On Tuesday, February 27, 2024, Indian River County proudly launched its Storybook Village initiative, marking the County’s first-ever involvement in Children’s Week Florida.
Cindy Emerson, the Director of Community Services for Indian River County, expressed her excitement, “We are thrilled to have this opportunity to introduce the Storybook Village initiative and applaud both Commissioners and colleagues for being part of our inaugural participation in Children’s Week Florida.”
The initiative is designed to cultivate a passion for reading and creativity among local children, enhancing literacy and educational engagement through enjoyable and interactive experiences.
“What a great day. The book selected, The Little Butterfly That Could, not only had a positive message, it was also fun to read,” remarked Commission Chair Susan Adams.
The book, which imparts an uplifting story about the perseverance of a butterfly, emphasizes the motto, ‘Remember if you don’t succeed, fly, fly, again,’ and was shared by guest readers at various Early Learning locations throughout Indian River County.
Cindy Emerson further noted, “This interactive and engaging event not only promoted literacy but also celebrated the joy of storytelling, fostering a sense of wonder and imagination among our community’s children. We are so grateful to Brooke Flood, and the Early Learning team from the School District of Indian River County for opening the doors to bring in guest readers. We celebrate this successful literacy adventure and want to thank each one of our guest readers.”
Following is the list of guest readers arranged for each location:
- Main Public Library
Guest Reader:
Commissioner Joe Flescher - Vero Beach Elementary
Guest Readers:
Commissioner Chair, Susan Adams
County Administrator, John Titkanich
IRC Utilities Director, Sean Lieske
Deputy County Administrator, Mike Zito - Dodgertown Elementary
Guest Readers:
Commissioner, Laura Moss
CSAC Member, Caryn Toole
Parks and Recreation Admin, Marie Correa
Director of Parks, Recreation, and Conservation, Beth Powell - Pelican Island Elementary
Guest Readers:
CSAC Member, Dr. Kyra Schafte
CSAC Member, Dr. Brian McMahon - Glendale Elementary
Guest Reader:
Human Services Manager, Amie Rutherford - Sebastian Elementary
Guest Reader:
Human Services Admin, Maya Miller - Fellsmere Elementary
Guest Reader:
CSAC Member, Amber Cerda
Director of Community Services, Cindy Emerson
To learn more about the Storybook Village initiative and other activities related to Children’s Week Florida happening in Indian River County, feel free to reach out to the Community Services Administration. You can contact Ms. Maya Miller by phone at 772-226-1411 or send an email to mmiller@indianriver.gov.
