Parents of kids aged eight and under, are you looking for a fun, free and educational activity on Nantucket? Nantucket Community School has you covered. From now until June 8, you can enjoy the StoryWalk, a casual stroll through downtown Nantucket that allows kids to read the book My Garden, page by page, at various storefronts.
Like a scavenger hunt for reading, you read as you go! Attached to each store’s front window, you will find a new page of My Garden. You’ll find page one at the Nantucket Atheneum, which is located at 1 India Street. Each stop provides directions to the next storefront, where you will find the next page of the story. The StoryWalk brings you to 14 storefronts.
My Garden was written by well-known children’s author and illustrator Kevin Henkes. It is the tale of a little girl who enjoys her mother’s garden, and dreams of having a
garden of her own someday. Pauline Cronin, Activities Specialist at Nantucket Community School, chose the book based on its simplicity. She says, “There are not a lot of words in the book, so it fuels kids’ imaginations. If your child is an early reader, then he or she will be able to read it at five, six, or seven.” As fun as it is to read on your own, Cronin still recommends the StoryWalk for children who aren’t reading quite yet.
The StoryWalk can be done any time, day or night. Just remember to use the sidewalks provided, and be careful when crossing the road. Sometimes it’s easy to forget to pay attention to traffic when you’re having fun on Nantucket.
At the end of the StoryWalk, you will land back at the Atheneum and receive a bookmark prize. Not only will the kids be tuckered out and ready for a nice, long nap, they’ll be even more excited about reading!
The StoryWalk is funded through the Coordinated Family & Community Engagement Grant provided by the Department of Early Education & Care.