Storybook Street brings storybooks to life to encourage reading

By Ian Swaby
| 10:40 a.m. February 10, 2025

Mark Sumegi, 4, sorts fish into different colored bowls, as Violet Moore, 3, watches.

Sarasota
Neighbors

It wasn't just stories that were alive on Feb. 8; the environment of Ed Smith Stadium was filled with activity, with a large turnout for the fifth annual Storybook Street.

Ana McClendon, director of outreach for the Early Learning Coalition of Sarasota County, which hosts the free event, said she was "elated" to see the event finally reaching full capacity.

The event began in 2021 as a drive-through experience during the pandemic, and McClendon said it had never been close to capacity before, this year serving about 940 people, with 20 free books per family.

Throughout the year, the organization works to gather the books, while dozens of volunteers help sticker each one with a bilingual Spanish and English reading tip and a QR code for the organization's website.

The event's varied experiences tying in with the books are provided on an entirely volunteer basis by area organizations, and McClendon said they allow children to make connections that foster a love of reading.

"It could be listening to professional violinists from the Sarasota Orchestra. It could be putting together boxes with the Sarasota Children's Museum," she said. "Whatever it is, it is watching or experiencing something hands-on, tangible, visible and really magical for them."

Layla Farrell-Cook looks at the sun with a special pair of glasses from Sidewalk Science Center.

Future of Dance students gather for a performance.

Jesse Ochsendorf, 13, Gracie Zaborney, 11, Claire Kulchar, 14 and Benjamin Chawkins, 9, put on a performance as bumblebees, with Future of Dance.

Audrey Locken, 1, dances to trumpet music.

John Castleman of the Venice Symphony Orchestra plays trumpet for Audrey Locken, 1.

Luca Seward checks out the drum activity.

Melissa Padilla, Hecto Padilla, and Hector IV Padilla, 3

Carlann Evans of the Sarasota Orchestra, and Dan Raker, greet guests as they enter the event. Evans said her favorite part of the experience is "seeing the kids' faces light up." "That's it," she said. "I come and do this because if I can get them thinking about music and reading, mission accomplished."

Grace Amaya, 2, Calvin Marxen, 3, and Calvin's mother Megan Murphy-Marxen meet an alligator puppet with "Gator" John Kenyon of Big Cat Habitat.

Liam Amaya, 7, meets the alligator puppet at the Big Cat Habitat table, staffed by Sasha and "Gator" John Kenyon of Big Cat Habitat.

Troy Clark, 1, enjoys a puppet show by The Players Studio.

Ellianna Lyday, 8, takes a turn in the role of a Sarasota Orchestra member.

Correction: This article has been updated to correct Audrey Locken's name.

author

Ian Swaby

Ian Swaby is the Sarasota neighbors writer for the Observer. Ian is a Florida State University graduate of Editing, Writing, and Media and previously worked in the publishing industry in the Cayman Islands.