From April 29 through the end of May, you and your family can walk around the Iola Square and read “When Spring Comes” by Kevin Henkes, one store window at a time!
Start at the Library to pick up a search and find bookmark to make the walk that much more fun and challenging!
For anyone who completes the story by May 4, you can come to the library’s Plant Exchange to pick up a free seedling of your own.
From the press release:
The Friends of Iola Public Library, in partnership with businesses around the Square, invite families to walk and read successive pages of the children’s book “When Spring Comes” by Kevin Henkes for our first Spring StoryWalk(r) on the Square. The StoryWalk begins on Monday, April 29 and will be up through the end of May. To participate, just start at the Library and pick up a Search and Find bookmark, then head to the Community National Bank to start reading, travel around the square along the east, north, west, and south sides to end at the Iola Pharmacy. There will be a QR code in the pharmacy window linked to a short survey about the experience. Any family that participates and completes the survey during the first week of the StoryWalk can use this proof of participation to receive a small gift at the May 4 Plant Exchange at the Library.
Mary Ann Regehr, Friends President, and Stephanie Larson, Friends Secretary, organized the walk and accompanying search and find with support from library staff Melissa Smoot and Lesa Cole.
The Library received this book and several other StoryWalk(r) stories as a gift from Beth Toland and the Allen Community College. The Friends are already planning for the next book to debut on June 28. Anyone may join the Friends, an organization dedicated to supporting the Iola Public Library with fundraising, volunteer support, and advocacy.
StoryWalk(r) promotes early literacy, physical activity, and family time together outside. It’s a fun and educational family activity that you can bring to your community!
StoryWalk was created in 2007 by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, VT, in collaboration with former staff member Rachel Senechal, and is a registered service mark of the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. StoryWalks now exist across the US and worldwide in 13 countries including Germany, Canada, England, Bermuda, Russia, Malaysia, Pakistan and South Korea!