Thank You, Howell! Celebrating 2026 Stories in Storefronts
Another summer of stories, family time, and exploring downtown Howell has come to a close!
This week, our Great Start Livingston team made our way through downtown Howell to collect the final StoryWalk® panels from our 2026
Stories in Storefronts.
Along the way, we had the opportunity to thank the local businesses and organizations that gave each page of the story a home throughout the summer.
Seeing those final panels come down was a wonderful reminder of just how many people it takes to create a community where young children and families are welcomed, supported, and encouraged to learn wherever they go.
Downtown Howell Came Together for Early Literacy
Stories in Storefronts invited families to walk through downtown Howell while enjoying a story one page at a time. Eleven downtown businesses and organizations gave StoryWalk® panels a home in their storefronts, creating a reading adventure families could experience while exploring our community.
Howell Main Street partnered with us throughout the project, helping connect Stories in Storefronts with the downtown community and supporting the project across all of the participating locations.
Together, our hosts and partners helped turn an ordinary walk downtown into an opportunity for children and caregivers to read, talk, explore, learn, and spend time together.
A Special Thank You to Howell Main Street
Thank you to Howell Main Street for partnering with us on Stories in Storefronts and helping make it possible to bring early literacy into downtown Howell. Your partnership helped us connect with local businesses and create a welcoming experience for families throughout the downtown community.
Thank You to Our 11 StoryWalk® Hosts
Each of these downtown Howell businesses and organizations made room in their storefront for a page of our story. Thank you for welcoming families and helping make literacy part of our community!
One Last Walk Through Downtown
As we collected the StoryWalk® panels, we had the chance to visit with some of our hosts and personally thank them for being part of Stories in Storefronts.
It was a fun way to wrap up the summer and celebrate the businesses that welcomed our littlest learners.
Lauren stopped by Simply Charming to deliver one of our thank-you cards as we collected the StoryWalk® panels — just as the store was getting ready for fall!
Breanne and Lauren with one of the final Acoustic Rooster StoryWalk® panels outside Chocolate Boutique & Bakery after wrapping up this summer’s Stories in Storefronts.
Early Literacy Happens Everywhere
Children begin developing the skills that will eventually help them become readers long before they can read independently.
Looking at pictures, hearing new words, asking questions, telling stories, singing, talking, and sharing books with caring adults all help children build the foundation for later literacy and learning.
That is one of the things we love most about Stories in Storefronts: early learning becomes part of everyday community life.
Learning can happen while walking down the sidewalk, exploring downtown, stopping at a favorite business, visiting the library, noticing something interesting in a storefront, or simply talking together as a family.
When families, businesses, libraries, schools, early childhood programs, and community organizations work together, we create more opportunities for young children to grow, learn, and thrive.
And Thank You to Our Families!
Most importantly, thank you to every family who followed the story through downtown Howell this summer.
Whether you stopped at every page, discovered a few while you were already downtown, came back more than once, or told another family about Stories in Storefronts, you were part of the story too.
We hope it gave your family another reason to slow down, explore our community, talk together, and enjoy a story with your child.
Did You Visit Stories in Storefronts?
We’d love to hear what your family thought! Your feedback helps Great Start Livingston improve our StoryWalk® experiences and continue creating meaningful opportunities for families throughout Livingston County.
Tell us what your family enjoyed, whether the StoryWalk® activities helped spark conversations with your child, and what you’d like to see in the future.
Bonus: Families who choose to include their name and email address will be entered for a chance to win a book prize pack. Winners are selected monthly!
Feedback is used to help improve Great Start Livingston programs in Livingston County.
It Takes a Community
Stories in Storefronts is a great reminder that helping children grow, learn, and thrive isn’t the work of any one organization.
Libraries, businesses, schools, community organizations, early childhood programs, parents, caregivers, and neighbors all have a role to play.
To our 11 storefront hosts and our partners at Howell Main Street: thank you for helping make early literacy visible in downtown Howell and for creating a community that welcomes children and families.
The Stories in Storefronts panels may be packed away for the season, but there are many more opportunities to read, play, learn, and connect together.
Stay Connected
Find upcoming family activities, early childhood information, developmental resources, and community supports through Great Start Livingston and Help Me Grow Livingston.
Thank you for investing in our littlest learners!
