“This event has really grown and changed since its inception in 2021 when it started out as a Progressive Story Walk, with 15 businesses participating by displaying a single page from one book on either a window or door, to this year having 35 downtown businesses displaying 35 different book covers in their windows and doors for the community to find,” MCBD Promotions Chair Alushia Fitzgerald said. “The Youth Department at the Library does a fantastic job of finding books that coordinate as much as possible with the participating businesses, providing the community with the printed worksheets that go along with the scavenger hunt, and the great grand prize options that are given out to the drawing winners. As for our downtown businesses, this is an event they are always happy to participate in as they love doing things for the children in our community.”

The concept, though it has evolved, is relatively simple: the covers of different children’s books are placed on the front windows of 35 different downtown buildings — both businesses including the T-R and nonprofit offices — and participants are asked to complete a scavenger hunt of sorts by writing the first two words of each book on a sheet of paper provided to them. Previously, participants were required to write the entire title, but the change was made to accommodate younger readers who may not have room to write all of the words just yet.

The forms, which can be picked up at the library, printed off or even completed digitally, must be turned in at the youth services desk by May 5 to earn a free book, and anyone who completes it will also be entered in a drawing to win Dia de los Ninos/Dia de los Libros (Children’s Day/Book Day) grand prizes that include the Marvel and DC encyclopedias, Pokemon toys and stuffed animals.

“We consider ourselves part of downtown. We’re a little bit off the beaten path, but we’re always proud to be a part of our Marshalltown downtown,” MPL Youth Services Coordinator Joa LaVille said. “So it’s kind of a logical partnership, and this time of year, hopefully — knock on wood — good weather for doing the scavenger hunt. So what we hope is that it’s just a win-win where families are out there relaxing with their kids and kind of taking a walk together and that finding the books is fun.”

Over the last several months, the library has held occasional in-house scavenger hunts that have gone over great with families — the most recent one in March drew 159 people. With the Storybook Walk, LaVille noted that they’ve made specific efforts to place books that tie into specific businesses or organizations on their doors and encouraged parents to patronize said establishments after the fact.

“I personally love this event as it gets children and families outside walking around our downtown, getting kids excited about reading the books that are displayed, and discovering or rediscovering great businesses and I am so happy to see the participation grow not only with the participating businesses but also with the families that complete the scavenger hunt,” Fitzgerald said.

As long as families find more than half of the titles and turn them in, their children will receive a free book with a wide variety of choices ranging in age appropriateness from babies to teenagers.

“It’s just a win-win. I just think it’s a really fun thing for families. I hope it’s good for the Central Business District, and of course, anything that promotes literacy and, in this case, both reading and writing for kids, is right up our alley,” LaVille said.

All of the books featured on the walk can be checked out at the library. An event more specific to Dia de los Ninos is set to be held at Midnight Garden (1501 S. 17th Ave.) on April 21 from 1 to 6 p.m.

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Contact Robert Maharry at 641-753-6611 ext. 255 or

rmaharry@timesrepublican.com.