Coop for Kids at the Harvard Coop552

You don't need a perfect score on your SATs to get into Harvard...the Harvard Coop, that is. Amid the Harvard sweatshirts, textbooks, and other scholarly stuff, parents will find a true treasure: The Coop for Kids, an entire department of children's books.

A wide range of books is available for infants to young adults, shelved according to type or category. If you're looking for "The Cat in the Hat," check out the Dr. Seuss section; you'll come across shelves dedicated to pop-up, poetry, ABC's, and various other books.

The Coop for Kids also carries a good selection of children's reference books (dictionaries, etc.) and Dorling Kindersley's Eyewitness books (for the truly curious!). It also carries book-related items like stuffed animals.

Located near the New Release section, you'll find a table and benches, with crayons and scrap paper on hand for those who need a break from books. Future illustrators in the crowd?

The Coop for Kids has story time during the week. On Tuesdays at 11am, preschoolers are invited to hear a selection of engaging stories. Many new parents bring their babies along to join in the fun; it's a great spot to meet other parents and make new play pals.

On Saturdays at 11am, children under 7 can participate in the story and craft hour. Stories and crafts often tie in with seasonal themes, like Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Halloween, etc. Expect that your children will be occupied for about an hour.

Refreshments (cookies and juice) are offered at both story times. Story hours are free and open to the public.

Coop for Kids is one of the few places in Cambridge that has a public bathroom, located on the third floor. There are changing tables in both the ladies' and men's rooms.