Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in Long Beach, CA

"What is that?" We were riding the Metro to downtown L.A. From the window of the train, I saw glittering spires reaching up to the sky.

"The Watts Towers," my husband said. I decided I had to see them up close. There are many wonders to behold in Southern California, but none other quite like the Watts Towers. Simon Rodia spent years creating his masterpiece, using the simplest tools and a plan that came entirely out of his own head. He turned everyday objects, even trash like broken soda bottles, into a unique and awe-inspiring work of art. The Wonderful Towers of Watts tells the story of Simon Rodia and the Watts Towers. It includes many colorful details about the artist, like the fact that he listened to opera while he was working.

I lived in Northern California for several years, so I know all about earthquakes. But I was nonetheless caught off guard by the small earthquake that shook the Southland last summer. If you want to talk with your child about what to do if the Big One hits, check out Earthquakes from the Let's Read and Find Out Science series. It explains the science behind earthquakes and offers some very practical earthquake preparedness tips, in language a preschooler can understand. (I liked the way the author an apple peel as an analogy for the earth's crust, for example.) The illustrations, while realistic, might be scary for sensitive children.

If you have a two-year-old who is too busy to sit still and listen to you read, check out 123 California. It's a counting book for toddlers, featuring pictures of California icons like cable cars, surfboards, and the Hollywood sign. The simple, mod illustrations are drawn in sunny oranges and reds that will appeal to little ones.