2011 November

Chicago Parent & ALEX Toys are sponsoring an afternoon of fun and entertainment at the Wonder! store in Deerfield, Sunday Dec. 4, 12-3 p.m.

Chicago is a diverse city, with many people speaking languages that their children's teachers don't understand. The awkward solution is that kids end up translating meetings about their own performance. Linda Lutton at WBEZ ran a story this week on a program in Little Village that fits student translators with parents and teachers who need them. She graciously gave Chicago Parent permission to post her story.

Ah, the beautiful mannequins representing The Nutcracker Ballet. Wait, they're moving. Wait, they're dancing. Wait, they're dancing The Nutracker! In the display windows!

Waiting for the NBA to start playing? Spend some time this month in the family-friendly confines of the Chicago Steam.

Meredith Sinclair took her youngest to experience the magic of this perennial holiday favorite.

The Field Museum has more than 200 scientists - who work both in Chicago and around the world. This new exhibit shows how they're trying to impact everything from bird deaths in Chicago to conservation in Madagascar.

Chicago Parent met up with Next Big Thing finalist Shealeigh at the Radio Disney Concert the weekend before Thanksgiving. When Emma and Grace DeCarlo (15 and 13, respectively) talked to her, there were still three people in the running. On Friday, it was announced that Shealeigh and Zack Montana were the final two. Here's our talk with the very exhuberant performer.

A new baby girl western lowland gorilla born at the Lincoln Park Zoo on Nov. 16 was found dead in its mother's arms Friday morning.

Sing, laugh at the Cat in the Hat, learn Spanish and much more with these NAPPA award-winning DVDs. This slide show start with toys...

A new baby girl western lowland gorilla has come into the world - the first of this critically endangered species to be born at the zoo since 2005.