The Schellenbergs of Endiang, Alta., didn’t see their livelihood reflected in books their children read.
So they wrote one.
Rodney P. Magee, which they are publishing themselves using a printer from Delburne, Alta., tells the story of a boy who thinks rodeo is only a male sport. He practises bullriding on his dog as his little sister watches secretly, envying him.
On rodeo day, Rodney enters the mutton busting contest, where the surprise competitor that could dash his win is his sister.
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Shelly Schellenberg said her husband, Dwayne, and father-in-law have raised bucking bulls for rodeos for the past 20 years.
“My husband said there’s no books for country kids …. He said we should write one.”
The Schellenbergs have already written a followup book in which the sister gets into barrel racing and her brother wrestles steers.
They have also planned a third one in which a baby is on the way.
The story lines echo real life: the Schellenbergs recently had twins. The babies had to stay in hospital seven weeks so Shelly said she had a lot of time to sit and come up with ideas for the fictitious family’s life.
“The plan is to write more books,” she said.
“Then I don’t have to worry about going back to work and day care.”
While Dwayne used to be a bullrider, Shelly never participated in rodeos. She was from a farm “where we just had normal cattle,” she said with a laugh.
British Columbia illustrator Anita Klein provided the pictures, which Shelly said are a big part of the book.
The Schellenbergs’ three-year-old niece loves the book but it is aimed at a Grade 3 reading level.
The books can be ordered from the family’s website at www.outlawbuckers.com.
