When you and your little ones need some downtime from summer sun and fun, story time may be just the thing. There are indoor and outdoor story times all over the Boston area, almost every day of the week throughout the summer. So, drop in to one of these free story hours we’ve rounded up for you – then sit back, relax, and enjoy listening to someone else read to your child for a change. 

We've got news both good (a new Staten Island carousel!) and bad (the demise of Bowlmor Union Square) to share today. But we may be most excited about the new baby at the New York Aquarium! (Once you see the pic, you won't be able to stop "awww-ing.") Plus, help NYC kids in need by donating school supplies to Operation Backpack, be part of a massive Times Square multimedia art installation, the downtown Lego Store needs more time to assemble and Brooklyn has an intriguing new museum dedicated to death. (What? Like you'd expect such a museum in any other borough?)

Who doesn’t love pizza? It’s tasty, easily accessible and comes in varieties that’ll satisfy the pickiest palates. Pizza night at your favorite pizzeria makes for a fun and inexpensive family outing. With tomato sauce and perhaps a veggie topping, you can even count it as somewhat nutritious (I do). The following are family-friendly pizza joints in Central New Jersey. Aside from yummy pies, these places offer child-friendly options like kid portions, quick service or gimmicky fun, without noise being a factor. Grab a slice and enjoy!

Back in December, we posted about the best pediatric ERs in Manhattan since the holidays are an accident-prone period. But as we noted at the time, you really never know when a medical crisis may strike—after all, by definition, an emergency is unexpected. So whether it's a sledding mishap in winter or falling out of a tree in summer, it's important to know where to find a pediatric ER near you year-round.

While there are eight of these special just-for-children emergency rooms in Manhattan, there are even more in the outer boroughs—so many in fact, we can't list every single one of them here. Instead, we picked the ones with excellent reputations or notable specialties. Of course our hope is that you will never need the information in this post. However, if your child does have an accident and a Band-Aid and icepack won't cut it, here are the best pediatric ERs in Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island.

Summer is a great time to catch up on reading, and not just because many local libraries gives out prizes. Whether your kids are nose-in-book types or the sort that require a little literary nudge, summer has plenty of room for playing your way through some great kids' books. Check out my time-tested list of vintage classics, modern classics, and recent best sellers that inspire fun activities beyond their pages—and at very little cost.  

Looking for more low-cost ideas for a summer of play? Mommy Poppins' 100 Summer Play Activities List is a great place to start.

The Fourth is over and we are deep into the middle of summer. Don’t let the doldrums take over. Los Angeles has culture and nature and many things that kids and grown-ups can enjoy together. Be sure to get to the Hollywood Bowl at least once; the Summer Sounds program designed for kids starts this week and runs through August 1. As temperatures rise, a little water play at the beach, in a pool or in the back yard with a hose will refresh and replenish. And in between all that splashing and dashing, make time for one or two of our picks for this wonderful week of summer.