Clayton County Library Services and the Parks and Recreation Department invite you to visit our Walk and Read program. Walk and Read is intended to promote literacy among young children and to encourage nature exploration and physical fitness. The Walk and Read program features storybook pages posted on select walking trails at Clayton County parks. The parks include the Reynolds Nature Preserve in Morrow, Jester’s Creek Trail in Jonesboro, Clayton County International Park in Jonesboro, and the Gerald Matthews Park in Lovejoy. Locations of the parks can be found here.
Walk and Read
Program Info
The following is the list of books and the location schedule for the exhibit.
| Reynolds Nature Preserve | International Park | Jester’s Creek | Lovejoy Regional | |
| 5-Apr | Get Up and Go | Let’s Be Fit | Silly Sally | Skippyjon Jones |
| 19-Apr | Let’s Be Fit | Silly Sally | Skippyjon Jones | Get Up and Go |
| 3-May | Silly Sally | Skippyjon Jones | Get Up and Go | Let’s Be Fit |
| 17-May | Skippyjon Jones | Get Up and Go | Let’s Be Fit | Silly Sally |
| 31-May | ABC Animals Dance | Animal Shapes | Barnyard Dance | From Head to Toe |
| 14-Jun | Animal Shapes | Barnyard Dance | From Head to Toe | ABC Animals Dance |
| 28-Jun | Barnyard Dance | From Head to Toe | ABC Animals Dance | Animal Shapes |
| 12-Jul | From Head to Toe | ABC Animals Dance | Animal Shapes | Barnyard Dance |
| 26-Jul | Llama Llama Hoppity Hop | Even Monsters Go To School | The Day You Begin | School’s First Day of School |
| 9-Aug | Even Monsters Go To School | The Day You Begin | School’s First Day of School | Llama Llama Hoppity Hop |
| 23-Aug | The Day You Begin | School’s First Day of School | Llama Llama Hoppity Hop | Even Monsters Go To School |
| 6-Sep | School’s First Day of School | Llama Llama Hoppity Hop | Even Monsters Go To School | The Day You Begin |
Since technology is a major part of our lives, QR codes accompany each page of the story. If you scan them with your cell phone, the codes will launch an audio file of someone reading the pages for the kids. As you walk the trail, you and your child can listen to the story unfold. Early readers really enjoy listening to stories. Also, there is a bit of movement with each page of the book, which should be a lot of fun for the whole family. Each book is available in English, Spanish and Vietnamese. Just select the appropriate QR code to hear the book read in your preferred language.
We encourage to you visit each park to experience all of the books. To kick off the program, grab-and-go activity kits will be available for your child at nearby libraries and recreation centers. Simply present a selfie of you and your child on the Walk and Read trail to the Library Services or Parks and Recreation staff and you’ll receive a packet, while supplies last.
Speaking of selfies, share your photos on social media with the hashtag, #CCWalkandRead and be sure to tag us @claytongalib and @claytoncountyparks. You may be selected to win a free Clayton County Swag Bag! So, invite your friends, get moving, and have fun reading.