Fond of teaching their children to read from a young age, Dwayne and Shelly Schellenberg of Endiang have gone a step further and written their second children’s book in two years.
Teddy Bear – The Story of a Bucking Bull was recently released by Rodeo Children’s Books, a book for all ages.
“This book is for anyone who loves rodeo,” say the Schellenbergs.
“Even if your children can’t read yet, the pictures will keep them interested.”
“This makes a great bedtime story of a baby bull that grows up to become a super star” say the Schellenbergs, who have been in the rodeo business since the early 1980s.
Their first book Rodney P Magee was published in 2008, shortly after the birth of their twin sons Dayne and Cole.
This latest book was written in 2006 and 2007.
“It was actually the first book that we wrote. It just took a little longer to illustrate and put the finishing touches on.”
Teddy Bear is the name of one of their bucking bulls, the story evolved from students at Byemoor School where Shelly works.
“After the Byemoor Bullarama one year, the kids at Byemoor School could talk about nothing but Teddy Bear,” said Shelly.
“They loved his name and always asked if he was going to be bucking at upcoming rodeos in the area.”
“They loved him and wanted to go see him and this gave us the idea of calling the book Teddy Bear.”
Teddy Bear is the life story of a rodeo bucking bull told through the eyes of the bull himself.
“Life was tough for him as a young calf and born on a cold wet day in May and smaller than the rest, was not a very good start,” said Dwayne.
There was little hope of him ever growing up to be a world champion bucking bull and he never gave up and practiced hard year after year.
Finally the day came for him to be given a name.
“Nothing is more important than a name, for it’s the first thing they cheer when you’re un-ridden,” explained the Schellenbergs.
With a name like Teddy Bear, how will anyone take him seriously as a bucking bull?
With the upcoming rodeo season on the way, he decides to try his best and just have fun. Now he’s the best and a champion too, showing you what a little hard work can do.
Teddy Bear was illustrated by Ash Cooper, Western Artist and five-time CPRA Entertainer of the Year.
Even before they became parents, Dwayne was inspired to write children’s books, although neither of them have any formal training in writing.
“Dwayne thought there weren’t enough books for rodeo and farm kids and so we decided to give it a shot,” said Shelly.
Now the Schellenbergs are working on more books.
“We have the second and third Magee books on the way and the second is called, “Cara B. Magee”.
In the book, a lot of changes are happening in the Magee family and Rodney is all grown up and riding steers and mom is expecting twins.
Cara is learning to barrel race, and with the help of her father becomes the best around. The third Magee book is, “Tn’T Magee,” all about the twins growing up to be bullfighters.
As well, the Schellenbergs also have rodeo and farm colouring books.