Printer Friendly Version - Families Should Take a StoryWalk Along Main Street

Twins Abigail and Isabel Holton, 4, are looking at the art work produced by nursery school students and being exhibited in the front lobby of the E.C. Scranton Library. The art work accompanies the final pages of The Dot, a children's book that forms the center of a new family reading experience in Madison, StoryWalk.

It starts with the first two pages of The Dot, a picture book by Peter H. Reynolds; the front door of Walker Loden; and a half dozen works of art by nursery school students. Then, store by store, window by window, page by page, the book and its story unfolds to young readers as they walk along Madison's main street.

The experience is called StoryWalk, and Children's Librarian Jane Ash is inviting families to take part. StoryWalk, she explains, is an initiative that combines a children's story with a popular walking route. A book is selected, in this case The Dot, and taken apart. Ash has worked with 16 businesses along Main Street to display the separated pages in their front windows. Start at Walker Loden and walk east to Two Ems and then R. J. Julia and on, and on. Follow the windows to follow the story.

"We are excited about this idea and we think it is the first time it has been offered along the shoreline. We waited for spring because we believe this is a family event. Parents and children can walk downtown and read the book along the way. It's fun," Ash says.

To add to that fun, the book pages at each front window are surrounded by individual works of art provided by pre-schoolers from the town's nursery schools. For those unfamiliar with the story, The Dot introduces Vashti, who "sits glued to her chair" after art class. "Her paper was empty" and she told her teacher, "I just can't draw." As the story-and the StoryWalk-progress, Vashti discovers that "many dots make quite a splash."

Ash says, "The story is about inspiration. How perfect to have it paired with art from our nursery schools. Bernadette Stak from Temple Beth Tikvah Nursery has been interested in an art show for pre-schoolers for a long time. This seemed the perfect match."

In fact, as Vashti hangs her head and declares, "I just can't draw," she is surrounded by the art work of Aaron and Lauren and Alyssa and Izzy, all nursery school students. Other pages from the book are accompanied by works of art from Brandon and Abby and Annalese, and Jack and Lucy and Rose, and many others-all displayed on the front windows of participating stores.

The StoryWalk is a perfect adventure for pre-schoolers, who will be read to by parents or older brothers and sisters, and young readers who can read aloud to parents and siblings joining them along the walk. It ends at Scranton Library where readers are encouraged to sign the guest book, and then, during school vacation week April 15 through 20, are invited to create a piece of art of their own. It coincides with National Library Week and the Week of the Young Child.

"This is a win-win for everyone," Ash says. "We think it will bring families downtown to read together and to shop. It will bring families to the library to see all the great things available here. It publicizes the nursery schools."

The very first stop for the Scranton Library StoryWalk and Preschool Art Show is the kiosk at the corner of the Boston Post Road and Wall Street. Pick up a bookmark and get started. The participating stores, in order, are Walker Loden, Two Ems, R.J. Julia, Coldwell Banker, Willoughby's, Village Pizza, Madison Wine Shop, Tony's Barber Shop, Ciao Bella Mode, Sweet Smyles, and Modern Dog. Cross the street at the traffic light to Optic Care, Madison Coffee Shop, Silver Moon, cross again at the traffic light, Mac Wear, Lily Juliet, and ending at Scranton Library.

The nursery schools producing the art works are Temple Beth Tikvah, Madison School for Young Children, Circle Nursery School, and Madison Learning Center.