Welcome “Laurel and Red” to the Read & Walk StoryWalk© Book Shop
Read & Walk just added Laurel and Red to the StoryWalk© Book Shop. This nature-themed early reader (ages 6–8, Lexile 480L) comes as an 17”x11” digital download or printed set and uses 20 panels (21 with an extra page). It includes activity prompts and is ideal for libraries, parks, and outdoor literacy trails.
If you’ve ever hosted a StoryWalk© (also called a story trail, book walk, or story stroll), you already know the magic: kids reading page-by-page while moving through a park, garden, downtown path, or library trail. At Read & Walk, we built our StoryWalk© signs to make that magic easier to maintain outdoors—waterproof, UV-resistant, and quick to swap—so you can focus on programming, not laminating.
To make setup even simpler, we also created the Read & Walk StoryWalk© Book Shop, where you can grab pre-formatted StoryWalk© book sets designed to fit standard 11” x 17” displays.
And now, we’re excited to share that we’ve added a brand-new title to our collection:
New in the Shop: Laurel and Red
In the magical Redwood Forest, Laurel (a little Bay Laurel tree) forms an unlikely friendship with Red (a towering Redwood). When a storm hits and others doubt Laurel’s place in the forest, Laurel’s roots prove crucial—showing that unity is the true strength of the forest.
Written by Kelley M Likes and illustrated by Hannah Staley-Foster, Laurel and Red is a heartwarming early reader that gives kids an “inside look” into the secret life of trees—perfect for nature centers, parks, botanical gardens, and libraries.
Why Laurel and Red is a perfect StoryWalk© book
It’s built for ages 6–8 (Grades 1–2)
This title is targeted for kids ages 6–8, ideal for families and early elementary groups using StoryWalk© trails for literacy + movement.
It’s an early reader with a clear difficulty level
If you plan StoryWalk© rotations by reading level, this one is an Early/Transitional Reader with Lexile 480L.
You’ll need 20 panels (or 21 panels with the extra page), which makes it straightforward to map spacing and pacing for families.
It includes built-in activity prompts
StoryWalks are even more engaging when kids get movement and curiosity prompts—Laurel and Red includes interactive activity prompts to keep kids thinking (and moving) as they read.
Print or Digital: choose what works for your StoryWalk© site
In our StoryWalk© Book Shop, Laurel and Red is available in two outdoor-friendly formats:
Option 1: Digital Download
You’ll print the file on 17” x 11” paper—great for programs that already have printing workflows or want to reprint easily. Lamination needs depend on the sign system you’re using.
Option 2: Printed Set
The printed version is on thick, UV-resistant paper, and it’s designed to fit perfectly in a Lark Signs Read & Walk StoryWalk© Sign with no lamination needed (lamination may still be needed for other sign types).
A quick reminder: why the “Book Shop + Read & Walk” combo saves time
Traditional StoryWalk© setups often mean repeated lamination, foggy panels, or faded pages. Read & Walk panels are designed to reduce that friction with waterproof + UV-resistant construction and fast change-outs.
And if you’re using Read & Walk signs, you can purchase pre-formatted books directly from our StoryWalk© Book Shop—made to fit 11” x 17” windows—so you can launch (or refresh) your trail faster.
Try this theme pairing: trees + community resilience
Laurel and Red is a natural fit for:
Earth Day events
Arbor Day programming
nature center “forest ecology” weeks
library summer reading themes (outdoors, kindness, friendship, resilience)
FAQ: Laurel and Red on a StoryWalk© Trail
What is Laurel and Red about?
It’s a story set in the Redwood Forest where a Bay Laurel tree and a Redwood form a friendship and learn that unity and support help them weather challenges.
What ages is this book for?
Ages 6–8 (Grades 1–2).
How many StoryWalk panels do I need?
20 panels, or 21 panels if you include the extra page.
What size are the pages?
17” x 11”.
Do I need to laminate the pages?
If you use the printed set in a Lark Signs Read & Walk StoryWalk© sign, lamination isn’t needed; other sign systems may require lamination.
Where can I buy the StoryWalk© edition?
From the Read & Walk StoryWalk© Book Shop in print or digital format.