Avondale, Five Points West Libraries Hosting Story Walk Projects

From the Birmingham Public Library:

August 19, 2020

Two Birmingham Public Library regional locations are installing story walks, allowing patrons to experience the joy of reading while enjoying fresh air and sunshine at the same time.

Five Points West Regional Branch Library’s Story Walk in Learning Tree Park outside the library is already open. Avondale Regional Branch Library’s Story Walk will take place the entire month of September.

The StoryWalk® Project is an outdoor reading experience created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, Vermont, and developed in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. Storywalk® is a registered service mark owned by Ms. Ferguson.

With Story Walk, laminated pages from a chosen children's book are mounted along a path. As you stroll down the path, you're directed to the next page in the story.

Installed by Library Assistant III Carla Threat, Five Points West Library’s Story Walk features If You’re Happy and You Know It, a sing-a-long book written and illustrated by Jane Cabrera.

Participants walk along a trail, seeing signs that have pages from the book that they can read while walking down the sidewalk. Patrons are invited to share a selfie on the walk, and win a prize by sharing it on the Birmingham Public Library Facebook, Instagram or Twitter pages.

“Come along, enjoy the sun and read along with us,” said Fontaine Alison, a Five Points West Library Assistant III who gives a preview of the Story Walk through a video posted on the library Facebook page. “It’s a great choice for a story walk because there are different movements/actions at each page.”

Avondale Regional Branch Library is hosting its Story Walk in Avondale Park outside the library from September 1 through September 30. It will follow the path clockwise around the lake, beginning and ending at the plaza at the entrance to the park.

“We will feature the book, Down by the Cool of the Pool by Tony Mitton, illustrated by Guy Parker-Rees,” said Eve Parker, an Avondale Library Storyteller best known as Mrs. Eve.

Avondale Regional Library's Story Walk Features Down by the Cool of the Pool and begins September 1.

The goals of Avondale Library’s September Story Walk, according to Mrs. Eve:

• To connect the library with the public through an interactive literacy experience, by providing a directed park activity.

• To promote early literacy skills such as letter recognition, numeracy, print awareness, vocabulary.

• To promote health through walking and physical challenges.

• To promote reading as a family experience.

• To promote critical thinking skills and discussion with open ended questions.

This press release was produced by the Birmingham Public Library. The views expressed here are the author’s own.