Book walk gets children outside the library’s walls

It’s a warm fall day with colorful leaves swirling around as a group of energetic kids follow Socorro Library’s Maribel Tarango, youth service assistant, out the side door of the library. She announced earlier that they wouldn’t be staying inside for story time, which left a couple kids with confused looks on their faces. Today, the kids are going on a book walk.

A book walk is an interactive outdoor reading experience. Each page is propped up on outdoor stands which create a path for the readers. It gives the readers a chance to be outside, move freely and interact with the story at their own pace.

Tarango said when she heard about the opportunity to do a book walk from Chelsea Jones, the Socorro Library director, she was thought it was a great idea to do something new and get the kids outside, especially while the weather was still nice.

“This book is by one of my favorite authors,” said Tarango. “I just thought this was the cutest book ever.”

Time to Play/Tiempo de Jugar by Eva Mastogiulio is a bilingual story about a happy girl who does things at her own pace until she finds a watch and makes friends with Time. For Tarango, who is bilingual, being able to share the book in English and Spanish with her kids is a special experience for her.

“I just love all my kiddos and sharing stories with them,” said Tarango.
The book walk is part of the New Mexico State Library circulating kits resource that public libraries can check out to support their programing. On top of book walks, they offer STEM trunks, StarNet kits, Mesa Prieta Petroglyph trunks and women’s history banners.

Chelsea Jones, Library Director, said that it’s important that the library creates a healthy environment and programs to give kids what they need to play well, learn well, and live healthy enriched lives.

“It is my goal as a member of the Humanities Council, Healthy Kids New Mexico, and the New Mexico State Library to create opportunities for cross sector collaboration. By utilizing NM State Library circulating materials, the Socorro Public Library is able to provide hands-on experiences,” Jones said.

Socorro Public library offers youth and adult programs every day of the week. For the kiddos they offer story time, STEAM programs, painting, bingo, Creative Bug and Wii. For the grown-ups they offer meditation, yoga, a book club and a writers’ group.

Please see their website: adobelibrary.org or follow them on Facebook for updated event information.