West Branch News, November 2020: StoryWalks® Take Over Somerville!

Have you ever seen a StoryWalk®? It’s a super fun way to read a book and get some exercise at the same time! Book pages are laminated and installed along a sidewalk, fence, or building. As people walk along the path of the StoryWalk®, they are directed to the next page in the story.

To make our StoryWalks®, your friendly children’s librarians selected some of our favorite books and performed magical arts and crafts to separate the pages and mount them on oversized paper. Then we brought the pages to Staples for laminating. We've installed one outside at the West Branch and will soon install StoryWalks® at the Central Library and East Branch. Look for updates on our website and social media.

Other organizations in Somerville are doing StoryWalks® now, too! The Somerville Family Learning Collaborative (SFLC) has StoryWalks® up across the city, and the Beautiful Stuff Project has a gorgeous mosaic StoryWalk® that was made by members of the community. Shape Up Somerville is collaborating on this project as well, since it encourages physical activity and exploring our city.

StoryWalks® are a perfect social distancing activity, since they are outside, and the pages are spread apart.  As you visit Somerville’s StoryWalks®, make sure to stay at least 6 feet away from other people. You can get your StoryWalk® fix at the following locations:

• Somerville Public Library, 79 Highland Avenue: The Perfectly Perfect Wish by Lisa Mantchev, illustrated by Jessica Courtney-Tickle
• Somerville Public Library, East Branch, 115 Broadway: Windows by Julia Denos, illustrated by E. B. Goodale
• Somerville Public Library, West Branch, 167 Holland Street (TAB) (West Branch temporary location): Dreamers by Yuyi Morales
• Capuano Early Childhood Center, 150 Glen Street: Kip Goes Back to School by Amy Bamforth, illustrated by Janet Lane
• Foss Park Playground, Broadway/McGrath Highway: Talk With Me! by Amy Bamforth, illustrated by Janet Lane
• Benjamin G. Brown School, 201 Willow Avenue: Kip Goes Back to School by Amy Bamforth, illustrated by Janet Lane
• SFLC Center, Cummings School, 42 Prescott Street: Gabi Says, “I’m Confused,” No School, No Friends! by Amy Bamforth, illustrated by Janet Lane
• The Growing Center, 22 Vinal Avene: Gabi Says, “I’m Confused,” No School, No Friends! by Amy Bamforth, illustrated by Janet Lane
• Hodgkins-Curtin Park, Holland & Paulina Streets: Talk With Me by Amy Bamforth, illustrated by Janet Lane
• Winter Hill Community Innovation School, 115 Sycamore Street: Dandelion Days by Emily Bhargava, mosaic created by the community

The StoryWalk® Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, Vermont and developed in collaboration with the Vermont Bicycle & Pedestrian Coalition and the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. StoryWalks® are temporary, and will remain installed as long as conditions permit.  

Special thanks to the Friends of the Somerville Public Library for funding this project.

Alison Mitchell, West Branch