2022 Summer StoryWalk®: ‘Dump Truck Daisy’

Middleton’s summer StoryWalk® takes on construction theme,
introduces children’s Hard Hat Club

StoryWalk® adventures are back in Downtown Middleton.

Middleton Public Library and Downtown Middleton Business Association are teaming up once again to bring stories to life through an outdoor, interactive storytelling experience.

This summer’s StoryWalk® will feature the book “Dump Truck Disco,” by Skye Silver, and tells the story of Dump Truck Daisy and friends who are on a secret nighttime mission to build a playground.  This is Middleton’s sixth StoryWalk® and will take place June 1 through Aug. 31.

It will also kick off DMBA’s new children’s Hard Hat Club.

“We wanted to find a way to include children and families in the excitement downtown with the new construction of Stone Horse Green — the downtown community space that is being built on Hubbard Avenue,” said Andrea Van Nest, DMBA president and co-owner of the Longtable Beer Cafe. “Using construction as our StoryWalk® theme and pairing it with a Hard Hat Club sounded like the perfect way to reach kids who love construction trucks and machinery and generate some excitement for the project.”

What is a StoryWalk®?

A StoryWalk® allows families to follow the book, page by page, by visiting 22 stops throughout Downtown Middleton. The stops will have an illustrated poster and can be viewable on a numbered map. Pick up a StoryWalk® map at the Middleton Public Library or download one online at midlibrary.org/children and www.downtownmiddleton.com/storywalk.

And this summer, some children will even receive their own copy of the book.

“Thanks to the Friends of the Middleton Public Library, this summer we are able to offer a free book to the first 425 kids who stop by the Middleton Public Library and pick up their StoryWalk® map,” said Katie Ganser, head of youth services at Middleton Public Library.

How to become a member of the DMBA children’s Hard Hat Club:

The first 100 children to register for the Hard Hat Club will receive a membership card, hard hat and goody bag donated by Daniel’s Construction. Members will receive exclusive offers, construction-themed stickers, activity sheets, and other items, as well as advance notice of special events throughout the summer from DMBA and municipal partners. To register, parents and caregivers can text HARDHATCLUB to 22828. Membership kits can also be picked up at several locations downtown. Click here for full details. There is no cost to join.

Want to support the library’s next StoryWalk®?

If interested in donating toward the next StoryWalk®’s activities and book giveaways, please reach out to the Middleton Public Library at kaganser@midlibrary.org. Not all StoryWalks® can afford to provide free books to children and donations to the program help make this possible.

Safety guidelines: Please practice social distancing during your StoryWalk®, giving others six feet of space, and follow Dane County Public Health guidelines regarding COVID-19, including staying home if sick or presenting symptoms.

StoryWalk® is presented by Middleton Public Library and Downtown Middleton Business Association. The StoryWalk® Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, Vt., and developed in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library.