Families can enjoy the classic Dr. Seuss book, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” as they walk around Elmwood Park’s Central Park with a new interactive reading exhibit.
The exhibit is called a “StoryWalk,” where laminated pages of a book are posted around a trail, and readers of all ages can follow the story as they walk along. The exhibit will be available until Jan. 8.
“It’s a way to enjoy reading and being outdoors at the same time,” said Melissa Funfsinn, who runs children’s and teens’ programs at Elmwood Park Public Library. “It’s a way to promote early literacy in the community and the sort of interactive activity that families can do together.”
Third-graders from local Brownie Girl Scout Troop 45821 helped set up the exhibit, which they sponsored, along with Elmwood Park Public Library and the Neighborhood Civic Organization.
On Saturday, they were joined by the Grinch himself, played by Village Trustee Anthony Del Santo. It was cold and pouring rain, but the Girl Scouts took turns reading pages of the book while the Grinch acted out parts of the story and made animated hand gestures, Del Santo said.
“It’s fun engaging the kids and seeing their reactions,” Del Santo said.
Del Santo, who serves on the civic organization’s board of directors, said it’s a role he’s played for several years in a row, as the organization previously held other Grinch-related events. Del Santo said he’s also played Santa on occasion, but the Grinch is more fun. Kids seem to be less afraid of the Grinch, he said.
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This year, the civic organization wanted to offer something that families could still enjoy even with social distancing and other public health precautions.
“We wanted people to do something in a socially-distanced, COVID-friendly way,” said Natalie Shamie, the Girl Scouts’ troop leader, a member of the Elmwood Park Youth Commission and a civic organization volunteer. “They can walk through the village. The Public Works Department decorates Central Park so beautifully, so it’s throughout all the lighted trees. It’s really nice.”
The Girl Scouts purchased the copies of the book used for the “StoryWalk” with money they raised through selling cookies and candies, Shamie said. Every year they do a community project, and the girls are particularly interested in reading, Shamie said. During the troop’s kindergarten year, they set up a “Free Little Library” in Elmwood Park.
After families finish the “StoryWalk” they can use a QR code on one of the signs to get directions to the library, where they can pick up a Grinch-themed craft and a candy cane.
“Kids are experiencing a lot of screen time, which I know is a necessity. It’s the safest way to learn right now,” Funfsinn said. “But kids learn through movement and play and I think being able to be up close to a book and experience it with their whole body with their grownups or their older sibling is really valuable.”
The “StoryWalk” exhibit runs from Dec. 12 to Jan. 8 at Central Park, located at 2430 North 75th Avenue in Elmwood Park.