Two New StoryWalk® Books from Author Daniel Wolfe
We’re always excited to add new stories to our StoryWalk® book shop, especially books that feel like they were made to be enjoyed outdoors. Our two newest additions come from author Daniel Wolfe and give families two very different adventures to experience as they read and walk together.
The Red Ball and Sofia’s Monster are now available through Read & Walk, with both printed and digital StoryWalk® options available.
While the stories are quite different, they have something important in common: they encourage children to participate in the story rather than simply listen to it. That makes them a great fit for parks, libraries, schools, nature centers, botanical gardens, and other spaces looking to create an interactive reading experience.
The Red Ball: A Simple Story Little Readers Will Recognize
Anyone who has spent time with a toddler knows just how important a favorite toy can become. It goes in the car, around the house, to Grandma’s house—and, inevitably, it occasionally disappears.
That familiar experience is at the heart of The Red Ball.
When a little boy loses his favorite ball, his family joins the search to figure out where it could be. The story uses simple language and a situation young children can immediately understand, inviting them to join in the search along the way.
Designed for ages 0–3, The Red Ball is a particularly nice option for StoryWalk® locations that want to offer something for toddlers and preschoolers. The complete story uses just 12 panels, making it a shorter StoryWalk® that works well for little legs and shorter attention spans.
But simple doesn't mean there isn't plenty happening.
As children search for the missing ball, they get to practice observation and problem-solving while experiencing the excitement of discovering what comes next. There’s also a sweet message about family, empathy, and helping someone when something important to them goes missing.
And, of course, they’ll want to know: Where is that red ball?
Sofia’s Monster: Imagination Takes Over
For children who are ready for a longer and sillier adventure, there’s Sofia’s Monster.
Sofia wants to go outside and play. Her dad, however, would rather stay inside. Then a monster suddenly stomps into their apartment, and Sofia and her dad have a new problem to solve: What kind of monster is this?
As it turns out, this isn't exactly your typical scary monster.
We’re talking about a monster with little wings, shark underwear, and long, soft hair that it brushes with a toothbrush.
The story leans into the wonderfully strange places a child's imagination can go. Beneath all of the silliness is also a warm story about the relationship between a father and daughter and the fun that can happen when adults join children in imaginative play.
Written for children ages 3–7, Sofia’s Monster uses 25 StoryWalk® signs, giving families a longer adventure to follow.
Stories That Get Kids Moving, Talking and Imagining
One of our favorite things about a StoryWalk® is that reading becomes more than sitting quietly with a book.
Children are walking. They’re looking around. They’re talking about what they see. They’re guessing what might happen next. And sometimes they're jumping, searching, pretending, or doing something completely unexpected.
Both of these new books include interactive activity prompts created to encourage that kind of participation along the trail.
The Red Ball naturally turns reading into a search, while Sofia’s Monster opens the door to imagination and creative play. They offer two different experiences, which also makes them great options for organizations that regularly rotate the books in their StoryWalk®.
Printed or Digital StoryWalk® Books
Like the other titles in our Read & Walk StoryWalk® catalog, The Red Ball and Sofia’s Monster are available in both printed and digital formats.
Our printed versions are formatted for StoryWalk® displays, so organizations can order the story and get it ready for their existing StoryWalk® installation.
The digital option gives libraries, schools, parks, and other organizations more flexibility. You can purchase the StoryWalk® file and print the panels yourself, which can be especially useful if you already have access to printing equipment or want an easy way to create a temporary StoryWalk®.
Both stories are formatted at 11" x 17" for StoryWalk® displays. The Red Ball requires 12 panels, while Sofia’s Monster uses 25.
The digital version can also be a simple, affordable way to change stories throughout the year without having to make a large investment every time you want something new.
Meet Your Next StoryWalk® Adventure
Whether you're looking for a sweet story for toddlers or a funny adventure that lets children's imaginations run wild, these two books bring something new to our growing StoryWalk® catalog.
The Red Ball gives young children a familiar mystery to solve while introducing ideas like empathy, cooperation, and problem-solving.
Sofia’s Monster is bigger, sillier, and full of imagination, with a warm father-daughter relationship at the center of the story.
Both remind us of one of the reasons we love StoryWalk® programs in the first place: a good book doesn't have to keep kids sitting still.
Sometimes the best way to experience a story is to get up, head outside, and see where it takes you.
You can find The Red Ball, Sofia’s Monster, and the rest of our growing collection of StoryWalk® books in the Read & Walk StoryWalk® Book Shop.