SUDBURY – Goodnow Library, in collaboration with PlaySudbury, invites the community to visit Summer StoryWalk® 2021 events planned at school playgrounds in the coming weeks.
Summer StoryWalk® 2021 is designed to help celebrate the completion of the new playground at the Israel Loring Elementary School, marking four years of work to make the community’s playground spaces accessible and inclusive.
A StoryWalk® is an interactive way for readers of all ages to enjoy a story and walk at the same time. Laminated pages from a children’s picture book are displayed on special posts along a popular sidewalk. Each page in the book directs families to the next page in the adventure.
Each elementary school playground will host one StoryWalk®. Each playground will feature a different book selection, which will emphasize diversity, inclusion, and accessibility. Stories are suitable for readers of all ages.
The Josiah Haynes Elementary School playground will feature the book “Ricky, The Rock Who Couldn’t Roll,” from Wednesday, July 21 to Friday, July 30. The playground and StoryWalk® are not open when summer school is in session, Mondays-Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
StoryWalk® events will follow at the Peter Noyes Elementary School, Gen. John Nixon Elementary School, and Israel Loring Elementary School. The Library will announce future StoryWalk® events and book titles as they become available.
PlaySudbury, a volunteer group which designed and advocated for upgrades to the playgrounds, is providing materials and labor for creating and installing the StoryWalk® exhibits. The Goodnow Library staff is consulting on book selection and StoryWalk® procedures, and allowing use of some Library equipment.
“We are thrilled by this partnership, and thank PlaySudbury for approaching us with this idea,” said Library Director Esmé Green. “This is a wonderful way to celebrate our playgrounds, and help children build literacy skills at the same time.”