The Huntington for kids

Children's book author Kathleen Thorne-Thomsen introduces young readers and their parents to the Huntington, a former estate that now houses world-class collections of books, art, and plants.

For kids who may never be able to visit the Huntington as well as those who will, this book offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at the workings of a museum.

Readers will also meet the owner of the estate, Henry E.

Huntington, an early developer of Los Angeles, and learn something about daily life on what during Huntington's lifetime was a working ranch.

Thorne-Thomsen gives complete directions for activities ranging from designing a bookplate to making a leaf quilt to organizing a collection of family photographs.

Kids will also learn about the different kinds of jobs needed to run an institution that has collections ranging from plants to paintings.

Those who have been on museum field trips may know what a docent is, but they will also learn what curators and conservators do to make sure that treasures from the past will last for years to come.