Children stop to read one of the “Jabari Jumps” Storywalk panels on the McMahon Nature Trail, located behind McMahon Elementary School in Lewiston. Submitted photo

The Lewiston Public Library, in partnership with Lewiston Public Schools, recently placed 20 permanent Storywalk panels on the McMahon Nature Trail behind McMahon Elementary School.

The trail, at 151 North Temple St. in Lewiston, is accessible to the public off that street and from behind the school when it is closed. This project was made possible through a CARES Act grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, according to a news release from the library.

A Storywalk is a series of stationary sign posts that feature pages of a picture book that allow readers to interact with the story as they walk. Storywalks encourage family literacy alongside physical activity. The current featured children’s book is “Jabari Jumps” by Gaia Cornwall.

In June 2020, the library received a $121,846 CARES Act grant to support library programming and community outreach during the COVID pandemic.

According to Children’s Librarian Sara Turner, “The NEH grant allowed us to partner with the public schools in a way we have never done before. We were able to extend our reach in the community by mailing library information and services to every student in the public school system. The Storywalk is a fun educational activity that combines the pleasure of reading fantastic children’s books with the joy of walking together outside.”

April is Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Awareness Month. In partnership with the Androscoggin Prevention Council at Community Concepts, the library and Lewiston Public Schools plan to feature a new feature book, “Say Something” by Peter Reynolds.

For information on the McMahon Nature Trail Storywalk, contact the library at 207-513-3133 or lplkids@lewistonmaine.gov.

For information about parenting support or classes, contact Cassandra Wallace with Community Concepts at cwallace@community-concepts.org or 207-713-9759.