Ever since my mom read me James and the Giant Peach, I’ve been a fan of Roald Dahl. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Witches, Matilda, I loved his fantastical stories and dark humor, which were so different than the happy, candy-colored kid lit I was used to.

Although he died more than 20 years ago, Dahl’s sensibility seems amazingly contemporary, which is why his children’s books endure today. But did you know that he also wrote poems, many of them skewed takes on old-fashioned fairy tales?

I admit that I didn’t. But I do now thanks to Revolting Rhymes, a new 45-minute musical being mounted by Atlantic for Kids. Find out why this show will make you laugh—perhaps even more than your kids.

We’ve been very busy here at Mommy Poppins, birthing new sites for families in Long Island, New Jersey and Connecticut, while still keeping up with all the cool things going on in New York City. We know you’re busy too, and may not have the time to visit multiple sites. So for your convenience, we’re compiling links to our best weekly posts into yet another post. Yes, we do see the irony in that. But we really don’t want you to miss a thing. There’s so much to do all over the tri-state area!

From special Easter train rides in New Jersey to egg hunts on Long Island (yes, already) to a roundup of spring festivals in NYC, here are the highlights from the world of Mommy Poppins.

Spring is in the air... literally! Apparently Mr. Robin Redbreast and his feathered friends are migrating back to NJ and Newark Museum and the Van Vleck House & Gardens are celebrating with bird-themed events. This weekend also marks the seasonal opening (with lots of fanfare) of historical sites like Cooper Gristmill, Fosterfields Living Historical Farm, Historic Speedwell, and Updike Farmstead. Even the NJ Aviation Hall of Fame is opening up the cockpits of its planes in celebration of Spring!

This week marks the beginning of the month of April and we’ve got plenty of events for you and your family to start it off with a bang! From a party with Beauty and the Beast, to a breakfast with Dora, Diego, Spongebob and other Nickelodeon characters. And if you are ready for some outdoor fun, the Easter Egg Hunts have begun! Have a great weekend!

It's the first weekend of April, which means a lot of museums are offering free admission hours. At the New Museum's First Saturdays for Families, you can celebrate springtime by exploring the exhibit Blooming Flowers. Head to the Brooklyn Museum on Saturday evening to check out the Norman Rockwell exhibit and related activities. How much will all this culture cost you? Not even a penny.

Theater abounds this weekend in NYC. Take the kids to see Dorothy and Toto live on stage in The Wizard of Oz on Sunday at Staten Island's St. George Theatre. Or catch the first performance of the Atlantic Theater Company for Kids' brand-new musical Revolting Rhymes, a blend of songs and puppets that bring the poems of Roald Dahl to life. The Brooklyn Library’s Dweck Center is also hosting a free musical version of Cinderella.

Signs of spring are all around town: Parks and gardens are bursting with buds, and so is Macy’s thanks to the store's annual Flower Show). There are adorable baby goats at the Central Park Zoo, and parents are busy researching spring break camps for their kids.

Our best bets for a fun weekend are below, but be sure to visit the Mommy Poppins Events Calendar, too.  It's full of storytimes, theater, live music and more for this weekend and beyond.

It’s not just gardens that are blooming this season. NYC’s family theater scene is bursting with new, colorful stage productions. As a total theater geek who grew up going to Broadway spectacles (back when regular folk could afford to do that on a regular basis), I love taking my daughter to shows. Luckily in this town, the Great White Way isn’t the only option. There’s a ton of amazing Off-Off Broadway offerings for young audiences—and you don’t have to be a millionaire to afford the tickets.

While some shows play for a while, there are lots of worthwhile one-offs that come into town to play for a day, and then move on to another city. So be sure to look carefully at the dates when checking our recommendations.

From fractured fairy tales to page-to-stage adaptations of classic kid-lit to circus feats to cool original musicals, here are 11 shows to take your kids to this spring.

The first thing you need to know about Mile Square Theater in Hoboken is that it is NOT a community theater. Not that we have anything against community theaters, per se, but when you are a professional Equity house with conservatory-trained actors and beautifully-conceived sets and costumes by Broadway and off-Broadway designers, you’d like your potential public to know that you’re not a church group butchering “Hello Dolly!”

For many kids, a ride on the Staten Island Ferry is a fun activity in itself. (That's why it's No. 69 on our list of 100 Things to Do With Your Kids in NY Before They Grow Up!) The 5.2-mile, 25-minute nautical jaunt offers crisp air, a great view of Lady Liberty and the thrill of moving on the water—all for free.

Once you're off the boat, you could go further inland to hit the Snug Harbor Cultural Center (there are some gorgeous flowers blooming there right now). But you don’t need to take a bus or train to get a taste of the borough. There's plenty of fun to be had within earshot of the ferry horn.

Here are my kid-tested suggestions for a day trip to St. George, Staten Island. With the amazing St. George Day Festival coming up on Saturday, April 21, you'll want to make a note of these!