Dubuque County Library District

The latest installment on the Tale Trail at Swiss Valley Nature Center is Jo MacDonald Hiked in the Woods by author Mary Quattlebaum and illustrator Laura J. Bryant. Come along with Jo MacDonald and learn about the wild creatures in the woods at her grandfather’s farm. Noisy ones, quiet ones, and a few surprises. This variation on “Old MacDonald Had a Farm” playfully introduces youngsters to the woodland habitat while engaging little ones with rhythm and wordplay.

The Tale Trail is a great way for adults and children to combine literacy and exercise as they walk along the Stream Bottom Trail. Each of the 20 reading stations has a page from a popular children’s book to enjoy while exploring the Nature Center. Interspersed through the stories are informational posters, created by the Dubuque County Naturalist. The Tale Trail is a free activity for all park visitors and is accessible during normal park hours.

The Tale Trail project has been established with the support of the McDonough Foundation, Dubuque County Library District, and Dubuque County Conservation.

The Tale Trail is based on the StoryWalk Project, which was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, VT and developed in collaboration with the Vermont Bicycle & Pedestrian Coalition (VBPC) and the Kellogg Hubbard Library.