‘Tis the season for generosity, but who says you can’t get something in return? From Tuesday November 24 through Thursday December 17, bring a nonperishable food donation to a participating BumbleBee Tennis location—one’s at the U.N. Plaza’s Millennium Hotel, the other is in Soho—and your child (age 3 to 9) can score a free introductory lesson.  Sign up in advance on the company’s website. It’s a great way to spread the, er, love. You should also check out our roundup of tennis classes around the city.

On my way to the subway after a screening of Fantastic Mr. Fox (read the review here), I walked up Fifth Avenue and past the Bergdorf Goodman Men’s Store, where the current window display features sets and stop-motion figures from the movie. If your kids turn out to be Fox fans, take them to check out Badger’s office, the three scheming farmers and the underground feast scene up close. (Fun fact: That orange-Crocs-wearing rabbit should seem familiar to local foodies).  Even if you don’t make it to the flick, the windows are a visual treat of their own, and will be on view through January 4.

Good news for Gothic-minded tots: The mysterious Lemony Snicket—pseudonym of the somewhat less inscrutable Daniel Handler—will publish his first new series since the bestselling “A Series of Unfortunate Events” ended in 2006 (though he’s certainly been busy in the meantime). The four-volume run begins, perhaps fittingly, in 2012. Dare we expect an apocalyptic scenario? It would certainly make for a very Bad Beginning.

By now you’ve heard that children’s TV pioneer Sesame Street turns 40 this month. Although the show is filmed at Kaufman-Astoria Studios in Queens, the folks at the Brooklyn Public Library are hosting a major exhibit showcasing Jim Henson’s beloved Muppets. Head to the Central Library at Grand Army Plaza this Saturday, November 14th for the kickoff party, where kids can partake in Sesame-inspired crafts, watch a screening of The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland and meet the little red guy himself.  Speaking of Elmo, he appears on a new, limited-edition BPL library card available at any borough branch. Get one while supplies last, or you’re sure to have a little grouch on your hands.

Independent book shops can’t get enough attention as far as we’re concerned. Show them some love at the city’s first Indie Bookstore Week, which begins Sunday, November 15 and runs through Saturday, November 21. There are plenty of children’s events; highlights include: Brooklynites Randall and Peter de Sève present their picture-book collaboration The Duchess of Whimsy at Greenpoint’s Word (Sunday, November 15 at 2pm) and grilled cheese—a key plot point in the story—will be served; arts-and-crafts time at Dumbo’s powerHouse Arena with Alex Beard, author-illustrator of The Jungle Grapevine (Sunday, November 15th at 4pm); and a Bank Street Bookstore reading by Thad Krasnesky (Wednesday, November 18 at 4:30pm), author of a book about a power-tripping three-year-old called I Always, ALWAYS Get My Way. Bet that sentiment sounds familiar.

If you’ve got fistfuls of Halloween candy lying around, the thoughtful folks at Tribeca kiddie store Babylicious will be happy to take the tempting morsels off your kids’ sticky hands. Inspired by the deal owner Carol Adams makes with her own kids—keep ten pieces of trick-or-treat candy and trade in the rest for a new toy—the shop will give you a ten percent discount off your next purchase in exchange for your unopened Halloween loot. All the tasty donations will go to the Harlem Food Bank, which will distribute the goodies at Thanksgiving. The offer’s good through November 15 (as if the candy will last that long in your apartment!); we suggest making the most of your visit by stopping in on Tues, Nov 12 for storytime.

The tastes may be a bit sophisticated for tots, so think of this as your own pre-Halloween treat. In honor of Kyotofu’s third birthday today, the dainty all-things-soy-milk restaurant is giving away sample packs of its new seasonal treats: Pumpkin Kabocha Cupcakes, Chestnut Cupcakes, Japanese Sweet Potato Bites and and Ginger Spice Financiers. On second thought, who are we to say your kid won’t enjoy Japanese winter squash?

Via Serious Eats.