The Teacher from the Black Lagoon and Other Storybooks – Upper West Side
Saturday, September 21 at 2pm
Mary Lea Johnson Performing Arts Center, The Calhoun School, 433 West End Avenue at 81st Street
$10 for adults, $5 for children
Ages 5-9
A brand-new show from one our of favorite national family theater companies, TheatreworksUSA, this revue features mini-musical adaptations of six quirky children's tales: The Teacher from the Black Lagoon, Dogzilla, Grumpy Bird, Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse, Love Splat, Splat the Cat and Aesop's Fable The Grasshopper and the Ant. While there is no specific connecting thread, all six use humor and songs to deliver their messages, and the entire program is just an hour, making it perfect for short attention spans. Complimentary milk and brownies will be served post-show.

Tilly the Trickster – Chelsea
Weekends at 10:30am Saturday, September 21-Sunday, October 13
Linda Gross Theater, 336 West 20th Street between Eight and Ninth Avenues
$20 for adults, $10 for children
Ages 4 and up
I'm a longtime fan of Atlantic for Kids, the children's theater arm of the prestigious Atlantic Theater Company. The troupe consistently mounts some of the best family shows in town so I have high hopes for this world premiere musicalization of SNL alum Molly Shannon's whimsical children's book about an incorrigible little prankster whose family turns the tables on her. There's certainly plenty of talent involved: Director/book writer Jeremy Dobrish and songwriter Drew Fornarola are seasoned children's theater vets, having previously collaborated on Awesome Allie and Uncle Pirate for the Vital Children's Theatre.

Peter Pan – Midtown West
Friday, October 4-Sunday, October 13. Visit the website for schedule.
New Victory Theater, 209 West 42nd Street between Broadway and Eighth Avenue
$14-$38
Ages 7 and up
Forget Cathy Rigby in green tights on wires. This clever adaptation of J.M. Barrie's iconic fairy tale flies in from Sydney, Australia and focuses on the wonders of imagination instead of special effects. The Darlings venture to the fantastical Neverland without ever leaving their bedroom, but by the end you'll feel like you went on quite a journey. Bonus: If you attend the Saturday evening performance on October 5, you can go on a post-show TXT Marks the Spot high-tech scavenger hunt throughout the theater. My daughter and I went on one last season and they're a lot of fun. All you need is a smartphone and a sense of adventure.

Story Pirates – Upper West Side
Saturday, October 5 at 11am and 2pm
Leonard Nimoy Thalia at Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway at 95th Street
$20 for adults, $15 for children
Ages 3 and up
We've been raving about this comedy troupe that turns kids' stories into mini musicals almost since our site began. (We're in good company: Jon Stewart loves the Story Pirates, too.) While it's true you can catch them every Saturday in the cramped basement of the Drama Book Shop, these performances should be extra special since they kick off the new season of Symphony Space's Just Kidding family performance series. In addition to doing some of their greatest hits, there will be new bits and even some on-the-spot stories inspired by suggestions from kids in the audience.

Harold and the Purple Crayon – Greenwich Village
Saturday, October 5 at 2 and 5pm; Sunday, October 6 at 2pm
Jack. H Skirball Center for the Performing Arts, 566 Laguardia Place at Washington Square South
$22-$34
Ages 4 and up
Subtitled "a dance adventure," this wordless adaptation of Crockett Johnson's classic children's book is the brainchild of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. Harold's imaginative artwork comes to life through movement, giant shadow projections and exuberant audience participation. Even though my eight-year-old will probably whine that she's too old for this, I'm going to make her go anyway. It looks beautiful.

Czechoslovak-American Marionette Theatre – East Village
Ellen Stewart Theatre, 66 East 4th Street between Bowery and Second Avenue
Saturday, October 19 at 11am
$10 per family
Ages 5 and up
Last spring, venerable East Village avant-garde theater La MaMa launched its first-ever program aimed at families. Now La MaMa Kids returns with an esoteric lineup of monthly family workshops and performances. On Saturday, October 5, kids can learn basic mask and puppet-making skills from Vit Horejš, and then watch the professional puppet master in action with his vintage Czechoslovak-American Marionette Theatre on Saturday, October 19. Attend both or either one.

Bunnicula – Tribeca
Sunday, October 27 at 1:30pm
Tribeca Performing Arts Center, 199 Chambers Street near West Street
$25
Ages 5 and up
I loved this campy musicalization of Deborah and James Howe's 1979 comic kids' novel so much that I not only gave it a rave review, I went to see it twice last spring! Now it returns for a single performance at the Tribeca Performing Arts Center. A humorous tale of two BFFs, an amiable dog and a paranoid cat, who worry the new pet rabbit may be a vampire, Bunnicula is a scream.

Sleeping Beauty – Midtown West
Friday, November 1-Sunday, November 10. Visit the website for schedule.
New Victory Theater, 209 West 42nd Street between Broadway and Eighth Avenue
$14-$38
Ages 7 and up
No need for me to sell you on this one—just look at that stunning photo in our slide show above. The tale of a slumbering princess is beautifully realized by Italy's Carlo Colla & Sons Marionette Company with gorgeous handcrafted 18th-century-style puppets and Tchaikovsky's music. Parents of princess-obsessed preschoolers take note: This 90-minute show is faithful to the original story which is much darker than Disney's version so heed the age recommendation!

The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Other Eric Carle Favorites – Greenwich Village
Saturday, November 9 at 11am and 2pm
Jack. H Skirball Center for the Performing Arts, 566 Laguardia Pl.
$22-$28
Ages 2 and up
Every time the Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia brings this black-light puppet spectacle to NYC I mean to go but so far it hasn't happened. Well, there's always this year. Eric Carle’s simple and sweet stories are rightfully beloved by tots and his illustrations spring to life through meticulous stage magic. This triple bill also includes Little Cloud and The Mixed-Up Chameleon, and runs just an hour making it perfect for first-time theatergoers. Bonus: preshow arts and crafts.

Ballerina Swan – Midtown West
Saturday, November 9-Sunday, November 24. Visit the website for the complete schedule.
Theater 3, 311 West 43rd Street at Eighth Avenue, 3rd Floor
$25, $95 for a family four-pack
Ages 4-8
Nonprofit children's theater company Making Books Sing had a huge hit with its last musical Wanda's Monster. Here's hoping this adaptation of NYC Ballet prima ballerina Allegra Kent's children's book is also a smash. The tale of a Central Park swan who yearns to do ballet is told through a mix of theater, dance and puppetry, and set to Tchaikovsky's romantic music.

Feet Don't Fail Me Now! – Midtown West
Friday, November 15-Sunday, December 1. Visit the website for schedule.
New Victory Theater, 209 West 42nd Street between Broadway and Eighth Avenue
$14-$38
Ages 6 and up
Minneapolis' Rhythmic Circus dances into town with this jubilant tap spectacle featuring kooky costumes, a seven-piece brass band and some seriously athletic hoofers. I admit, most plotless dance theater pieces don't make my must-see list. But the New Victory has a history of amazing dance shows so I expect I'll leave the theater with happy feet. Take note: Feet Don't Fail Me Now! has two TXT Marks the Spot post-show high-tech scavenger hunts on Fridays, November 15 and 22.

Jim Henson's Dinosaur Train—Live – Greenwich Village
Friday, November 29-Sunday, December 1 at 11am and 2pm
Jack. H Skirball Center for the Performing Arts, 566 Laguardia Pl.
$22-$49 but click here to save 25% on tickets
Ages 3 and up
PBS Kids' popular series hits the stage in this family musical sure to wow preschool paleontologists. Yes I know, some of these TV-to-theater adaptations are really painful (The Backyardigans–Live stands out in my memory as one of the worst things I've ever seen). But there's some top-notch behind-the-scenes talent, notably director and cowriter John Tartaglia (of ImaginOcean, Shrek the Musical and Johnny and the Sprites fame). Plus the hybrid puppet costume characters and full-size replica of the Dinosaur Train sound pretty impressive. If your kids are fans of the TV show I don't see how you can go wrong here.

Find out about other great seasonal activities in our Fall Fun Guide.