A new literacy experience is coming soon to Benton Harbor’s Britain Youth Park. At a Monday meeting, city commissioners approved a proposal from the Great Start Collaborative to install a Too Small To Fail children’s Story Book Trail at the park. The collaborative’s Kristen Chism tells WSJM News the Clinton Foundation is paying for the Story Book Trail as part of the Talking is Teaching: Talk, Read, Sing campaign. Parents can take their kids to the park to walk through ten two-sided story panels set to the tale of D.J.’s Busy Day.
“It follows D.J. and his family throughout their day, and it illustrates how to make each moment special,” Chism said.
Chism says walking through D.J.’s Busy Day will be like walking through a book.
“You’ll be able to go the park, and you’ll be able to walk along the panels and read the entire story. It’s a double sided installation, so it’s a 20 page story.”
The display will be permanent. Chism says exposing children to reading improves their educational outcomes. With the city commission’s blessing, the story book trail at the park on Britain and Pipestone should be installed within the next few weeks.
