The World Traveling Trunks program, designed by the Free Library of Philadelphia, brings the world into storytime through culture-centered experiences that any staff member or member of the public, bilingual or not, can confidently lead. Each session begins with an imaginative journey: children “board a plane,” travel over oceans and mountains, and arrive in a new place together. Along the way, participants collect stamps in their passports, creating a sense of adventure and continuity across visits. The trunks include thoughtfully curated materials such as books, music, artifacts, and hands-on activities that make each culture come alive in a way that is playful, celebratory, and engaging for young children and their caregivers.
At its heart, the program reflects our natural desire to share and learn from one another. Families are eager to preserve and celebrate their own cultures, and the trunks are designed either by individuals from those cultures or in close collaboration with community members to ensure authenticity and respect. This approach not only honors lived experiences but also creates meaningful opportunities for connection. When we make space for these stories and traditions, we recognize that we all have something to teach and something to learn from each other.
Learn more at https://libwww.freelibrary.org/blog/post/3508.
Alison Loewen (she/her/hers) is a Youth Services Librarian at Mead Public Library in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, who proudly geeks out about early literacy and can happily talk picture books all day with fellow enthusiasts. She often jokes that she reads hundreds of books each month—picture books, of course! At PLA, Alison is excited to gather fresh programming ideas and wander the exhibit hall in search of new treasures for her library’s play area and activity room. She previously served on the CLEL Bell Picture Book Award Committee and has been honored as a PBS KIDS Early Learning Champion and the Wisconsin Library Association’s 2025 Librarian of the Year.
Please note that as a guest post, the views expressed here do not represent the official position of ALA or ALSC.
If you are interested in submitting a guest post, please read and fill out our Guest Blogging Interest Form. We would love to hear from you!