What is a Storywalk?
Storywalks®, Storybook Walks™, story strolls, and book walks are all names for an innovative form of storytelling where a children’s book is taken apart and displayed in a way that encourages children to move from page to page (we will use the name Storybook Walk here). The first storybook walks were placed outdoors along a path and could often be found at museums and public libraries. These walks were placed in permanent display cases usually made of metal or wood. Anne Furgeson from the Kellogg Hubbard Library was really influential at pushing the idea and starting the movement. Her Storywalk® Project paved the way for many of today’s walks.
At StorybookWalk.com we have a team who believe it is possible to do a storybook walk just about anywhere and with minimal cost. This is why we have come up with many new creative ways to do storybook walks which work well both outdoors and indoors and provide tips on how to create these walks yourself. We believe that a storybook walk needs the following elements to be successful.
A Storybook Walk Needs:
1. A good book
This is the most important aspect of any storybook walk. A good book fits its audience. It is for the appropriate age group, fun, and easy to read. In addition, it has beautiful illustrations which encourage children to find out more. In most cases due to copyright laws, you will need to get permission from the author or publisher to do a storybook walk. Libraries are allowed some exemptions.
2. The perfect location
A storybook walk does not need to be outside. There are many great indoor walks. The main thing is that it is at a location which fits the content of the book and is placed in a way that children can read it. A story about taking care of your library book would work great on the windows of the library while a story about the beauty of nature would be better along a path outdoors or hung up along a fence.
3. Great prompts
Prompts are questions which are displayed at the bottom of a spread (double-sided page) which encourage children to move, speak, or react in some way. There are literacy, activity, and discussion prompts. A prompt may ask a child to make a silly face, jump, or even run back and forth between the pages.
4. An effective display
If your institution has the funds, a permanent display is a great way to hang up a walk. However, sometimes doing something a bit different can also be really fun and exciting. Not only is it possible to hang up a storybook walk on a wall or fence, there are also options for “no-hang” walks. These alterative walks are great for a quick walk with little preparation. A storybook walk does not need to break the bank.
If you are hesitating to do your first walk because you think you do not have the funds, then look no further. The new DIY Storybook Walk Editions created by A Little Donnerwetter Books is fantastic for creating walks on a budget. This is a version of a book which makes creating a storybook walk much easier. The back of each double-sided page, or spread, is white, and prompts have already been added. All you need to do is tear out the pages and cut along the dotted lines, match up the spreads, laminate, and display as desired. A Little Donnerwetter Books currently has a few editions available and is busy adding new authors to their collection. In addition, there are also Ready-to-Use Storybook Walk Editions which come laminated and ready to hang. You can now do a complete storybook walk for under $50.
Storybook Walks are a fabulous way to encourage children to read. They are perfect for libraries, schools, public parks, and anywhere where children gather. If you would like to learn more about how to do your next walk, check out the information on StorybookWalk.com or order our new book, “How to Create a Storybook Walk: simple, creative, and affordable ways to make your first walk a success” (available mid July, 2024) for only $11.99.
Isn’t it time that you created your first storybook walk?
