2nd grade students from Showell Elementary published a storybook for community members to enjoy

OCEAN CITY, Md. – Students from Showell Elementary School published a book, titled ‘Keep Our Beaches Clean, what if everybody did that?

At the Bayside Park on 3rd Street, parents, students, and community members gathered for the official ribbon cutting of the storybook walk on the Bayside Boardwalk.

Director of Recreation and Parks, Susan Petito, said this concept is to add more entertainment to the area. “Parks are where community grows, and this project, this element, is just one piece of that. This park is beautiful, it’s a safe space, it’s welcoming, we’ve knocked down fences, and we have inclusive playgrounds.”

The authors of the book are 2nd-grade students, who took the long enduring process, of making the book from scratch. Their teacher, Mackenzie Keyser said introducing these topics to children is beneficial.

“I think it shows the power of exposing our kids to these bigger topics, they care so much, and they are naturally good. If we foster that, and those conversations, they are going to impress with what they can do. This has just been amazing to see.”

The storybook walk has each page on a plaque, for anyone to enjoy. With help from the Maryland Coastal Bays, Ocean City Recs and Parks, and Plaq That. Petito believes these books appeal to residents and visitors.

“This will be here year-round, for people to come and enjoy and we hope this will be another draw and attraction for people to come and enjoy our parks here in Ocean City and learn at the same time.” Said Petito.

Keyser is an Ocean City native; she is beyond excited about being able to give back to the community. She hopes this book will resonate with future students in our area.

“Even just the ones reading it along this book walk, they are not going to think twice about picking up a piece of trash. I think it’s going to have a huge impact.”

You can buy their book publication here.