22nd Noyes StoryWalk® Honors Harriet Tubman

Kensington, MD – For its 22nd free Noyes StoryWalk®, The Noyes Children’s Library Foundation presents Before She Was Harriet, written by Lesa Cline-Ransome and illustrated by James E. Ransome.
 
Families can read this inspirational story on posted signs at St. Paul Park in Kensington, MD from Thursday, June 15 – Friday, June 30, 2023. St. Paul Park is located at 3500 Plyers Mill Rd., Kensington, MD. The Storywalk® is part of the Town of Kensington's 2nd annual Juneteenth Celebration, which will be held at St. Paul Park on Saturday, June 17 from 12-4pm.  The day's full schedule is available at https://tok.md.gov/event/juneteenth-celebration.

Before She Was Harriet details the life of Harriet Tubman, beginning with Tubman as an older woman and moving backwards chronologically. The author outlines Tubman’s many roles: a suffragist, a boatman who ferried slaves across the Combahee River, a Union spy, a nurse for soldiers, a savior who helped her parents flee from slavery, a conductor on the Underground Railroad, an enslaved woman named Minty, and finally a young enslaved girl named Araminta. The award-winning book pays tribute to this Maryland native and true American hero through a powerful poem and exquisite watercolor paintings by Cline-Ransome’s husband, artist James Ransome. 
 
Before She Was Harriet was also featured as the 14th Noyes StoryWalk® in June 2022, presented at Woodlawn Manor Cultural Park in Sandy Spring, MD as part of Montgomery Parks’ Juneteenth events. Crafts and resources related to the book are available online at www.noyeslibraryfoundation.org/events.
 
Families are encouraged to share a selfie while at the StoryWalk® or a photo of a completed craft on the Noyes Children’s Library Facebook page (facebook.com/MakeMoreNoyes); post to Facebook and tag the Noyes Children’s Library Foundation, or post to Instagram and tag @makemorenoyes. 
 
The Noyes Children’s Library Foundation launched its Noyes StoryWalk® program in January, 2021 as an early literacy initiative when libraries were closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, and continues to enable families to enjoy books together in the outdoors. A complete list of the Noyes StoryWalks®, including background information and accompanying crafts, is available at www.noyeslibraryfoundation.org/Events. StoryWalk® is a registered trademark of Anne Ferguson.

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