Willow Lane Elementary School in Macungie recently hosted a book signing and activities session to introduce the story walk being integrated into the school’s existing nature walk.

Bringing this project to fruition required serious collaboration.

Working together, the book’s authors and illustrator, a volunteer translator and employees of the Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit 21’s Curriculum and Instruction/Education Technologies and Special Programs departments, the East Penn School District and Willow Lane Elementary School made the story walk a reality.

Christin Adams, CLIU staff development facilitator, also credited adjudicated students enrolled in the Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit’s Youth Forestry Camps for creating the stands which will support the story boards throughout the walk.

The featured book, “Simeon Bleeker’s Magical Sneakers,” is the brainchild of authors Paul Walsh and Ronnie Nace Jr. with illustrations by Susie Sewell. Simeon Bleeker possesses magical sneakers that permit him to see the world from another’s perspective, to actually walk in someone else’s shoes. In this case he, and the reader, gain insight into the life of an autistic child.

The book’s focus on gaining understanding through an altered perspective is the perfect choice for Willow Lane Elementary School’s new story walk which offers a novel and engaging approach to literacy.

At various points along the school’s property, large, two-page sections of the book will be posted. Each panel contains two QR codes – one for English, one for Spanish – which the reader may scan using a phone or iPad camera. An access box then appears on the phone or iPad screen, which when clicked activates an audio reading of the displayed pages.

Supplemental activities incorporated into the story walk further enhance the experience.

As stated by Walsh “[The story walk is an] exciting, educational activity.”

The kickoff event featured a meet and greet book signing. Attendees also had the opportunity to sample the story walk which, for demonstration purposes, was set up in the school cafeteria. Participants then broke into smaller groups and met in assigned classrooms where they engaged in story related activities.

Willow Lane Elementary School’s new story walk combines an imaginative tale, technology, and community resources. The result is a positive and stimulating educational experience.