The House of Stories – Chantelivre, located at the back of the famed children’s bookshop, is a unique experiential museum designed to dazzle children aged 0 to 7. In collaboration with L’École des Loisirs—renowned for its iconic picture books—this “play museum” invites families through a secret cabin door into nine full-scale storybook worlds.

Over 130 m², children can crawl through the Forest of the Wild Things, sail aboard a four-meter pirate ship inspired by the Pirates Dogs, brew potions in Cornebidouille’s kitchen, or dive into a pillow pool like Ponti’s Chicks. Each 1.5-hour session blends free exploration with an interactive 20-minute storytime show performed by skilled mediators using props and sound effects to enchant both young and old.

The atmosphere is playful: children can run, jump, touch, and invent stories—everything is designed to stimulate imagination, language, and independence. Baby sessions (0–36 months) offer calm sensory environments, while family sessions welcome the 2–7 age group in a livelier format.

Families are well catered for: a glass-roof café area offers drinks and treats, and changing facilities and highchairs make life easier for parents. Fully accessible: strollers are barred, storage space provided, and wheelchair access is available.

The primary audience is young children and their caregivers, but the museum also hosts preschool and early primary classes (up to CE2) through guided school visits, creative workshops, and author meet-and-greets offered on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.

This venue is also a social initiative: its solidarity ticketing scheme sponsors 1,000 free visits yearly for children from underprivileged areas and associations.

A fun fact: many sets were built using reclaimed materials—such as refurbished parquet floors—and the bookstore’s enchanting design won a design award. The program is constantly refreshed with new stories and workshops.

Practical info: booking online is strongly recommended (≈40 spaces per session); tickets for the upcoming weekend are released every Wednesday at 12:30 PM; on-site purchase possible if space remains. Getting there is easy via metro lines 4/10/12, bus lines 68/83/84/86/95, and nearby Indigo parking.

The House of Stories – Chantelivre is more than a museum—it’s a literary playground, a bridge between imagination and reading, designed to nurture children’s curiosity, language, and autonomy, while offering caregivers a warm and rejuvenating environment.