Our Current Exhibit:
The Secret Garden adapted by Calista Brill, based on the novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett
March 13, 2024
Publisher: Harper Collins Children’s Books, 2020
Once upon a time…a walled garden bloomed under the summer skies in the north of England. But it was locked up and left all alone. And it stayed all alone, for many years. Until…
When young Mary Lennox moves into Misselthwaite Manor, she hates the cold hallways and ugly moor, and she hates how lonely she is. The only comfort Mary has is exploring the manor’s grounds.
After uncovering a hidden key, Mary discovers an old, abandoned garden that has a few secrets. With two unexpected friends, Mary gets to work bringing the garden back to life. In Mary’s determination to see the garden bloom, she undergoes a powerful transformation of her own.
Past Exhibits:
The Belonging Tree by Maryann Cocca-Leffler
January 12, 2024
Publisher: Henry Holt & Company, 2020
A young squirrel disagrees with his parents who want to exclude such newcomers as the blue jays, chipmunks, and beavers from the squirrels’ woodland neighborhood.
Eating the Alphabet by Lois Ehlert
November 6, 2023
Publisher: Clarion Books, 1993
Just in time for holiday feasting! “A vibrant … word book starring fruits and vegetables from around the world from Caldecott Honor–winning author-illustrator Lois Ehlert. Features upper- and lowercase letters for preschoolers just learning language.”
Whose Shoes? by Stephen R. Swinburne
September 6, 2023
Publisher: Astra Young Readers (January 1, 2011)
People work in many different jobs — and very often, the right shoes can make a job easier or safer. Would a nurse wear construction boots? Or should a construction worker wear ballet slippers? A terrific book to explore different careers, it also includes a game that invites young readers to guess which shoe matches which job.
Little Owl’s Day by Divya Srinivasan
(July 19, 2023 – ribbon cutting exhibit)
Publisher: Penguin Young Readers (September 16, 2014)
What is a StoryWalk®?
The StoryWalk® Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, VT and developed in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. Storywalk® is a registered service mark owned by Ms. Ferguson.
StoryWalk® is an innovative and delightful way for children — and adults! — to enjoy reading and the outdoors at the same time. Laminated pages from a children’s book are attached to your choice of frames, which are installed along an outdoor path. As you stroll down the trail, you’re directed to the next page in the story.
StoryWalks® have been installed in 50 states and 13 countries including, Germany, Canada, England, Bermuda, Russia, Malaysia, Pakistan and South Korea! They are always received with appreciation.
This project is made possible by Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funds from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Office of Commonwealth Libraries.
History:
Our StoryWalk® started as a small, temporary exhibit (called a “Story Path”) during the Covid 19 shutdown, using upcycled election signs we’d primed over! The launch event was the first outdoor, live program we offered in May of 2021. In addition to reading Ruby’s Birds by Mya Thompson, children were given the opportunity to make a bird nesting ball so they could further enjoy what they learned about watching backyard birds!
We followed up with other great books, including Chicken Story Time by Sandy Asher (with the local author coming to read it herself) and Rah! Rah! Radishes! by April Pulley Sayre just as our community garden was ready to harvest!
Our partnership with Longwood Gardens provides several outstanding StoryWalk® titles! In addition to Ruby’s Birds (above), we’ve also exhibited the 2022 and 2023 featured children’s selections! We Planted a Tree by Diane Muldrow, and Bring Me Some Apples and I’ll Make You a Pie by Robbin Gourley.
Our simpler, temporary Story Path using plastic signs was a great way to reuse old materials and save money, but the Southern End has some fierce wind and our installations were not surviving for more than a week.
We wanted to offer a more robust exhibit with real signs, but funds in our library are always limited. So we sought and were awarded an ILMS grant which is allowing us to purchase permanent signage!
The exhibit was installed in the summer of 2023. We partnered with several local organizations and businesses to bring this project to fruition:
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Lancaster County CTC teachers and students built wood frames as a project – the grant supplied the raw materials, the students gave their time for school credit and as goodwill!
Next, we had to find a way to move the materials around…enter another great partner to save the day! Note that the frames were kindly warehoused by our own staffer Roberta Walton while they were being finished!
Our early literacy sponsors, Reynolds & Shivery Funeral Home, provided volunteers who assisted our board president Chris Waite to do the hard work of putting things in place.
On launch day, we had lots of well-wishers come to our ribbon-cutting ceremony – then we walked the path for the first time!
Keeping the path safe for kids will fall into the domain of Troop 76, who have volunteered their time and effort to come and trim back the brush along the edges of the path.
Let us know you came to visit! Returning the flyer in the red brochure box (found at the second post) gives your family a chance to win a prize! You may participate for up to three prize chances (but you can read more frequently if you like!)