Families across Boone County can now walk inside the pages of Peter Rabbit, The Snowy Day and Where's Spot? at a free interactive exhibit that opened Aug. 13, at the Boone County Public Library's Hebron Branch.

"Storyland: A Trip Through Childhood Favorites," a 500-square-foot traveling exhibit created by Minnesota Children's Museum, transforms three classic children's books into three-dimensional play spaces where kids ages 0 to 8 can touch, listen and explore alongside their caregivers. The exhibit runs through Sunday, Jan. 3, 2027, at 1863 North Bend Road in Hebron.

It is the first traveling exhibit of this scale hosted at the Hebron Branch, which was chosen because it offers the floor space needed and serves one of Boone County's fastest-growing communities, according to the library foundation.

Each storybook environment includes an audio component so visitors can listen to portions of the story as they move through the scenes. A separate WordPlay station offers additional hands-on literacy activities, and an interactive touchscreen greets visitors near the entrance.

The exhibit is built around kindergarten-readiness skills. Carrie Herrmann, executive director of Boone County Public Library, said in a July 21 announcement that "early literacy begins long before a child enters a classroom" and called Storyland an opportunity for families to learn together through play, conversation and shared reading.

Pat Raverty, president of the Boone County Public Library Foundation, said in the same announcement that the organization is grateful to The Andrew Jergens Foundation for funding the exhibit. The Cincinnati-area foundation, established in 1962, has awarded more than $20 million in grants focused on the health, education and welfare of children.

No admission fee is required. The exhibit is open during regular Hebron Branch hours: Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m. Residents with questions can contact Jennifer Cheek at [email protected] or call the branch at (859) 342-2665.

Coming up in Boone County: The Florence Y'alls and LINK nky host a Baseball & Bylines literacy fundraiser on Thursday, Aug. 27, at Thomas More Stadium.