Book Bus Magic

Book Bus Magic by Author Patricia L Atchison comes to life:

I’m proud and pleased to announce my children’s book, Book Bus Magic, is in my over-the-moon excited hands. People ask me about the process behind the publication of my book, and I wanted to share it.

In May 2024, I attended the Calgary Reads Big Book Sale, where, besides finding lots of books to read, I also found information about The Seeding Readers Book Campaign. Looking to spread the joy of reading to children throughout the city of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, the Rotary Club of Calgary put out a call for local picture book authors and illustrators. They suggested the story should celebrate the joy of reading and the magic of books.

My story came quickly to me, almost like it was meant to be. During my childhood, I remember visiting the book bus in our neighbourhood once every couple of weeks. I’d hold my grandmother’s hand and skip next to her on the way to the book bus. Once inside, it was a magical place. All the books called my name, and I wanted to take as many as I could home to read.

I submitted Book Bus Magic and was delighted when they chose my story for the project. The art director, Jennifer Dale Stables, and I discussed the illustrations and how it would be a wonderful project opportunity if a group of young artists, aged 5 to 11, participated in creating the artwork to go along with my story.

In September 2024, I met with Jennifer and the team of young artists and read my story to them. I watched in awe as they storyboarded the text and drew rough designs on Post-It notes. The artists met over the month and created the artwork.

In February 2025, I saw a PDF of the completed artwork in page layout form. I was more than surprised. More like ecstatic. The Seeding Readers Crew brought my text to life, with the combination of story and illustrations being magical.

The book went off to the printers and arrived back in Calgary at the beginning of June 2025.

It’s here now!

An Exciting Part of the Story:

The Seeding Readers Book Campaign aims to grow readers one book at a time. 700 copies of Book Bus Magic are going to be distributed by the Rotary Club of Calgary and the Calgary Reads Big Book Sale to children of families furthest from opportunity in the Calgary area. The idea is to spread the joy of reading by putting a copy of Book Bus Magic into children’s hands, promoting early childhood literacy.

I’m proud I can support this initiative of raising the next generation of readers through a story from my childhood, based on a positive experience of learning to read. My heart is full, and I am pleased to be leaving a legacy that will live on for generations to come, seeding young readers over and over again.

I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to The Rotary Club of Calgary and the Calgary Reads Big Book Sale: Seeding Readers Campaign for determining my story was worthy of such an initiative. My gratitude and thanks go to Jayman BUILT and the Westman Foundation for their generous contribution to enable the book to be produced.

I’m truly grateful to Jennifer Dale Stables of Jenny Dale Designs, who was the lead illustrator and artistic director of the project, and to her aides, the artists Karen Youngberg and Estefania Saldarriaga.

Illustrations bring a children’s picture book to life. The real magic of Book Bus Magic came together with the creative ideas and teamwork of ten kids. Their illustrations speak to young kids, and the story will inspire every new reader to open this book, letting their imaginations soar.

Magic on the pages of Book Bus Magic:

Tyler doesn’t share the same excitement as his older siblings about stepping onto the book bus. Once inside, though, he discovers the enchantment of reading when he meets woodland friends, soars with a mighty dragon, and boards a train that chugs over a steep, rugged mountain. Imagination, along with a little book magic, fills every page.

Book Bus Magic - Copies for Sharing the Joy of Reading: