TRAVELING LITERACY EXHIBIT AT GENEVA HISTORY MUSEUM Storyland: A Trip Through Childhood Favorites Op

CREATED BY MINNESOTA CHILDREN'S MUSEUM AND PERFECT FOR KIDS AGES 2-8

Children can receive a jumpstart on their summer reading lists when "Storyland: A Trip Through Childhood Favorites" opens on Saturday, June 4 at the Geneva History Museum, located at 113 S. Third Street, Geneva, IL. Storyland, a traveling exhibit created by Minnesota Children's Museum, provides imaginative, book-based experiences for children ages 2-8 years old, and models early literacy experiences to parents and other adult caregivers.

"Literacy is a key to success in school and in life. Programs that serve young children are ideal partners to promote critical early literacy experiences for children and reinforce literacy development," said Terry Emma, Executive Director of the Geneva History Museum. "Thanks to generous support from the Fabyan Foundation and Friends of the Geneva Public Library, our Museum is able to provide this literacy initiative and inspire children's love of reading and learning while partnering with the Geneva Public Library's Summer Reading Program."

Storyland transforms three beloved and award-winning picture books - The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter; The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats; and Where's Spot? by Eric Hill into three-dimensional play and bi-lingual (English and Spanish) learning environments

Children explore literacy skills and concepts through imaginative, interactive experiences and

dramatic play.

* Families can immerse themselves in the world of The Tale of Peter Rabbit, one of the

best selling children's books of all time. Children explore Peter Rabbit's world as they

build vocabulary and narrative skills while having fun with patterns, words and dramatic

play.

* The Snowy Day welcomes visitors to Peter's wintry world, where a young boy explores

his neighborhood after a fresh snowfall. In addition to dramatic play activities, children

have opportunities to build print and sound awareness.

* The exhibit features an area based on Where's Spot?, a well-known board book about the

search for Spot the dog. Babies and young toddlers will explore sounds and images

through busy wall interactives, highlighting how literacy development begins at birth.

* Children are encouraged to reflect on their Storyland experience by creating a drawing

based on the books and writing a caption, title or story. A digital Drawing Cam will

capture the paper image and visitors can add it to an electronic gallery of other postcards

for visitors to see.

Three Special Storytimes are scheduled throughout the summer, geared for children ages 3 to 8 years old. Registration is required with limited space available.

Tuesday, June 14 @ 10 AM - Geneva Police Officer, Paul VanDorn, reads "Where's Spot?" followed by a visit with a therapy dog and admission to the exhibition.

Tuesday, July 12 @ 10 AM - Retired Geneva Fire Chief, Steve Olson, reads "Snowy Day" followed by an activity and admission to the exhibition.

Tuesday, August 9 @ 10 AM - Kane County Associate Judge, Clint Hull, reads "Peter Rabbit" followed by a visit with a live rabbit from Hickory Knolls Discovery Center and admission to the exhibition.

Storyland will be open Tuesdays through Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. through August 27. Admission is $3/person, $2/children ages 3-10, and free for Museum Members and includes the current Feature Exhibition, "Who Was Sadie Cooksey?" on Geneva's Girls School and the Main Exhibition, "Geneva's Story." Children enrolled in the Geneva Public Library's Summer Reading Program can earn a free admission coupon.

The Geneva History Museum is a nonprofit organization with a mission to preserve and share Geneva's story while inspiring and engaging the community. For more information or to register for storytimes visit GenevaHistoryMuseum.org or call 630-232-4951.

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