Walking, talking, reading and learning: StoryWalk.
The program, StoryWalk, is a collaborative public offering for families of young children to help with reading skills, develop relationship skills, have a physically active, outdoors experience together and also help children understand about how money works, according to Joy Miller with Kansas State University Research and Extension.
Fort Scott Public Library and K-State collaborated on the family reading program, with Mercy Hospital providing some sponsorship.
Starting Monday, October 2, families could go to the library at 201 S. National Avenue to begin StoryWalk. A different story each week will be featured until the end of the program Oct. 29.
At a time convenient for family walking, families start at the ground level door on the north side of the library. They proceed counterclockwise walking around the block from Second Street to National Avenue to Third Street to Main Street, then back to the library.
They look for panels with featured book pages. Families read the panel, talk about the story and move to the next panel.
Each Monday a new book for young children will be featured and panels are left up for a week, giving families a chance for a convenient time for the StoryWalk.
The theme of the month-long StoryWalk is helping children manage money and in the process encourage families to walk together, Valetta Canon, youth librarian at the public library, said.
Last year, the library had a story walk during a reading program.
“It’s an enjoyable way of learning,” Canon said.
“I was approached by Joy Miller of Southwind Extension Office to see if the library would like to collaborate to incorporate a story walk this year,” Canon said.
For those who want to use technology on the StoryWalk, each panel will have a code that is scanned with a smartphone or Ipad or one can log on to Southwind.K-State.edu/home-family.
But a technology device is not necessary to StoryWalk, Miller said.
Featured books will be “Just Shopping With Mom” by Mercer Mayer, “Tia Isa Wants a Car” by Meg Medina, “Count on Pablo” by Barbara deRubertis and “Lemonade in Winter” by E. Lockhart.
Miller can be reached at 620-223-3720. Canon can be reached at 620-223-2882.
