Warwick Middle School students create StoryWalk on library grounds

By ROGER GAVAN
WARWICK - There are StoryWalks in all 50 states and in 14 countries across Europe and Asia, but this is a first for Orange County.
The Albert Wisner Library recently installed an outdoor exhibit space, a StoryWalk, on the library grounds along the grass path that extends between the new patio area and the far end of the parking lot.
The opening exhibit features drawings of storybook characters from popular children's books by well-known authors like Dr. Seuss and E.B. White. And many visitors will enjoy seeing some of their own childhood book friends.
The art exhibit was created by Warwick Valley Middle School students in Nicole Sisco's and Julie Cosco's Grade 7 art class to celebrate both children's literacy and the upcoming Warwick Children's Book Festival.
Students who contributed the artwork for the StoryWalk children's book exhibit included
Shane Augusta, Ashlyn Azapinto, Alexa Borner, Emily Buliung, Nick Butchko, Anthony Caruso, Andrew Cimino, Jillian Disy, Lexi Frankel, Johnathan Gomez, Logan Jakubek, Hunter Kopczuk, Leslie Leal-Castillo, Ian Morrison, John Murphy, Russell Pirelli, Sierra Roberts, Zach Santiago, Shane Scaglione, Sean Smith, Brooke Sullivan, Ella Sussner, Rylee Tetreault, Natalia Torres, Cookie Valentino and India Wickrath.
The students were encouraged to draw their favorite childhood storybook characters.
Each piece of art was then laminated and placed between two Plexiglas panels before being installed in special customized frames.
"The students did a wonderful job," said Technical Services Librarian Lisa Laico, who had suggested the theme for the debut exhibit. "And Mike Moser and his Village DPW team worked hard in the summer heat to install the frames."
This first of many exhibits will be on display through mid-September, to be followed immediately by an exhibit of local artists' original works on the theme of banned and challenged books.
The next display, to be put up in late fall, will be a children's storybook on the theme of winter.
The StoryWalk project was funded by the Albert Wisner Public Library Foundation. For additional information call 986-1047 or visit www.albertwisnerlibrary.org

From left, Technical Services Librarian Lisa Laico and Library Director Rosemary Cooper introduce the new StoryWalk, on the Library grounds along the grass path that extends between the new patio area and the far end of the parking lot.
PHOTO BY roGER GAVAN