"Into the Woods" at Public Theater/Delacorte Theater. (Photo: Joan Marcus)

New York’s Public Theater has announced a special family matinee of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Tony award-winning musical Into The Woods, on Wednesday, August 22 at 3 p.m. as part of its Shakespeare in the Park series at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park.

“This matinee is designed to engage younger audiences and to serve families unable to attend evening performances,” read a statement from The Public. The 95-minute production will be squeezed into one act—perfect for those young thespians that might not last through the later 8p.m. show.

“The Public wants to make great theater accessible to all, and young people, with their parents, deserve an invitation to be a part of the story,” said Artistic Director Oskar Eustis. “This will be a great and rare opportunity—one we hope is just a beginning.”

The Public’s virtual ticketing lottery will still take place, between August 15 at 4 p.m. and August 16 at 4 p.m.—otherwise plan on showing up very early to queue in the stand-by line on August 22.

Image courtsey of: Parent Information Center

Love for literature shouldn’t stop with books. Inspire your kids to engage in the world of words (and a chance to cool off indoors) by taking them to these fun, family-friendly literary events!

Bowery Poetry Club

The Bowery Kids program features shows and readings catered towards kids every Sunday at noon. Its cafe even compiles a lunch menu in conjunction with the day's shows, with items such as The Dr. Seuss (green smoothie with bananas, mangoes, honey and organic milk) and The Jabberwocky (banana, honey, peanut butter sandwich on wheat or white bread).

When: Every Sunday at noon
Where: 308 Bowery Street

Sunday Story Hour

The New York Historical Society hosts a storytelling hour every Sunday at 11:30 a.m. Factual and fictitious tales acquaint listeners with the history of the city and its host of characters.

When: Sunday at 11:30 a.m.
Where: 170 Central Park West

Children's Center

The Children's Center offers a wealth of different reading events for children ages infant to 12, from "The Things We Eat: Tales to Celebrate the Treasures of Food" to "Toddler Storytime."

Where: Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, 5th Avenue at 42nd Street
When: Check their calendar for more information.

Storytime at The Strand

Every Thursday, a staff worker plucks a book from the labyrinthine depths of The Strand to induct fresh and curious minds into the mysteries of paper and ink.

When: Every Thursday at 3:30
Where: East 60th Street and 5th Avenue

Barnes and Noble Children's Storytime

Check your local Barnes and Nobles' schedules for Children's Storytime. The Tribeca store offers storytime every Saturday at 11 a.m. while the one at 86th and Lexington holds storytime every Sunday at 11 a.m.

Where: Varies
When: Varies

Shakespeare in the Park

Bring those beautiful prose to life at this annual theater celebration in Central Park began 50 years ago and is still going strong. This year Shakespeare in the Park will put on As You Like It for June and Into the Woods for July. Enter the lottery online to get tickets, or go get them at Delacorte Theater in Central Park. Ticket distributions start at 1 p.m.