Fox Chapel Area Rotary donates $10,000 for StoryWalk in Aspinwall park
Apr. 13—Colorful and oversized illustrated children's book pages will line the path at Aspinwall Fireman's Memorial Park thanks to a grant from the Rotary Club of Fox Chapel Area.
The club awarded $10,000 to Cooper-Siegel Community Library to install a permanent StoryWalk in the park in Upper Aspinwall.
There will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11 a.m. on April 30.
"The pages will be in a display that is at kid-height and families can walk through the path to read the story together," Megan Fogt, youth services department head, said.
This spring, families can enjoy "Rah, Rah, Radishes!" by April Pulley Sayre. The book uses photos of popular vegetables along with less common ones, linked with Sayre's cheerful chant celebrating them all, Fogt said.
"This book is a story time favorite and a fun way to think about favorite vegetables and maybe even encourage trying out some new ones," she said.
StoryWalks were created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, Vt., in collaboration with the Vermont Bicycle and Pedestrian Coalition and the Kellogg Hubbard Library.
They are meant to combine movement and literacy and are aimed at people of all ages.
The StoryWalk at Fireman's Memorial Park will be the first permanent display in Allegheny County, said Cooper-Siegel Community Library Executive Director Jill McConnell.
"It just so happens that this event coincides with Cooper-Siegel Community Library's 10th anniversary, which makes it even more special," she said.
Aspinwall Manager Melissa Lang-O'Malley said council was happy to collaborate with the library to bring the "unique educational and whimsical opportunity" to the families in local communities.
Cooper-Siegel youth services librarians selected picture books for the path that appeal to children ages 3-8. The pages of the books will be displayed at stations, with the final stop to include suggestions for related activities.
A new book will be displayed every three months. Fogt said choices were made to reflect stories that would be fun to read aloud and that would appeal to a wide age range.
She also looked for books that promote "windows and mirrors" for the community by providing racial, ethnic and cultural diversity, Fogt said.
The summer display will be "Catch That Chicken!" by storyteller Atinuke, with illustrations by Angela Brooksbank.
"This follows the story of Lami, who is the best chicken catcher in her village. Lami is the speediest and bravest, but when she twists her ankle while on a chicken chase, her Nana Nadia gives her a hint about how thinking quickly might be just as important as being quick-footed," Fogt said. "This story reminds all of us that sometimes getting better at something might mean that we need to adjust how we do it."
Earlier this year, both Sharpsburg Community Library and Cooper-Siegel launched their own StoryWalks at each site. They will run through fall.
The activities are scheduled for Kennedy Park in Sharpsburg and at the Welcome Garden at Cooper-Siegel.
Tawnya Panizzi is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Tawnya at 724-226-7726, tpanizzi@triblive.com or via Twitter .
