15 things to do in the Chicago area with the kids Nov. 11-17

Monday

TRANSIT OF MERCURY Monday’s dawn heralds a rare astronomical phenomenon — one that can only be seen by day, not by night. (Monday is also Veterans Day, a school holiday for many.) A transit is akin to a solar eclipse, but with a planet, not our moon, crossing the face of the sun. Given Mercury’s great distance from Earth, it appears as a tiny dot to our eyes, and you need to look through a protective filter on a telescope to see it. At least three different locations host free viewings, as long as the sky is clear: 7 a.m. till noon at the Adler Planetarium; 8-11:30 a.m. at Crabtree Nature Center; and 9 a.m. till noon at Northwestern U’s Dearborn Observatory. If you miss this rare event, you’ll have to wait 30 years for the next Mercury transit visible in Chicago. Hope for clear skies, and dress for chilly weather! Bonus for visitors to the Adler, 1300 S. Lake Shore Drive: If you’d like to go indoors, Illinois residents get free general admission.

‘MADAGASCAR: A MUSICAL ADVENTURE’ Introduce a new generation to this musical menagerie, adapted from the 2005 animated hit that spawned a DreamWorks franchise. Alex the lion, Marty the zebra, Gloria the hippo and, of course, the penguin crew come to the burbs, thanks to Marriott Theatre. After each hourlong performance, the audience is invited to linger and meet cast members, who answer children’s questions. This week, catch the show at 10 a.m. Monday and Wednesday through Sunday, with many more performances through Dec. 29, at 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire. $18.23. https://www.marriotttheatre.com/show/madagascar

‘WILD REEF’ Who knew that you could visit the reefs of the Philippines without spending hours on a plane? OK, it’s really the Shedd’s impressive facsimile. Ride an elevator down and emerge into “Wild Reef,” where the most eye-popping aquatic life forms surround visitors: sleek stingrays, fearsome sharks and stunningly colorful corals. Little ones might especially enjoy spotting the clown fish and blue tangs, which sprang to animated life as Nemo and Dory. At the Shedd Aquarium, 1200 S. Lake Shore Drive. $40, $30 for kids 3-11; half off for Chicago residents. https://www.sheddaquarium.org/exhibits/wild-reef

Tuesday

KOHL CHILDREN’S POP-UP MUSEUM Visitors to Kohl Children’s Museum typically head to Glenview — but this month, you can also find a condensed version some 20-odd miles north, appearing in a free pop-up version at the USO of Illinois Great Lakes Center. Families with kids ages 3-8 are welcome to explore the Imagination Playground building-blocks exhibit, the “Airmazing” wind tubes, a puppet theater and more. Visit four days a week — 5-7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, 12-5 p.m. Fridays, and 9 a.m to 5 p.m. Saturdays — through Nov. 23 at the National Museum of the American Sailor (Building 42), 610 Farragut Ave., Great Lakes. Free. https://bit.ly/2RnFixL

Wednesday

LITTLE EXPLORERS This monthly program from the Forest Preserve District of Will County offers indoor and outdoor activities geared for pre-K children. (It’s designed for ages 3-5, but parents can bring tots too.) The stories and games this Wednesday relate to beavers. 10-11:30 a.m. at Four Rivers Environmental Education Center, 25055 W. Walnut Lane, Channahon. Free, but register in advance. https://www.reconnectwithnature.org/news-events/event-calendar/november-2019/little-explorers-november-2019

MEET ‘DEAR JUSTICE LEAGUE’ CARTOONIST GUSTAVO DUARTE “Dear Justice League” is a new DC Kids graphic novel, geared for middle schoolers, from the words-and-art team of Michael Northrop and Gustavo Duarte. The book follows members of the legendary team as they answer fan mail from kids, telling stories full of action, humor and vulnerability. (Read a preview here: https://www.dccomics.com/reader/#/comics/443481) Meet Brazilian artist Duarte, in Chicago all the way from his home in Sao Paulo, at this special appearance, 4-7 p.m. at Challengers Comics, 1845 N. Western Ave. Free to attend, $10 for “Dear Justice League.” https://challengerscomics.com/index.php/upcoming-events/item/2145-11-13-19-gustavo-duarte-dear-justice-league-signing

‘BEAUTY AND THE BEAST’ Be their guest! This local production of Disney’s “tale as old as time” comes from the Paramount Theatre, known for lavish, top-notch productions (demonstrated by this set rendering, by scenic designer Jeff Kmiec). The show doesn’t officially open until Nov. 22, but less-expensive previews begin at 7 p.m. Wednesday. At Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. $36-$74. https://paramountaurora.com/events/beauty-and-the-beast/

Thursday

‘CHRISTMAS AROUND THE WORLD’ TREE-LIGHTING CEREMONY The focal point of this perennial Museum of Science and Industry exhibit is its Tannenbaum, a 45-foot-tall tree in the museum’s rotunda. That Grand Tree turns on for the first time Thursday morning, along with more than 50 smaller Christmas trees; it’s a tradition that began in the 1940s, heralding the holidays in Chicago. After the lights begin to twinkle (approximately 30,000 lights on the Grand Tree alone!), visitors experience an indoor snowfall. The ceremony begins as 11:30 a.m. at the Museum of Science and Industry, 5700 S. Lake Shore Drive. $22, $13 for kids 3-11. ($2 discount per ticket with advance online purchase; additional discounts for Chicago residents.) https://www.msichicago.org/explore/whats-here/exhibits/christmas-around-the-world/

CLOUD BUSTER Your little ones are part monkey, as proved by their love of climbing. Let them take that passion to new levels, literally, with this fun new installation at the Chicago Children’s Museum. Cloud Buster is a sculptural playground that looks as if it were designed by Dali or Escher. Your tykes get to choose their path as they scale 37 feet of structural steel, wood, wire, rope and more. Open daily, with “play late” hours Thursday 4-8 p.m., at the Chicago Children’s Museum (at Navy Pier), 700 E. Grand Ave. $19, $16 for city residents; Play Late Thursday evenings (4-8 p.m.) cost $20 per group, up to four people. https://www.chicagochildrensmuseum.org/cloud-buster

Friday

JUICEBOX: ANIMAL FARM This quartet of local musician-educators writes catchy, funny songs about animals that explore themes of friendship and community. Listen to a sample of their ditties on their site, animalfarmband.com, then catch them at Juicebox, the biweekly series of live performances for the toddler set. As with all Juicebox events, the all-ages show takes place twice: 11 a.m. Friday at the Chicago Cultural Center (Preston Bradley Hall), 78 E. Washington St.; and 11 a.m. Saturday at Garfield Park Conservatory, 300 N. Central Park Ave. Free. https://tinyurl.com/y5nxmt9d

STARS, STORIES AND S’MORES Crisp November nights are perfect for a campfire and toasted-marshmallow treats. Dress for the weather, and bring your sweet tooth to the Forest Preserves of Cook County, where you get to make s’mores to fortify you for stargazing, hiking and fireside stories. 5-8 p.m. at Caldwell Woods, 6350 W. Devon Ave. (There’s a daytime version Dec. 14 at Swallow Cliff Woods.) Free. https://fpdcc.com/event/stars-stories-and-smores-2/

Saturday

MODEL RAILROAD MADNESS Calling all junior rail buffs! Elmhurst History Museum has a brand-new exhibit, “On the Right Track: By Rail to Chicago and Beyond,” which opens Thursday and runs through March 29. Visit with the kids from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday for Model Railroad Madness. Meet model train collectors, and check out their displays. Kids can also make locomotive-themed crafts: paper engineer’s hats and Morse-code bracelets. At Elmhurst History Museum, 120 E. Park Ave., Elmhurst. Free. http://elmhursthistory.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=208

ELMHURST ART MUSEUM FAMILY DAY Elmhurst Art Museum counts an unusual piece among its collection: an entire single-family home, designed by Mies van der Rohe. It’s the focus of the new exhibit, “The McCormick House: Past, Present, Future,” which in turn inspires this Family Day theme. Participants use blocks to create their own house and invent home-life narratives. 1-4 p.m. at Elmhurst Art Museum, 150 S. Cottage Hill Ave. $15, free for 18 and under. https://www.elmhurstartmuseum.org/events/family-day-workshop/

Sunday

CONCERTS FOR KIDS: TUNES WITH TIM Tunes With Tim is the kindie persona of Tim Bredrup, who specializes in music for the younger set. Check out a sampling of Tim’s music on his site, tuneswithtim.com, then check him out live at noon Sunday at Beat Kitchen, 2100 W. Belmont Ave. $6-$7. https://www.ticketweb.com/event/tunes-with-tim-beat-kitchen-tickets/9911455

CHICAGO YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRAS: ‘TRANSCEND’ One of the greatest feats of American engineering, the world’s first transcontinental railroad was completed 150 years ago. The U.S. couldn’t have done it without an enormous labor force of Chinese immigrants, whose efforts are remembered in “Transcend,” a piece composed by Zhou Tian and partially commissioned by the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras. Sunday evening at 6:30, CYSO’s 125-member ensemble performs “Transcend” as part of its fall concert. Special lobby displays commemorate the struggles of the laborers. At Orchestra Hall, 220 S. Michigan Ave. $20-$60, free for kids 7 and under. https://cyso.org/event/fall-symphony-orchestra-concert-at-orchestra-hall/

Web Behrens is a freelance reporter.