An Enchanted Journey at the Aga Khan Museum’s New Exhibition

Grab the grandchildren and take them on an enchanted journey where they’ll see ferocious dragons, a whimsical parrot, noble lions, shape-shifting demons, menacing sea serpents, an elephant with feet made of ducks and a rainbow-feathered Simurgh.

A rainbow-feathered Simurgh?

Don’t ask.

Just go and gaze at it at the Aga Khan Museum’s new family-friendly exhibition: Marvellous Creatures: Animals in Islamic Art.

It runs through Sept. 11 at the Museum on Wynford Drive in Toronto.

The oldest piece in the show is a fish-shaped flask from Egypt or Syria that’s at least 1500 years old.

It’s one of 93 works of art from 15 centuries on display, including 46 from the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, Qatar and many from private collections.

There’s manuscripts, textiles, ceramics, jewellery, glass and more.

Aga Khan staff has been exceptionally creative in making the show fun for families with activities for kids.

Free family activity kits encourage children to look closely to discover the creatures, an iPad flipbook offers a manuscript with a menagerie, and a storybook nook with pillows and stuffed animals provide a place to enjoy tales and fables.

The most interactive fun is a magnetic board full of colourful magnetic animal shapes and parts so you can build your own magical creature.

The Museum’s focus on families continues with programming linked to the Marvellous Creatures show: Family Sundays, June PD day camps and summer camp sessions for ages 6-8 and 9-12. Visit agakhanmuseum.org for more information.