Children's Center at 42nd Street

The first new children's room in the main branch in 30-plus years opened in 2008 in response to the closing of the city's main children's library, midtown's Donnell Library Center. Informally divided into fiction, nonfiction and picture-book sections, the space is like a big living room; the capacious carpeted spot on the western end is used for storytelling. Kids big and small also get a kick out of the Pooh room, wallpapered with renderings of the Hundred Acre Wood. Inside, you'll find a glass case containing Christopher Robin Milne's vintage stuffed animals, the inspiration behind his dad's Winnie the Pooh books. The library has a good selection of those, too. Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, Fifth Ave at 42nd St, ground floor, room 84 (212-621-0208, nypl.org).