COLRAIN — On Sunday, Colrain’s Griswold Public Library and Pine Hill Orchards joined forces to debut a new “StoryWalk.”
Organized by the library and hosted by the farm, the StoryWalk, part of an internationally-expansive program, combines reading, movement and fresh air to make for an immersive storytelling experience. Participants are tasked with making their way through the apple orchard’s tree-lined paths to encounter pages from local author Angela DiTerlizzi’s book, “Some Pets,”one by one. The aim of the StoryWalk is to let young readers finish the book while enjoying apples and the great outdoors along the way. Long-term, both the library and the orchard hope the StoryWalk can make an influence on the community’s next generation.
When thinking of implementing a StoryWalk, Griswold Public Library initially considered using space behind the library as its setting. After realizing that the space would be too small and basic for participants to navigate meaningfully, the library saw Pine Hill Orchards as an obvious alternative.
“I can’t imagine a more beautiful setting, and this is what people think of when they think of Colrain, too,” Library Director Chelsea Jordan-Makely said.
Jordan-Makely said that when the library approached Pine Hill to propose the idea, the town staple didn’t think twice.
“They didn’t even hesitate … they were like, “heck yes!” she said.
“We strive to be a friendly, kid-friendly orchard,” Pine Hill manager Brady McElaney said. “I think that libraries, books, and literacy are so important for kids … we’ve always wanted to do something within that realm and Chelsea made it happen.”
Despite drizzly skies, a crowd of around 25 parents and small children gathered in seats on the lawn to enjoy the opening ceremony. The day’s celebration commenced at 11 a.m. with local musician and storyteller Davis Bates performing an interactive, conversational set of children’s stories and sing-along music. McElaney said Bates, a local and Parents’ Choice Magazine Gold Award winner who has been performing across the country for over 40 years, was a popular choice to accompany the event.
“He’s a great addition to an event like this,” she said. “I think that using literacy and music together is a great thing to do.”
Jordan-Makely said the book chosen for the StoryWalk was also fitting. “Some Pets,” a children’s book written by local author Angela DiTerlizzi and illustrated by Brendan Wenzel, is a textually and visually vibrant testament to the region’s rich literary history.
“We read so many books … we knew this was the right one,” Jordan-Makely said, adding that it tied into the library’s summer book club theme of “Tails and Tales.”
For Pine Hill Orchards, the day’s festivities doubled as a celebration of the start of their “Pick-Your-Own” season, which began the day prior and extends through Columbus Day. People can pick from 20 types of apples across the nine-acre orchard every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the season with free wagon rides available on weekends. Picking costs $29 per half-bushel, $18 per peck, and $9 per half-peck.
While the StoryWalk and apple picking season are limited in time, the orchard and library each hope that the season bears fruit in the long term. More specifically, Jordan-Makely is optimistic that the StoryWalk can “inspire a love for reading” to help make for “a thriving, healthy community.”
“This is the next generation of Colrain,” Jordan-Makely said.
The StoryWalk Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, Vermont and developed in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. This particular project was supported by the Mohawk Trail Regional School System Coordinated Family and Community Engagement-CFCE Program, as well as author DiTerlizzi’s consent.
Reach Julian Mendoza at 413-772-0261, ext. 261 or jmendoza@recorder.com.