Contributed Photo An official map of the participating locations of the Storybook Walk, which can be printed and brought to the Marshalltown Public Library by May 1 when completed to receive a free book and be entered to receive prizes.

A page-turning adventure will take families on a trip across downtown Marshalltown.

Marshalltown Central Business District and Marshalltown Public Library have partnered to put on a Storybook Walk throughout downtown businesses beginning Friday.

Fifteen businesses are participating in the Storybook Walk. Pages from the bilingual picture book “Book Fiesta!” will be posted inside the 15 businesses along a planned route. Kids and their families can read parts of the story while shopping around local stores.

“With COVID, we were really trying to figure out different activities where people wouldn’t necessarily have to be together in big groups,” Marshalltown Central Business District Promotions Chair Alushia Fitzgerald said.

While the idea originated in 2019, plans resurfaced as the weather began to warm up this year.

“We thought this would be perfect for this year to start off spring, to get people shopping again and just out and about,” she said.

Part of the event’s purpose is to assist participating businesses by boosting store traffic and recognition.

“We wanted to pick places where you could go out as a family, the kids could read the story and the parents could shop around in the store, or they could read the story together as a family and hopefully hang out in the store, maybe go to stores they’ve never been to before,” Fitzgerald said. “Just to sort of help boost sales, because it’s been hard between the tornado and then the derecho and then COVID. We’re just trying to get people back in and introduce them to those retail businesses that we have downtown.”

The Storybook Walk begins April 16 and lasts through April 30, the final day being the date of Día de los Niños/Día de los Libros (Children’s Day/Book Day).

The book featured in the Storybook Walk, “Book Fiesta!” by Pat Mora with illustrations by Rafael Lopez, is a celebration of Children’s Day/Book Day complete with children and families from different languages and cultures enjoying books.

A map of the route containing the addresses and order of participating businesses can be found at www.marshalltownmainstreet.org or can be obtained by contacting the youth desk at Marshalltown Public Library.

After filling in the names on the map of all 15 businesses associated with each page of the book, kids can turn in the completed map to the library by May 1 to get a free book and be entered to win a raffle for bigger prizes.

——

Contact Trevor Babcock at 641-753-6611 or tbabcock@timesrepublican.com.