Since 2024, Shanghai has been developing child-friendly urban reading spaces, with the total now reaching 252 following the addition of six new locations. Here is a look at the latest ones.

Hongkou district

1 Quyang Road Subdistrict Library Child-Friendly Reading Space

Address: 3rd Floor, No 998 North Zhongshan Road Number One

Highlights: Designed around a "reading plus sci-fi" theme, the space uses bright, lively colors paired with simple children's bookshelves and child-sized seating to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere. With more than 4,000 books, the collection focuses on picture books and popular science titles, catering to young readers of different ages.

2 North Bund Subdistrict Child-Friendly Reading Space

Address: 2nd Floor, No 99 Tongzhou Road

Highlights: Nature and playfulness define the design of this space, which creates an immersive reading environment. Tree-shaped wooden bookshelves and house-shaped picture book displays blend natural elements with the reading area, offering a warm and playful atmosphere. The space is designed to meet the needs of toddlers, children, and teenagers, integrating community service functions and connecting schools, families, and neighborhoods into a shared reading support network.

Yangpu district

3 Dinghai Road Subdistrict Library Child-Friendly Reading Space

Address: Room 506, No 3066 Changyang Road

Highlights: The space is divided into reading areas by age group and holds nearly 10,000 books. A parent-child volunteer team runs various children's activities and community service projects. With support from communities, universities, and specialists, the library offers themed reading programs, provides reading services for children attending community winter and summer day camps, and hosts events focused on positive development.

4 Yinhang Road Subdistrict Library Child-Friendly Reading Space

Address: Rooms 201 and 312, No 164 Shiguang Sancun Community

Highlights: This library creates a child-friendly reading space that balances quiet reading with hands-on creativity. Through themed renovations and specially designed activities, it offers an immersive and varied platform for young readers. Programs such as "intangible cultural heritage workshops" and "creative corner" focus on children's interests and development, striking a balance between fun and learning.

Baoshan district

5 Wusong Subdistrict Library Child-Friendly Reading Space

Address: 2nd Floor, North Side, Building 11, Alley 991 Shuichan Road

Highlights: Every detail of this space puts children first. Rounded furniture ensures safety, while the open, well-lit layout allows for both dedicated zones and flexible use. With over 2,000 graded children's books, the space hosts regular events such as picture book reading clubs, journeys through international award-winning novels, and drama workshops. These activities help children gain knowledge and build skills, while encouraging social, joyful, and diverse reading experiences for families.

Fengxian district

6 Touqiao Subdistrict Child-Friendly Reading Space

Address: No 8 Alley 44, Xilaojie Street

Highlights: The space combines modern simplicity with a touch of traditional Chinese style, guided by three core ideas: fun, connection, and growth. It is divided into areas for toddlers, parent-child reading, and teenagers, with books ranging from early learning and children's literature to science, history, and art. Activities including intangible cultural heritage workshops, science and innovation activities, and storytelling sessions allow children to learn through immersive, interactive cultural experiences.

Sources: WeChat account of Shanghai Children's Library at "childlib", child-friendly reading spaces mentioned above