Exercising body and mind through the joy of reading and a walk in an alley in downtown Hattiesburg will be the centerpieces of StoryWalk®, a unique concept combining physical activity and literacy. The event will be held for the fourth year in a row on Saturday, May 25 from 9:30 a.m. to noon at the Pocket Museum.
StoryWalk® transforms the pages of a book into signs laid out on a trail inviting families, children, caregivers, teachers and others to follow the path of pages. Created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, Vermont, the now internationally popular StoryWalk® Project has taken place in all 50 states and beyond, including in Germany, Canada, England, Bermuda, Russia, Malaysia, Pakistan and South Korea where projects have been installed. Many of these installations are permanent or semi-permanent.
The featured book for this year’s StoryWalk® will be What I Like About You written by Marilynn James and illustrated by Miki Yamamoto.
Stacy Creel, Director of The University of Southern Mississippi’s School of Library and Information Science, spearheaded the move to bring StoryWalk® to Hattiesburg through the support of a community collaboration. “The School of Library and Information Science is excited to return to the Pocket Museum Alley for our 4th annual StoryWalk®,” said Creel. “This exciting opportunity gets kids moving and reading and geared up for summer reading programs at their local libraries!”
The first 300 children arriving for the Hattiesburg StoryWalk® will be eligible to receive a free, brand-new and age-appropriate book for their reading pleasure. Although StoryWalk® is designed for younger children ages 1 - 7, older kids and adults can have fun too with other activities that will be provided as they experience the joys of reading and exercise in the uniquely creative environment the Hattiesburg Pocket Museum offers.
“The Hattiesburg Pocket Museum is proud to welcome StoryWalk® again this year,” said Vicki Taylor, HPM’s volunteer curator. “It is so special to see the faces of the children when they receive a brand-new book to take home. The wonderment that StoryWalk® creates is what the Hattiesburg Pocket Museum is all about.”
The Library of Hattiesburg, Petal and Forrest County personnel will be on site promoting their Summer Reading Program, “Quest for Readalot,” which is a medieval theme. Students who register for the program will write their name on the Quest Scroll, receive their starter crown and jewels and a bookmark log. “We will also bring a craft for children to complete, which goes along with our “Quest for Readalot” theme,” said Nancy Claypool, Youth Services Librarian.
Literary Trail created to Complement StoryWalk® at the Hattiesburg Pocket Museum Alley on May 25
This May 25, StoryWalk® will be held for the fourth straight year in the alley of the Hattiesburg Pocket Museum. The idea behind StoryWalk® is to combine literacy and physical activity. To complement that concept, a Literary Trail has been created to further promote the fun of reading and learning while moving.
Creators of the Literary Trail hope children (accompanied by their grownups) will spend the day traveling (hopefully by foot) to designated downtown Hattiesburg locations to listen to books being read and participate in an activity at each stop.
The trail starts at the Hattiesburg Pocket Museum at 9:30 a.m. where StoryWalk® is being held. The book is What I Like About You. Free books will be given to the first 300 participants and a crafting experience will be led by the Library of Hattiesburg, Petal & Forrest Co.
At 10:30 a.m., Dr. Patricia Tibbs will read her book, Donkey’s Great Day at The Lucky Rabbit.
At 11 a.m. at Twin Forks the book, Stinky Cheese Man will be read and kids can make a free mini cheese plate.
The next stop is at 11:30 a.m. at The Author Shoppe where the book Where the Wild Things Are will be read and children can participate in Wild Things arts and crafts.
And the last stop of the Literary Trail will be at 12:00 noon at the African American Military History Museum where children will listen to the book, Llama Llama, Gram and Grandpa. The children will receive a special prize and a FREE malt from Smith Drug Co.
There is no charge to participate in the Literary Trail.
