You can find museums around the world on almost anything nowadays: cars, sports, history and even some wacky ones about bananas, hammers and, yes, matchsticks.
But if you and/or your kids are especially looking to live a good book, check out these awesome museums based on literary characters and/or the authors of some of the world's most famous stories.
Charles Dickens Museum
Where do you even start? Charles Dickens' works have kept kids enthralled for years: "Oliver Twist," "Nicholas Nickleby," "David Copperfield," "A Tale of Two Cities," and, of course, "A Christmas Carol."
This museum on Doughty Street in London, England, celebrates everything Dickens in the house where he wrote "Oliver Twist," "Pickwick Papers" and "Nicholas Nickleby." You'll see drafts of his manuscripts and the author's study. The museum has more than 100,000 personal and related items and hosts many exhibitions on the author, his wife and his works, (so plan to spend some time there).
When you need a break, there's a café on the premises. The Museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.
Hans Christian Anderson Museum
Hans Christian Anderson is the author behind such children's classics as "The Little Mermaid," "The Emperor's New Clothes," "The Ugly Duckling" and "The Princess and the Pea." His namesake museum in Odense, Denmark opened in 1908 and follows his life as a writer in Copenhagen from the time he was a son of a poor shoemaker.
Here, you will also see a reconstruction of the room where Anderson wrote his famous stories and another room that pays homage to the art in his books, (even though they weren't drawn by him).
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The Jane Austen's House Museum
Known for several literary classics including "Sense and Sensibility," "Pride and Prejudice" and "Emma," Jane Austen is considered one of the greatest novelists of all time. The Jane Austen House Museum is located in a Hampshire, England cottage where Jane spent the last eight years of her life from 1809 until 1817.
Here you will see where she wrote her famous stories, as well as artifacts from her life. You'll even walk the gardens where Jane once walked. The museum also presents 41 Objects: an exhibition of 41 different items that honor Jane's life.
Jane died when she was only 41 years old and this year is the 200th anniversary of her passing. The exhibit will finish on December 15th, one day before her birthday.
Anne Frank House
Anne Frank was a German-Jewish teen who was forced to go into hiding during the Holocaust. She hid in an annex of rooms that is now a museum in Amsterdam.
Most children know the story of Anne Frank through their history lessons in school and her famous diary, and this museum allows you to walk the same areas that she and her family hid during World War II. There are tours and exhibitions, parent and children groups, as well as a café and bookshop on the premises.
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Dr. Seuss Museum
"Oh the Places You'll Go!" This Dr. Seuss museum definitely needs to be one of them.
This June, the Dr. Seuss Museum opens in Springfield, Massachusetts: The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss is a permanent, bilingual exhibition designed to introduce children and their families to the stories of the amazing Ted Geisel, who brought children so many fun stories, such "Fox In Socks," "The Cat in the Hat," and "Horton Hears a Who."
The 3,200 square foot exhibit will promote reading, and have visitors explore sounds and vocabulary, play rhyming games, invent stories and engage in activities that encourage teamwork and creative thinking. Then, go upstairs to see a bunch of memorabilia that belonged to Geisel, including original oil paintings, zany hats and bowties, and furniture from his sitting room and studio.
Eric Carle Museum
Another one of the most popular and beloved children's authors today, Eric Carle created 70 wonderful books, including "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" and "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you see?"
The museum was founded by Carle himself and is located in Amherst, Massachusetts. There are interactive exhibits, art studios, story times and films. (You and your children will love being immersed in this world.)
The museum is closed on Mondays.
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