We took our grandkids, Katrina age 6 and Peyton age 3, to see the Alice in Wonderland exhibit at the Chicago Children's Museum. This is the traveling exhibit created by the Children's Discovery Museum in San Jose, California. It is marketed as a chance for children to travel through Wonderland and see what Alice saw, and it did not disappoint. The kids loved it, although they didn't necessarily understand it all. The exhibit is highly interactive and they enjoyed the kinetic aspect of rolling balls down the flamingo's head, spinning the kinetoscope, pushing buttons, pouring tea at the mad teaparty, and looking through slots and keyholes in the hall of doors. It took me two full days to recuperate.

Peyton really enjoyed meeting Alice. Although Alice did her very best to explain to Peyton what the various stations were all about, Peyton just wanted to drag her from one thing to another at breakneck speed. I think Peyton will make a great Red Queen one day, but that's another story. As you can see from the pictures, Alice did have some success at portraying the idea of growing tall in the growing mirrors. I must say Alice was a great sport about her adventure with Peyton in Wonderland.

Joel Birenbaum
September 30, 2006

I took bunches of pictures, but the kids wouldn't stay still long enough to get many good ones.