The Tale about the Trail Tale

     

    As I was out last Friday setting up the new book at Sheldon Woods, I was pleasantly surprised to discover just how much the community treasures the Trail Tale.  Due to the pandemic and some structural damages to the pedestals, the story had not been replaced during the spring.  It had been missed.  Families were cheering when I arrived to change out the book.   Adults without children were thanking me for the impact the story trail has had on the community and for all the work we do at the library.  One group of young children was very intrigued by the mechanics of the physical replacement of the pages.  I soon had a small following joining me along the trail, reading as we went. 

    Many entities throughout the country have created their own type of progressive story along a path.  I have seen book pages posted along school walls, along drop off routes for summer camps, or even inside libraries.  Apparently the idea was thought up in 2007 by a disease prevention specialist in Vermont named Anne Ferguson. The idea was simple.  Take a picture book, cut it up, laminate each page, glue them to stakes, and set them out along a walking path.  Her goal was to encourage families to get moving.  Maybe children would race each other from post to post in an attempt to finish the book before their siblings.  Maybe the books would inspire some discussions about their surroundings and encourage them to walk further along the path.  In Ms. Ferguson's attempt to help the families in her community make healthier lifestyle choices, she set up the formula that many libraries have adopted - whether they know about her or the trademarked StoryWalk® she created. I, myself, had never heard of the program until I was at a library conference despite knowing several libraries and parks that had incorporated a similar project in their communities.

 

    The Trail Tale at Sheldon Woods is not part of the official StoryWalk® project, but its values are the same.  Our Trail Tale was initiated in 2017 by Eagle Scout Logen Denger.  His project was to create lasting and environmentally sustainable structures to showcase the storybook pages.   The Grafton-Midview Public Library, under the leadership of Director Adele Infante, and in partnership with Lorain County Metroparks ensured that Logan's vision to "provide an opportunity [for] growing families and children to get outside, practice their reading skills together and have fun while doing it" became a reality.

   

   As I drove back to the library just in time to serve our free summer lunch program provided by the Boys and Girls Club of Lorain, I thought about Anne Ferguson, Logan Denger, and other people in all kinds of professions who set out to make a difference in their communities    What a gift it is to see the positive and lasting impact the work we do at the library has on the community.  What a gift it is to be a part of it.

    Visit Sheldon Woods to see one of my favorite books.  It was the first book I read at a storytime almost 20 years ago.  It is a perfect one to act out in the woods and get your family moving.  If you are like me, you will turn it into a call back song complete with a dance.  Everything is better with a song and a dance. 

  

Don't Throw Away Your Shot... at GMPL!

Just in time for this year's Fourth of July celebrations, Disney+ started streaming the critically acclaimed, smash hit Hamilton. Hamilton, created by Lin-Manuel Miranda, made its Broadway debut in 2015 and follows the rise and fall of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton. Hamilton served in the American Revolutionary War, led the Treasury Department under President Washington, and was one of the most prolific interpreters and supporters of the U.S. Constitution. In addition to a powerful soundtrack that draws heavily on rap and hip hop, the Broadway production casts diverse, non-white actors to break down the barriers between the audience and the historical figures of the past. We at GMPL love Hamilton, and yes, we may have been caught singing our favorite songs at the Children's Desk! Whether you need more to feed your Hamilton fix or you're just discovering the "10 dollar Founding Father" for the first time, we have you covered! Check out our Hamilton materials below!         

Hamilton: Original Broadway Cast Recording 

Learn the catchy lyrics for the first time, or continue the musical long after you've watched the production on Disney+ with the original cast's recording. 

Alexander Hamilton 

by Ron Chernow 

Did you know that Lin-Manuel Miranda picked up Chernow's 800+ page biography of Hamilton for some light reading while on vacation? Read the book that inspired it all!  

Eliza: The Story of Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton 

by Margaret McNamara 

We know all about the young, scrappy, and hungry Alexander Hamilton - but what about his wife? McNamara details how Eliza raised money for the Washington Monument, founded the first orphanage in New York State, and tirelessly preserved the legacy of her husband during the fifty years after his death. Additional goodies include Phillipa Soo's afterward, websites to explore, and a clear timeline of events.  

Hamilton and Peggy! A Revolutionary Friendship 

by L.M. Elliott 

Angelica Schuyler is wickedly smart and passionate. Her sister Eliza is generous and sweet. And then there's Peggy. "And Peggy" is finally in the spotlight in this YA novel. When Alexander Hamilton writes to Peggy Schuyler asking for help in wooing over her sister Eliza, a friendship quickly blossoms between the two. Her new friendship and her increasing involvement in the Revolutionary War finally allows Peggy grow into formidable young woman in her own right.  

Who was Alexander Hamilton?

by Pam Pollack

The popular biography series for kids tells the story of how an orphaned Hamilton made his way to the American colonies, studied law, served as an aid to George to Washington during the Revolutionary War and later in his presidential cabinet, designed our current financial system, and more! 

A Picture Book of Alexander Hamilton

by David A. Adler

A great biography for first and second graders, Adler discusses the highlights of Alexander Hamilton's life, such as his involvement in the American Revolution, his time as the Secretary of the Treasury, and his tragic death from a duel with Aaron Burr. 

Alexander Hamilton vs. Aaron Burr: Duel to the Death

by Ellis Roxburgh

As the first Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton handled the fragile finances of the U.S. and designed much of our current financial system. Aaron Burr became the third Vice President of the U.S. in 1800. How did these two prominent men find themselves in a duel that ended the political career of Burr and the life of Hamilton? Roxburgh explains all the incidents that led up the deadly conflict between Hamilton and Burr.