MACHIAS — This May, Porter Memorial Library’s StoryWalk® will feature “Up in the Garden, Down in the Dirt” by Kate Messner. In this charming and engaging story, young readers journey through the hidden wonders of a garden across the seasons. Above ground, the garden bursts with life — lush leaves, budding vegetables, and ripening fruits. But beneath the soil lies an equally busy world, where earthworms dig, snakes hunt and skunks burrow, revealing the many creatures that call the garden home.
StoryWalk® is a literacy-boosting initiative that displays children’s illustrated books page by page along community walking routes. This interactive outdoor reading experience combines physical activity with a love of books, encouraging families to explore and read together.
In October 2023, Porter Memorial Library partnered with Healthy Acadia and Maine SNAP-Ed to bring the StoryWalk® project to downtown Machias. A new book is carefully selected each month to reflect the season or community themes. As families stroll along the outdoor path, they can enjoy the story and discover a new adventure each month they visit. At the end of the StoryWalk®, visitors will also find a healthy, kid-friendly recipe inspired by the book’s themes, encouraging cooking and enjoying nutritious meals at home.
This project was made possible through the vision of Shannon Cherry, Healthy Acadia Maine SNAP-Ed nutrition educator, in collaboration with Porter Memorial Library. In addition to offering cooking and nutrition education throughout the year, Maine SNAP-Ed Nutrition Educators support local projects that promote access to fresh, healthy food for all. These Policy, Systems, and Environmental Change Projects aim to improve food security and wellness in communities.
Stop by the Porter Memorial Library throughout the year and enjoy the StoryWalk®.
The May book selection is generously sponsored by Deborah Huntley. Learn how you can support the StoryWalk® at Porter Memorial Library by contacting Cherry at [email protected] or 207-255-3741.
The StoryWalk® Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, Vermont and developed in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. Storywalk® is a registered service mark owned by Ferguson.
Healthy Acadia is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that engages in a broad range of initiatives to build healthier communities and make it easier for people to lead healthy lives across Washington and Hancock counties. Learn more at www.healthyacadia.org.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider. Maine SNAP-Ed is funded by the USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, which is administered by the Office for Family Independence at the Maine Department of Health and Human Services and implemented statewide by the University of New England through contracts with local community organizations. Maine SNAP-Ed educates families experiencing low income on low-cost healthy eating and active lifestyles. Contact [email protected] or 207-221-4560 for more information.
