the crossroads of Chinatown and the Lower East Side is home to a spacious, high-ceilinged second-floor children’s room and the largest collection of Chinese books for kids in the city. Young readers can choose from 15,000 volumes, including fiction, nonfiction, folktales and a slew of colorful picture books bound to appeal to even non–Chinese-speaking tots. The library’s calendar is filled with offerings for all ages: preschool reading and film series, storytime for toddlers, and, for bigger kids, read-aloud programs, video-game-equipped computers, Wii sessions and book talks on such subjects as historical fiction—plus special events like concerts, magic shows and Irish step-dancing.