Let’s Raise the Conversation!

There are many good reasons! A book walk is a relatively simple way to engage your neighbours positively. Hosting a book walk is a gift—an act of generosity and hospitality. There is no cost to attend, everyone is welcome, it includes all generations, and makes space for people of different abilities and experiences. All these qualities reflect aspects of the Kingdom of God.

Within a congregation, a book walk can build community. Families of all shapes and sizes can participate, but individuals of any age can also come on their own. Strolling along in an open space and reading and responding to a story together is an easy and low-stress way for people to connect with others they have not yet had a chance to get to know.

Beyond the congregation, a book walk can send a valuable message to your neighbours about who you are, and what you have in common. For example, kindness, generosity, peace, patience, and compassion are characteristics that define Christian community, but are also shared by others. The right book can send a powerful message about who we are and how we seek to be in the world: open-hearted communities who are intentional about reaching out in love and welcome to those around us.

Each Book Walk comes as a complete, ready-to-use set.

You’ll receive printed signs featuring the pages of a picture book, along with metal H-frames for mounting them along your chosen path. Each sign includes simple prompts to encourage reflection and interaction.

Many signs also include QR codes that link to videos and additional content, adding another layer to the experience.

You’ll also have access to supporting resources with ideas for activities and ways to extend the experience

Most Book Walks are set up along sidewalks, church grounds, or open green space. The key is having a safe, accessible route where people can move from one sign to the next.

Flat ground, good visibility, and room to pause at each sign will create the best experience.

A wide range of picture books are available, each with its own themes and focus.

Some explore topics like community, belonging, and intergenerational relationships. Others engage themes like creation care, reconciliation, or curiosity and wonder.

Each book includes suggested discussion prompts and activity ideas to help you connect the story to your ministry context.

View the complete list below.

All-Ages Appeal: Picture books appeal to people of all ages. No other literary form can so readily be enjoyed by very young children and grownups alike.

Conversation Starters: Depending on what the purpose of your Book walk is, picture books can be a gentle and thoughtful way of introducing important and even difficult topics (for example, anxiety or bullying). They invite conversation without being didactic or heavy-handed.

Empathy Building: Like other types of writing, picture books allow us to see the world through the eyes of someone else. Stories of all kinds give us insight into the thoughts, feelings, and experiences of others, enlarging our minds and hearts in the process. But picture books are distinctive in that words and pictures work together to tell the story, demonstrating how different perspectives can combine to create fuller and richer understanding.

Communal: Whether a picture book is read aloud in worship, shared in an all-ages event, or made the focus of a story walk, the telling of the story is a communal act. We can continue to build community through questions for reflection and discussion, and activities that invite response to the story.