OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — Ralston’s Baright Public Library has a new outdoor permanent display that can help kids get back on track with their reading skills after such a disruptive school year with the pandemic.
You can walk, run, or skip your way down the Storybook Road. The new picture storybook display is now permanent and families are reading their way to outdoor learning, fun, and exercise.
"We love it, this is very cool. It is super fun for the kids to get outside, read a book and get outside, something fun for them to do with their families. It is really impressive. What do you think, Dez? asks mom Deanna Anderson.
"I like it. I like that we can read and we can go outside, two of my favorite things," said son Dez Anderson.
And when you do the walking storybook trail, it is recommended that you have your kids read the book displays out loud.
"Get them reading out loud because it is really important for reading comprehension and their listening skills. It promotes questioning, asking what's going on, what do you think will happen on the next page and what is going to happen at the end of the book?" said Justine Ridder, a youth services librarian at Ralston's Baright Public Library.
There are 20 posts and depending on your pace, it takes about 15-20 minutes to circle the park and complete the book.
"This isn't something kids are reading by themselves on their couch, which is great. We promote kids read anywhere and everywhere. What I love about this is that it can be a family bonding for all ages," adds Ridder.
The display is up 24/7 and for the summer, the stories are changed every week. In the winter the stories are changed once a month.
"We know that people still have to walk their dogs and we encourage them on those rare Nebraska days in the middle of winter when it is sunny and 60 degrees to come out and still read the story," continues Ridder.
At Wildewood Park, kids and parents can all read happily ever after.