DIY StoryWalks Made Easy with Digital StoryWalk Book Sets
StoryWalks don’t have to be permanent to be powerful.
We recently got a call from someone planning a DIY StoryWalk©, and her question stopped us in our tracks—in a good way. She wanted to know if she could use our digital StoryWalk book sets and print them on yard signs for a temporary setup.
Short answer? Yes.
Long answer? This opens up a whole new world of possibilities.
If you’re creating a DIY StoryWalk©, a pop-up literacy event, or even an indoor StoryWalk© experience, digital book sets might be the simplest (and most affordable) option out there.
Let’s break down how it works—and why more educators, libraries, and community groups are going this route.
What Is a Digital StoryWalk© Book Set?
Our digital StoryWalk book sets are designed to work with ANY StoryWalk© setup—permanent or temporary.
Each set includes:
A full, ready-to-print book layout
Pages sized for StoryWalk displays (17” x 11”)
Built-in activity prompts to encourage movement, discussion, and literacy engagement
They’re delivered digitally, so you can download them immediately and print them however you need. And at $20 per set, they’re often much cheaper than buying multiple physical copies of a book, cutting them apart, and laminating each page. The other great thing about them, is that if you buy them once, you can reprint it as often as you like (as long as you aren’t sharing the download with someone else). This works great for seasonal books or nature books that people want to use more often.
A Smarter Option for DIY StoryWalks©
DIY StoryWalks© are popping up everywhere—schools, libraries, parks, festivals, classrooms, and even hospital hallways. They’re flexible, creative, and often built with whatever materials are already on hand.
That’s where digital StoryWalk books shine. Whether you need a longer book or a shorter book, we have a wide collection of StoryWalk books that range from 10 pages up to 23 pages!
So below, we will give you different options on how to make a DIY StoryWalk© with our digital storywalk book sets.
Option 1: Printing on Yard Signs or Pop-Up Signs
This was the original question—and honestly, it’s a great idea.
DIY StoryWalk© creators are using:
Corrugated plastic yard signs
A-frame sidewalk signs
Foam boards or poster boards
Because the book pages are digital, you can scale them to fit standard sign sizes and create a durable, outdoor-friendly StoryWalk© without committing to a permanent installation.
This works especially well for parks or libraries testing out the idea of a StoryWalk©, community events or fesitvals, seasonal literary activities, and temporary StoryWalks©.
Step-by-Step: How to create an Outdoor DIY StoryWalk©
Step 1: Choose your digital StoryWalk© book set
Download the book set you’d like to use and review the page layout and activity prompts.
Step 2: Decide on your sign format
Common outdoor DIY options include:
Corrugated plastic yard signs
A-frame sidewalk signs
Foam board mounted on stakes
Step 3: Upload pages to a custom sign printer
Many online retailers allow you to upload your own designs and choose size, material, and finish.
Popular options include:
FedEx Office (for poster boards or short-term signage)
These services make it easy to order weather-resistant signs without special equipment.
Step 4: Install your StoryWalk path
Space signs far enough apart to encourage movement and interaction. Use the activity prompts to naturally guide families along the route.
Step 5: Take it down—or reuse it
Because it’s temporary, you can rotate books seasonally or reuse the signs for future events.
Option 2: Office Printing + Lamination
For indoor or short-term setups, simplicity wins.
Many organizations choose to:
Print pages on a standard office printer
Laminate them in-house or don’t
Mount them on walls, easels, tabletop stands, or windows.
This is perfect for indoor StoryWalks© (set them up around the library or school for a fun activity), classrooms, hospitals or healing spaces, or early learning centers. Plus they are very fast, budget-friendly, and easy to reuse.
Step-by-Step: How to create an Indoor DIY StoryWalk
Step 1: Download your digital book set
Choose a title that fits your audience and space.
Step 2: Print the pages
Most organizations use:
Standard office printers
Cardstock or heavier paper for durability
Paper is sized for 17” x 11” so printing to that size is preferred (or in that ratio)
Step 3: Laminate for reuse (optional)
Laminating pages makes them easy to clean, store, and reuse across multiple events.
Step 4: Display the pages
Indoor StoryWalk pages can be displayed using:
Wall-mounted holders
Easels
Tabletop stands
Bulletin boards or hallway displays
Tape (tape to windows or walls)
Step 5: Encourage interaction
Our built-in activity prompts help turn reading into a movement-based experience, even indoors.
Why Digital StoryWalk Book Sets Make Sense
We’ve worked with StoryWalks© signs long enough to know where the friction points are—and digital book sets solve a lot of them.
They’re fast
No waiting for shipping. Download and print the same day. You don’t have to spend time cutting up and arranging the book pages either. The digital storywalk© book sets are ready-to-use!
They’re flexible
Use them for permanent StoryWalk© signs, DIY setups, pop-ups, or indoor displays.
They’re affordable
At $20, they’re often less expensive than purchasing and modifying multiple physical books that might cost $12-$25 a piece.
They’re designed for engagement
The activity prompts are built in, so the StoryWalk© isn’t just about reading—it’s about movement, interaction, and connection.
DIY StoryWalks vs. Permanent StoryWalks
We’re best known for our permanent StoryWalk signs, and digital book sets were originally designed to pair with those systems.
But DIY StoryWalks© offer something different:
A low-risk way to test interest
A flexible option for changing spaces
A solution for short-term or grant-funded programs
Many organizations start with a DIY StoryWalk© and later decide to invest in a permanent StoryWalk© installation once they see the impact.
Who Can Benefit from DIY StoryWalks?
We’re seeing interest from:
Public libraries
Schools and early learning centers
Parks and recreation departments
Hospitals and healing gardens
Community organizations
Pop-up literacy events
If you’re looking for a quick, flexible StoryWalk solution, digital StoryWalk© book sets are worth considering.
Ready to Try a DIY StoryWalk?
Whether you’re printing on yard signs, laminating pages for an indoor hallway, or testing out a temporary StoryWalk before committing to a permanent StoryWalk© installation, digital StoryWalk book sets make it easy.
They’re designed by people who understand StoryWalks—because we build them every day.
And sometimes, the best ideas come from one good question.
