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| 2/18/2010 8:00:00 AM | Email this article • Print this article |
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| Bluebonnet Elementary principal Lucy McVey sits beside school mascot and her personal pet, Peaches the Bulldog, Friday. McVey wrote a book about Peaches and the day-to-day activities at the school called “Hello Peaches.” |
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| Bluebonnet Elementary fourth-grade students Brandon Ortiz, Jennifer Jimenez, Michael Campbell and Aaron Campbell, kindergarten student Sadie Padilla and second-grade student Jorge Escamilla show their love to their school mascot, Peaches the Bulldog, Friday. |
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A dog's tale
Bluebonnet principal writes book about pet, school
At least Round Rock ISD elementary school can now boast having a celebrity at its campus.
Bluebonnet Elementary is now selling copies of a children's book, "Hello Peaches" which stars the school mascot, Peaches the bulldog. Bluebonnet principal and Peaches' owner, Lucy McVey wrote the book.
This is the first book that has been written about Bluebonnet and the first book written about a specific Round Rock ISD school.
Bluebonnet Elementary staff worked closely alongside children's book publisher, Mascot Books in Herndon, Va., to create their customized book that includes school-specific text and illustrations.
Naren and Aimee Aryal founded Mascot Books in 2003. Mascot Books publishes children's titles for colleges and universities, professional sports teams, and public and private elementary schools. Each book is customized with illustrations and story lines specific to a team or school.
Some of the school-specific text and illustrations includes Peaches waiting in the drive-through line at Lone Star Bakery to grab a Round Rock Donut before the school day begins and Peaches molding a replica out of herself using clay during art class, McVey said.
The book also mentions the video announcements students compile each morning and the Bulldog PRIDE Promise students recite each day. PRIDE stands for having a positive attitude, being respectful and responsible, showing integrity and doing their best to reach excellence, McVey said.
"Students can look at this book and see all of these things mentioned in the book daily at Bluebonnet," McVey said. "We thought publishing a book would help children who were more reluctant to read get more excited about reading. The students at Bluebonnet love Peaches so we thought this book would be the perfect thing. Bluebonnet is a wonderful place for kids. Having Peaches to identify with helps students bond more together."
McVey wrote this book after contacting Mascot Books to see if the school could purchase books the company had published about college mascots, such as Bevo the University of Texas mascot, in conjunction with their focus on college readiness.
McVey said it was pretty easy to write the book about Bluebonnet because Mascot Books sent them the format and McVey and Bluebonnet staff members personalized the format. She said it normally takes three months to get a book through Mascot Books published but the Bluebonnet staff published the book in about a month and a half.
Round Rock community members have shown their approval of the books. Employees at Lone Star Bakery purchased at least 10 copies of the $10 books while Round Rock City Councilmember John Moman showed the book to council members during the January City Council meeting. The book mentions city landmarks such as the round rock and Chisholm Trail Crossing Park.
"The kids at Bluebonnet have really enjoyed having a book written about their school," Bluebonnet secretary Yolanda Dutton said. "This will be a way for them to share those memories of their school."
In the future, McVey and her husband will use Mascot Books to publish other books they have written about Peaches such as "My Ears are for Rubbing." This book will teach students about senses such as smell, taste, hearing, sight and touch and about tolerance - especially for those who have a disability such as being visually or hearing impaired. Peaches is deaf but has compensated for her inability to hear by having excellent sight and the ability to read through watching hand and body language cues.
"We want students to learn that if you have a disability it doesn't limit what you can do," McVey said. "With Peaches knowing how to read it helps students know they can do anything and that they have limitless potential."
The McVeys plan to distribute "My Ears are for Rubbing" at the Round Rock Barnes & Noble bookstore located in the La Frontera shopping center.
For more information on Mascot Books visit mascotbooks.com.
To purchase a copy of "Hello Peaches," call Bluebonnet Elementary at 428-7700. Proceeds from the sale of the books will go toward the operating budget of the school.
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