The TRF has collaborated with New Bern Parks & Recreation (Martin Marietta Park) and Craven County Parks & Recreation (Creekside Park) to install permanent StoryWalks. The stories are also available for temporary locations using portable real estate signs stakes. While the TRF has provided the bulk of the funding for this project, we have received financial support from the Harold H. Bate Foundation, the New Bern Woman’s Club, and the Craven Literacy Council to create additional stories. A StoryWalk® is a fun, educational activity that places a children’s story (literally a book taken apart due to copyright law) along a popular walking route or at an event in a community. Each StoryWalk® panel has a literacy component and an exercise component.
StoryWalks®:
1) encourage exercise thereby helping to reduce childhood obesity;
2) help children build vocabulary, comprehension, and a love of books in a dynamic setting;
3) provide a fun outdoor family activity;
4) encourage family interactions; and
5) provide a fun activity tied to the book, resulting in improved mental and physical health of all participants.
This project aligns with our Friends’ purpose of developing and supporting a community of readers.
The TRF does loan out the StoryWalk® sets to day care centers, churches, schools, businesses, and organizations at no charge.
As of April 2026 there are 12 titles available, and more are in production. There are 20 panels per set, and ideally, there should be at least ten feet between panels. To schedule the loan of a StoryWalk, please email Judy Hills.
Two teams are responsible for the two StoryWalks:
Creekside Park: Ellie Toombs Martin Marietta Park: Bruce & Krystal Simel
Here is a list of the titles as of July 2026:
- Giraffes Can’t Dance
- Grumpy Monkey
- The True Story of the Three Little Pigs
- Walter the Farting Dog
- Rainbow Fish
- This Farm is a Family
- Delicious Hullabaloo (bilingual: English/Spanish)
- Leo the Late Bloomer
- How the Crayons Saved the Rainbow
- A Fall Ball for All
- Big Pumpkin (Halloween theme)
- Bear Stays Up for Christmas (holiday theme
If you, your business, or your organization are interested in sponsoring a new StoryWalk title, please email Judy Hills.
For more information, email the interim StoryWalk Coordinator Judy Hills.
Here is the 2026 Schedule:
