“After decades of sharing the magic of reading with young readers, I wanted to celebrate the joy of reading aloud in a whole new way— one that also highlights the amazing, kid-friendly fun our city has to offer!”

— Ellen Zweig, M.Ed., Creator of Ellen’s Story Adventures

Turn Storytime Into an NYC Adventure!

10 Magical Reading Guides That Bring Books to Life Across Manhattan

Created by a Harvard-trained educator, Ellen’s Story Adventures is a beautiful, boxed set of 10 original guides. Each one pairs a beloved children’s book with a New York City location — transforming reading time into joyful, real-world adventures.

Designed for families with children ages 4–7, these guides include fun, easy-to-follow activities that help build vocabulary, strengthen comprehension, and boost inference and critical thinking skills — all while deepening the magic of reading aloud together.

  • A refreshing break from screens

  • A new way to explore NYC as a family

  • A fun-filled way to promote early literacy

We inspire exploration and imagination by connecting cherished stories with the vibrant spirit of Manhattan.

In The Guides

  • A summary of the featured book (book not included)

  • Creative ways to build vocabulary, comprehension, and critical thinking

  • Fun facts about the Manhattan site/location featured in the story

  • Playful, literacy-rich activities for story adventure day and beyond

  • One guide includes a location-specific scavenger hunt with colorful stickers

The Reviews Are In!

  • “My daughter lit up when she realized the characters in her favorite books were exploring the same city we live in! These adventures brought our reading time to life in a whole new way.”— Maria R., Brooklyn mom

  • “Heading to the Little Red Lighthouse felt like stepping into the storybook — and we didn’t need screens to have fun. Just a good book, a guide, and New York City!”— James L., Upper West Side dad of two

  • “Before Ellen’s Story Adventures, reading was something we saved for bedtime. Now, it’s part of our weekends — we read and explore the city at the same time!”— Erica S., NYC mom

  • “My kids thought they were just out playing — they had no idea how much they were learning!”— Dani K., teacher & mom of twins

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