CHECK IT OUT:Discover reading in the garden

Just opened this week, the new Children’s Sun and Sea Discovery Garden is the perfect place for spending a quiet moment with your child during a busy day. Located outside the Stahr Children’s Room in the Central Library, this beautiful spot is fantastic for quality time between parent or grandparent and child. Listen to the sparkling musical fountain, delight in the sea-life tiles and sit amid the fragrant box hedges while discovering the magic of books.

Here is a sampling of new and old favorite titles enjoyable for all ages, for that special outdoor read-along.

“Merry Christmas, Curious George!” by Catherine Hapka. While visiting a Christmas tree farm, Curious George becomes separated from the man in the yellow hat and ends up at a hospital. Not to ever be deterred, Curious George delights all the children and young patients with his whimsical style of tree trimming.

“The Polar Express” by Chris Van Allsburg. Delight in this children’s classic about a magical train ride on Christmas Eve that takes a small boy to the North Pole. Santa Claus has a special gift for him and for you and your child as you contemplate the mysterious and captivating illustrations.

“Where the Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak. This fabulously illustrated children’s classic tells the tale of a naughty, but imaginative, little boy who when sent to bed without his supper sails to the land of the wild things where he becomes their king.

Filled with monsters and fantasy run riot, it is sure to please all ages.

“Your Personal Penguin” by Sandra Boynton. In this new rhyming board book geared toward the smallest child, a penguin gives a hippopotamus all the reasons why he likes him in order to convince him to become his personal penguin. Indulge your child with this great tale about friendship suitable for the little ones.

“Goodnight Moon” by Margaret Wise Brown. A classic bedtime favorite of both children and their parents, this lyrical, mesmerizing narrative bids goodnight to all the objects illustrated in the rabbit’s great, green bedroom. Perfect for the small fry to point and name the chairs, the bears, the mush and the lady who says hush.

“A Princess Primer: A Fairy Godmother’s Guide to Being a Princess” by Stephanie True Peters. This new book features instructions from a fairy godmother on how to be a proper princess. The text encourages interaction with a small mirror and folded letters to peruse with your special princess.

Remember, truth can be stranger than fiction. “Owen and Mzee: The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship” by Isabella Hatkoff. Adapted from an original e-book, this children’s tale features photographs and fascinating details about the social behavior and special bond between Mzee, a 130-year-old Aldabra Giant Tortoise, and Owen, an orphaned Hippopotamus in Kenya. This was first launched on the WNBC New York 5 o’clock news as part of the Tribeca Film Festival.