The Moose Jaw Public Library never misses an opportunity to celebrate the importance of literacy, which is why they’ve set up a unique event to celebrate Family Literacy Week this year.
In partnership with the Moose Jaw Literacy Network and several downtown businesses, the MJPL has set up a Story Trail for families to take part in anytime between Jan. 25 to Jan. 30.
Beginning on the corner of Athabasca and Main Street at Jade Gardens Restaurant, the Story Trail leads readers down the east side of Main Street to various local businesses as they follow and read along with the scattered pages from Saskatchewan author Ruth Wellborn’s storybook Never Rub Noses with Narwhals.
The book focuses on the many interesting animals of the Arctic — a fitting topic to explore while out for a walk in the cold prairie January, noted MJPL children's librarian Tina Dolcetti.
Readers who reach the final page at its destination will be directed back to the MJPL to pick up a related craft bag to take home and to be entered to win one of the prizes featuring participating businesses, donated by the Moose Jaw Literacy Network and put together by the Early Years Family Resource Centre.
The event is part scavenger hunt, part storytime, said Dolcetti, and entirely focused on promoting literacy improvement as a family.
Heading out on the Story Trail is a great opportunity for families to spend some time together and get outside, said Dolcetti. The nature of the event also encourages families to take some time discovering the storefronts downtown.
“It's a way for families to get out, enjoy literacy, and become more familiar with what the community can offer,” said Dolcetti. “Some people are maybe experiencing cabin fever and they want things to do that are safe with their family outside their own home [and] this is a happy medium compromise, where you can get out and see something but not feel confined in a space.”
This is the second event of its kind the MJPL has organized, said Dolcetti. The first had readers exploring Crescent Park earlier this summer, and this Story Trail will be the first to venture away from the MJPL and partner with other groups.
“We’re really happy with the generosity of the community, and how they really rose to putting these pages on their windows,” said Dolcetti. “The enthusiasm from these businesses means we’d be interested in trying this again.”
For those interested in reading Never Rub Noses with a Narwhal without wandering outside, the Saskatchewan Literacy Network is also hosting a virtual storytime on Wednesday morning at 10:30 a.m. on saskliteracy.ca, where Wellborn will read the book herself for Family Literacy Day.
The MJPL is also hosting its weekly virtual storytime event on Thursday at 10:30 a.m. via Zoom, with the link available upon request.
All three events are entirely free and open to the public, as the purpose is to spark interest in literacy.
“Literacy rates are declining, and so this is just one way we are able to get out there to help promote families continuing with their literacy skills,” said Dolcetti.
