The world’s most famous yellow school bus will arrive at the Library Station, the Springfield-Greene County Library’s newest library on Saturday [August 16]. Parents and their preschool- and elementary-age kids can climb aboard the nationally known and kid-friendly Magic School Bus from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

The bus will be parked on the lot at 2535 North Kansas Expressway in front of the Library Station, and there’s no charge for admission.

The Magic School Bus, the real-life adaptation of the Scholastic book series and public television shows that have been popular with youngsters since 1986, is an ordinary-looking vehicle from the outside. Inside, it’s a hands-on, interactive wonderland filled with science displays of all types with lots of wonderful graphics and fun facts and CD-ROM play stations. Episodes from the TV series are shown on a video monitor and actual animation cells from the show are on display.

And, best of all, you and your kids can meet—in person—the world’s best school teacher, Ms. Frizzle, the main character and fun adult figure in the books.

“She’s creative and imaginative and really wants to make it exciting and fun for the kids to learn,” said Jessica Phillips, who works in the children’s department at the Library Center. “With her bright red curly hair and creative clothes, she would be any child’s favorite teacher. If she is talking about electricity, she wears a dress decorated with lightning bolts, light bulbs and batteries.”

The books, written by Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen, take kids on scientific adventures. “Ms. Frizzle has taken the students inside the human body and outer space. One is called ‘Lost in the Solar System,’ others are called ‘On the Ocean Floor’ and ‘In the Time of the Dinosaurs.’ Other subjects are hurricanes, beehives and the earth,” said Phillips.

“The Magic School bus is science education at its best. They’ve read about the Magic School bus and now they can see it in person. This is great.”