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38 Island Parent Magazine
Learn through Play Greater Victoria Public Library’s story kits
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group of children crowds around a tree at Banfield Park in Victoria West, studying the pages of a book hanging from a branch with red ribbons. Two-year-old, Phoebe, points at the picture and giggles—a cat is wearing brandnew, white high-top sneakers. Noah, two, is wide-eyed, and calls his dad over to share the experience. The oldest in the group, Elyse, four, spots the next page of the book, displayed on a signpost further down the path. She leads the group toward it, wondering aloud what’s to come. The children are participating in a Greater Victoria Public Library StoryWalk®, an innovative and delightful way for children—and adults—to enjoy stories in the great outdoors. In a StoryWalk®, pages from a children’s book are hung from trees or fences or fastened to wooden stakes in a circuit along a path. As the kids stroll—or run or hop or skip—down the trail, they go from page to page in sequence, enjoying the joy of reading combined with the pleasure of being in nature. Thanks to a Times Colonist Raise-a-Reader grant, GVPL launched 30 StoryWalk® kits in January 2017. Popular titles include The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson and The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle, as well as three French language titles. With grandchildren coming to visit over the summer, a StoryWalk® is a great way to spend an afternoon together. The library has other kits that also support literacy skills and give grandparents a unique way to help kids learn while having fun. Puppets To Go kits encourage children to stretch their imaginations and their storytelling skills. The kits include a storybook and a cast of puppets to bring tales to life. The book is read by an adult; next, a child takes the lead using puppets from the kit to retell the story or to invent a tale with new characters, experiences and feelings. “Using puppets to tell stories helps children develop speaking and listening skills,” says Jennifer Windecker, Director of Public Services at GVPL. “They’ll also gain confidence to express ideas.” If a grandchild has a love of Lego or fascination with fairies, GVPL’s Books to Go bags contain 10 books on one topic to immerse a young reader in a subject that captures their imagination. From dragons and dinosaurs to
princesses and pirates, the mix of non-fiction and fiction titles will appeal to kids ages five to 10 years old. The Readers To Go bags provide kids learning to read in English or French with a variety of books suited to their reading development. Each bag contains an assortment of short books with controlled vocabulary and related illustrations. Each bag also contains information on how adults can support children learning to read. For a hands-on learning experience, a Climate Action Kit contains books, information and a DVD. Children and grandparents can find out how to live a greener lifestyle, then use the tools in the kit to test a home’s energy efficiency. For more information, visit gvpl.ca or one of GVPL’s 11 branches in Greater Victoria.
Tips for Leading a StoryWalk® • Discuss the story before you start walking (e.g. What do you think the book will be about based on the title and pictures on the first page?) • Talk about what’s on the page rather than simply reading the text. (That character is watering a flower. Have you ever taken care of a plant?) • Discuss the story in between pages. (e.g. What do you think will happen next? Why do you think [character’s name] did that?) • Explain unusual words or concepts as they come up in the story. • Encourage movement from one page to the next. (e.g. Hopping or skipping) • Along the way, collect items that relate to the story. (e.g. A leaf or rock) • Take your time—try to make the experience last around 20 minutes. Take time for contemplating the natural environment. • For a StoryWalk® with older children, add challenges such as hide and seek with the book’s pages or a treasure hunt for additional items. • Regroup at the end to summarize, reflect and discuss reactions to the story and the experience of reading while out on a walk (e.g. What was funny? Surprising? Did you think the book would end the way it did? Who was your favourite character? Have you ever felt like that character before?).
Island Grandparent 2017