If you go out in the woods in August you’re bound for a big surprise.
No, it’s a not a teddy bear picnic, but kids will encounter other characters in the park through a new interactive literary adventure.
North Vancouver District Public Library will create a pathway to reading, called Trail Tales, by posting pages of a children’s storybook at two Edgemont-area parks – Fairmont and Eldon – later this month.
The selected story is The Two Sisters, written by Canadian poet and author E. Pauline Johnson. Chief Joe Capilano passed on the legend of The Two Sisters to Johnson who retold it in her book Legends of Vancouver (1911). Now, it has been illustrated and presented as a children’s picture book, The Two Sisters.
A children’s librarian will guide participants through the First Nations legend of the “Two Sisters,” also known as “The Two Lions” – in the shadow of the iconic figures that stand guard over the North Shore mountains.
Twenty scaled-up illustrations posted on stakes throughout the park bring to life the story of two sisters who brought together two warring tribes for a peaceful feast, creating a lasting sense of community among the coastal people.
Especially in this age of technology, stories can be presented and experienced in many ways, according to NVDPL events co-ordinator Meghan Crowe.
“And some research has suggested that spending time outdoors, close to nature, can even have significant health benefits,” says Crowe. “Children today often have immense exposure to digital screens, and outdoor environments can naturally encourage children and families to take part in physical activity.”
For Trail Tales, NVDPL programmers were inspired by the StoryWalk project at the Kellogg-Hubbard Library in Vermont.
“The (North Vancouver District Public) Library aims to connect community, share knowledge, and inspire stories – and this is one of those programs that allows us to do all three,” says Crowe.
“North Shore families are tremendously active and eager to explore the outdoors, so the library wanted to provide a unique literacy opportunity that took advantage of this while celebrating the remarkable environment that we are privileged to live in here in North Vancouver.”
Trail Tales will be presented at Fairmont Park, 3150 Colwood Dr., Aug. 21, 10:30-11:30 a.m. and at Eldon Park, 4010 Ruby Ave., Aug. 23, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
More information is available at nvdpl.ca.
