Children will be captivated by stories from local authors during the Melrose Trading Post’s new program. (photo courtesy of the Melrose Trading Post)

Families visiting the Melrose Trading Post on the Fairfax High School campus on Sundays can enjoy “Story Time in the Garden” starting on May 21 through a partnership with Eclectuals Book Market.

The story time program will be held at 10:30 a.m. on the first and third Sunday of the month. Local authors will read their children’s books, starting with Eno Georgette Inwek’s “I Am Confident.” Inwek is a speech and self-expression coach and inspirational speaker who teaches the importance of confidence and self-expression. She also sells clothing at the Melrose Trading Post. “Story Time in the Garden” resumes on June 4 with author Moni Ritchie Hadley reading “The Star Festival.”

“We are setting up a nice area in front of the food court and they will be reading their books to young people,” said Pierson Blaetz, co-founder of the Melrose Trading Post and the Greenway Arts Alliance, which supports arts programs at Fairfax High School. “We have a lot of authors at the Melrose Trading Post and they were intrigued by the opportunity. A lot of people with kids come to the trading post around that time and we figured, why not have something for the kids.”

Blaetz said the Eclectuals Book Market is a publishing company helping to coordinate the roster of authors. He added that live music begins after the story time at 11 a.m.

“We want to people to come in and enjoy themselves,” Blaetz added.

The Melrose Trading Post is located at 7850 Melrose Ave. For information, visit melrosetradingpost.org.