BURST
A family literacy charity in Surrey-White Rock is offering small groups, schools and event organizers a novel way to get young readers reading.
Shanti Ang, executive director of the READ Surrey White Rock Society, said the story walk lending program has seven kits that can be booked by contacting the organization’s family literacy coordinator at 778-242-7323.
“It was started by the Kellogg-Hubard Library in Vermont and got really popular during the pandemic because it is a naturally socially distanced activity,” Ang said. “It is meant to be outdoors. The idea is that it promotes reading together, being in nature, physical literacy and all those good things.”
Story walk kits comprise a laminated sheet for every page of a children’s book, that are placed on a hard plastic backing and then strategically placed so that the participants walk from one spot to the next to read the book.
Ang said the average kit is around 30 pages.
One book featured is What the Seal Saw by White Rock author Sherry McMillan and artist Carla Maskall.
Ang said the kit lending policy is very flexible and open to family groups, non-profits or event organizers.
“They promote reading, outdoor activity, family participation and literacy. They can be borrowed for a day, a week or longer,” she said. “We don’t dictate how people use them. They can use them however they want.”
For example, one kit was used at a family picnic, while the Surrey Mobile Library kept two kits for a month and used them around the city.
Ang said that anything that can get kids reading is invaluable in the age of social media.
“I saw a couple of things recently showing that kids, and young people in general, tend to be reading less for pleasure. I’ve heard that there’s a lot of stress and anxiety among young people and a lot of that is due to social media.”
Ang also pointed to the 91-country Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development’s most recent program for international student assessment that showed reading skills in Canada are their lowest since the assessment began in 2000.
The story walk program is funded through Postmedia News’s Raise-a-Reader campaign. The campaign exists to provide children and families with tools to improve their reading skills. These skills are the foundation for lifelong learning that significantly affects the quality of life and the health and social economic well-being of individuals, families and communities.
The 2026 Raise-a-Reader week is Sept. 18 to 25. You can help by donating today!
Here are the ways you can donate:
Click here to donate online.
Click here to download a donation form and mail to:
Raise-a-Reader
No. 980, 1125 Howe St.
Vancouver, B.C., V6Z 2K8
(Make cheques payable to Raise-a-Reader.)
Or phone 604-681-4199, ext. 400.