A new concept from artists and operators of the beloved children’s bookstore, the Reading Reptile, is coming to North Kansas City in March 2024. Pete Cowdin and Debbie Pettid founded The Rabbit hOle in 2015 to create an accessible literary culture for all, nourishing and inspiring both children and adults. Its immersive museum concept will open this spring.
Memberships to the Rabbit hOle museum are already available to the public with a special Educator membership available to teachers and librarians, which includes a bookstore discount, discounted educator workshops, and access to educator-only events. Community members can now reserve timed ticket access to the museum’s exhibits, including physical interpretations of children’s classics such as My Father’s Dragon, Curious George, and Goodnight Moon.
The Rabbit hOle is a reader’s dream, with books spread in and around the exhibits and plenty of cozy spots to read. You’ll find many different multipurpose spaces and programs inside the museum, including the Discovery Gallery, a traditional rotating art gallery, and a maker space dubbed the “Tons-of-Fun Room,” featuring workshops such as puppetry, yarn arts, and textile printing inspired by the literature displayed in the exhibits. Museum admission is not required to visit The Lucky Rabbit, the Rabbit hOle’s bookstore, which will offer author events and children’s story times, as well as products created by the Print Shop.
Education is a priority throughout the spaces of the new museum. The library serves as both a quiet reading room and educational hub for educators to participate in workshops and professional development. The on-site print shop collaborates with the Rabbit hOle’s Story Lab to create educational programming for children, including bookmaking, binding, and more. Though the Rabbit hOle is open to all ages, its Story Lab programming is popular for field trips and young people looking to explore the art of storyboarding, writing, and the art of picture books.