In cooperation with the Knox Parks and Recreation Department, the Starke County Public Library System launched our Wythogan Park StoryWalk® in October 2023. The Library maintains the Story Walk, switching out the stories every 6-8 weeks, weather permitting.
Visiting a StoryWalk® promotes early literacy, family time together outside, and can help with physical activity. Reading aloud 20 minutes a day to babies, toddlers, and preschoolers exposes them to hundreds of new words each year; building strong literacy and language skills. Hearing stories out loud gives children opportunities to hear new words, describe things and events, enjoy and tell stories, and hear and play with sounds and letters in words. Participating in a StoryWalk® also provides a teaching moment for the family; they can discuss the text, illustrations and meaning of the book. Many stories have great themes from kindness to learning to love nature and many more!
The StoryWalk® project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montepelier, Vermont and developed in collaboration with the Vermont Bicycle & Pedestrian Coalition and the Kellogg Hubbard Library.
Past StoryWalk® Books featured at Wythogan Park:
- Dandelion Magic by Darren Farrell
- Mice Skating by Annie Silvestro
- Snow by Sam Usher
- Santa’s First Christmas by Mac Barnett
- The Leaf Thief by Alice Hemming
- The Watermelon Seed by Greg Pizzoli
- A Little Scribble Spot: A Story of Colorful Emotions by Diane Alber
- Two Dogs by Ian Falconer
- Just Because by Mac Barnett
- The Secret Life of Squirrels by Nancy Rose
- Blizzard by John Rocco
- Who is Coming to Our Home? by Joseph Slate
- Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert