Search for gnomes in the Children's Garden using your best "I Spy" skills. Checklist provided.

From superheroes to undersea adventures, princesses to dinosaurs, Storytown takes children on an interactive, improvised adventure. The actors use kids' suggestions and ideas to create a different story each week. Kids design the setting and help shapes the story. Runs through the end of February 2013, then moves to Stage 773 in Chicago.

Stanley Lambchop wants to travel the world to escape his ordinary life. One night, a bulletin board falls right on top of Stanley and he wakes up really flat. Recommended for kids 3-10.

The Storybook Mom, Nili Yelin, reads to families and teaches the adults storytelling techniques to help promote literacy at home. Free snacks and book giveaway at the end of each session. Register at www.companies-that-care.org/tt-story-time.org.

Interactive learning centers include a barn slide, apple orchard and chicken coop. Maggie, a life-sized fiberglass milking cow sponsored by Golden Oaks Farm in Wauconda, will be the focus of the new exhibit. Maggie is over five feet tall and features a working udder that recirculates the water that children "milk."