Over 200 students from West View Elementary School made the trek to their neighborhood park to help cut the ribbon on the Library's inaugural Storybook Trail on Friday, Sept. 16.
As the trumpets sounded, Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs along with City of Knoxville Deputy Mayor David Brace and other dignitaries unveiled the first of three storybook trails in Knox County. This first trail features “My Voice Is a Trumpet” by Jimmie Allen.
The fanfare was made all the more special with a trumpet-making craft. The Friends of the Library were on hand to give each student a book of their own.
The trail includes prompts to encourage physical activity between panels. The Library plans to rotate the storybooks between parks after several months so new books will be on display throughout the year.
“These Storybook Trails are a great way to shine a light on two of the most important priorities of my administration—literacy and health,” said Mayor Jacobs. “I’m excited Knox County will have a such a unique way for people to access books in an outdoor setting.”
This Storybook Trail opens as the community sets sail on the final reading challenge (Sept.1–Dec. 15) in Mayor Jacobs’ one million-hour Read City USA voyage: Oceans of Possibilities. The quest is to read for 45 hours (about 20 minutes a day) and discover priceless museums, historic sites, and other cultural riches in our own backyard.
Sailing Home Treasure Maps are available at any library location to keep track of reading progress and help make ours the best-read community!
The Storybook Trails are made possible by: Governor's Early Literacy Foundation, Friends of the Knox County Public Library, Knoxville City Council Members (Roberto, Thomas, Fugate, Testerman, and Parker), Walmart Store #1318 (Clinton Highway), and Sam's Club #8256 (Walbrook Drive).,