a Walking Tour

Storybook Sculpture Project

a project of

An affiliate of the Abilene Chamber of Commerce

1

Storybook Sculpture Project

a History

Once upon a time, the mayor of Abilene was asked to read the William Joyce book “Santa Calls” to a group of school children. The mayor loved the Christmas story because it was set in Abilene. He invited Mr. Joyce to visit so he could learn more about his books. A big celebration took place at the Abilene Civic Center, and Mr. Joyce kindly offered to help create a beautiful place where the best children’s illustrations in the world could be shown. The next year, the National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature (NCCIL) was born, and magical exhibitions by beloved children’s illustrators are now shown throughout the year. Mr. Joyce also allowed the people of Abilene to create a sculpture depicting the children from “Santa Calls” titled “Childhood’s Great Adventure.” A few years later, a gentle green dinosaur named Dino Bob, also a Joyce character, was created by legendary Texas artist Bob “Daddy-O” Wade as part of the Abilene Cultural Affairs Council‘s biennial Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition. Now he’s a permanent downtown resident. He peers benevolently down from his perch on Cedar Street. Several years passed and the children of Abilene longed for more storybook characters. The first Children’s Art & Literacy Festival (C.A.L.F.) was created to celebrate the work of Dr. Seuss on exhibit at the NCCIL and The Center for Contemporary Arts. As part of the exhibit, six

Seuss sculptures came to town, and the people of Abilene gathered all the coins they could find so they could keep them forever in Everman Park. Another year passed, and little Seymour, who appears on every page of Walter Wick’s“ Can You See What I See?” books, was added to the storybook statue collection. To further perpetuate his legacy, six Seymours remain hidden forever in six buildings downtown for children to find with hints from the Seymour Passport. When Abilene children learned that the long lost and nearly destroyed records of the beginnings of the Guardians of Childhood were discovered on a ranch outside of Abilene, they closed their eyes and made a very special wish ... that all of the Guardians (Man in the Moon; Nicholas St. North (Santa); E. Aster Bunnymund (Easter Bunny); Toothiana, Queen of the Tooth Fairy Armies; Sanderson Mansnoozie (Sandman); and Jack Frost) would be created in bronze and live permanently downtown so they would protect them and their sense of wonder, their dreams, their hopes, and their memories. Abilene’s Storybook Sculpture Project will continue to grow. People will come from far and wide to see these magical characters, and the children of Abilene, protected by their Guardians, will live happily ever after.

Storybook Sculpture Map

12

9

10 8

11 15 14

10 Nicholas St. North

13

7

(Santa Claus)

11 Dinosaur Bob

1-6

12 Jack Frost 13 Seymour 1-6 Dr. Seuss Sculptures 7

Childhood’s Great Adventure

Eat Here

8

Man in the Moon

9

E. Aster Bunnymund 15 Sanderson Mansnoozie (Sandman)

14 Toothiana

Seymour Hidden Here

Seymour Passport Project For the 2013 Children’s Art & Literacy Festival, six 3-foot-tall Seymour characters were permanently hidden at different Abilene locations. Seymour is a character created by Walter Wick, the 2013 C.A.L.F. honoree. To help children find each Seymour, a passport was created. Visitors to each destination can have their passport stamped and receive a Seymour sticker. The passports are free. No admission is charged to find the Seymours. The six locations are: The Grace Museum, Frontier Texas, The Center for Contemporary Arts, Abilene Public Library, National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature and the Abilene Zoo. Seymour Hidden Here

3

1-6

Dr. Seuss Sculptures

Location: Everman Park Sculptor: Leo Rijn Author/Illustrator: Dr. Theodor Seuss Geisel The Lorax Sponsors: See back page for complete list. Installed: 2013 The book chronicles the plight of the environment and the Lorax, which speaks for the trees against the greedy Once-ler. Yertle the Turtle Sponsors: See back page for complete list. Installed: 2013 “Yertle the Turtle,” king of the pond, stands on his subjects in an attempt to reach higher than the moon — until the bottom turtle burps and he falls into the mud, ending his rule. The Grinch Sponsors: J.L. & Joyce Truitt-Geis Installed: 2013 The main character of “How The Grinch Stole Christmas!” is a cold and heartless green recluse who tries to sabotage Christmas for Whoville, only to find the true meaning of Christmas, and his heart “grew three sizes that day.” 4

Green Eggs and Ham Sponsors: See back page for complete list. Installed: 2013 Sam I Am is determined that an unnamed character in the book should try green eggs and ham whether it is in a boat or with a goat or here or there or anywhere! Horton Hears a Who Sponsors: W.B. & Sadie Adamson and Dick & Kaye Spalding Installed: 2013 Horton, the elephant, hears a small speck of dust talking to him and vows to protect it because “a person’s a person no matter how small.” Cat in the Hat Sponsors: See back page for complete list. Installed: 2012 The Cat in the Hat entertains two children on a rainy day with wild hijinks is one of the best-selling children’s books of all time.

More Storybook Sculptures

7

8

Childhood’s Great Adventure Book: “Santa Calls” Author/Illustrator: William Joyce Sponsors: See back page for complete list. Location: Everman Park Sculptor: Rick Jackson Installed: 1996 Art Atchinson Aimesworth, his sister Esther and Spaulding Littlefeets sail to the North Pole in this sculpture depicting a scene from the William Joyce book.

Man in the Moon Book: “The Man in the Moon” Author/illustrator: William Joyce Sponsor: Union Pacific Railroad Location: T&P Depot, 1101 N. 1st St. Sculptor: Pedro Rivera Installed: 2014 The first picture book in William Joyce’s The Guardians of Childhood series tells the adventure of the boy who became Tsar Lunar, the very first Guardian who watches over the dreams of all the children of Earth.

9 E. Aster Bunnymund (Easter Bunny) Book: “E. Aster Bunnymund and the Warrior Eggs at the Earth’s Core!” Author/illustrator: William Joyce Sponsor: Family Vision Associates; Dorothy Preston, O.D.; Steven Ezzell, O.D.; Darren Postelwait, O.D. Location: Corner of Cedar and N. 1st streets Sculptor: Steve Neves Installed: 2014 A philosophical warrior rabbit skilled in martial arts, E. Aster Bunnymund is one of William Joyce’s Guardians of Childhood. His greatest temptation is chocolate. 5

10 Nicholas St. North (Santa Claus) Book: “Nicholas St. North and the Battle of the Nightmare King” Author/illustrator: William Joyce Sponsor: W.B. & Sadie Adamson Dick & Kaye Spalding Priceless Literacy – Kaye Price Hawkins & Joe Hawkins In honor of our grandchildren who still believe Pat & Mike Dunnahoo Hunter’s Texas Stone Location: National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature, 102 Cedar St. Sculptor: Steve Neves Installed: 2014 Before he was St. Nick, he was a daredevil named Nicholas St. North. But when he becomes one of William Joyce’s Guardians of Childhood to save the children from bad dreams, his metamorphosis into the beloved Santa Claus begins.

12

11 Dinosaur Bob Book: “Dinosaur Bob and His Adventures with the Family Lazardo” Author/illustrator: William Joyce Sponsor: Citizens of Abilene Location: 133 Cedar St. Sculptor: Bob “Daddy-O” Wade Installed: 2000 The sculpture was created for the 20th annual Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit in 2000 and depicts the William Joyce character, Dinosaur Bob, playing with an orange Volkswagen. 6

Jack Frost Books: “The Guardians of Childhood” series Author/illustrator: William Joyce Sponsor: Abilene Arts Alliance Location: Abilene Public Library, 202 Cedar St. Sculptor: Steve Neves Installed: 2014 The Guardian of Fun who can manipulate snow and ice, Jack Frost is well known for his role in the animated movie “Rise of the Guardians” in which he assists the other Guardians in battling Pitch, the Nightmare King.

Bronze casting for Seymour, Easter Bunny, Jack Frost, The Sandman and The Tooth Fairy by Geoff Broderick.

13 Seymour Books: “Can You See What I See?” series Author/illustrator: Walter Wick Sponsor: A project of the Abilene Cultural Affairs Council Location: Under Repair Sculptor: Randy Gilman Installed: 2013 The Seymour character, who is a boy made of beads, is hidden on every page of Wick’s “Can You See What I See?” book series.

15 Sanderson Mansnoozie (The Sandman) Books: “The Sandman: The Story of Sanderson Mansnoozie” Author/illustrator: William Joyce Sponsor: Fehr Foods, Inc. - Subsidiary of Grupo Nutresa Dr. Ted and Laura Dyer and Hendrick Sleep Disorders Center Location: 174 Cypress St. Sculptor: Steve Neves Installed: 2014 This former captain of a shooting star is the Sandman, the Guardian of Dreams. It is his duty to give sweet dreams to children with his magical dream sand each night.

14 Toothiana (The Tooth Fairy) Book: “Toothiana: Queen of the Tooth Fairy Armies” Author/illustrator: William Joyce Sponsor: Abilene Pediatric Dental Associates Location: Minter Park Sculptor: Steve Neves Installed: 2014 Her Serene Royal Highness, Toothiana, Queen of the Tooth Fairies, is also a Guardian of Childhood. She fiercely guards the teeth she collects because they contain childrens’ memories. 7

Storybook Legend Contributors Abilene Arts Alliance Abilene Pediatric Dental Associates W.B. & Sadie Adamson Pat & Mike Dunnahoo Dr. Ted and Laura Dyer & Hendrick Sleep Disorders Center Family Vision Associates: Dorothy Preston, O.D. Steven Ezzell, O.D. Darron Prostelwait, O.D.

Fehr Foods, Inc. – Subsidiary of Grupo Nutresa Hunter’s Texas Stone Priceless Literacy – Kaye Price-Hawkins & Joe Hawkins In honor of our grandchildren who still believe Dick & Kaye Spalding J.L. & Joyce Truitt-Geis Union Pacific Railroad

Three-Year Sustaining Gifts Sponsors Abilene Convention & Visitors Bureau Gina & Tucker Bridwell Dr. Jay & Nancy Capra Dewayne & Virginia Chitwood Virginia Connally, M.D. Carl Childers & Jose Delucchi Dodge Jones Foundation David & Sindy Durham

The Mary & Larry Gill Family Russell & Beverly Guthrie & Trevor Short Lytle Land & Cattle Co./ Sharon’s Barbeque Gary & Sylvia McCaleb National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature

Priceless Literacy Kaye Price-Hawkins & Joe Hawkins Mia, Makeda & Simret Proctor Rentech Boiler Systems Sharon Riley Sylvan Learning Center James D. Tittle Windham Ranch LLP

Culminating Storybook Contributors Olivia Nichols Everett E. & Orabeth K. Woods The Children of Abilene ISD, Wylie Foundation Dian Graves Owen ISD, St. John’s Episcopal School & Patron 200 In loving memory of Jimmy Farrington Abilene Christian Schools Chase, Madison & Zane Peeler First National Bank of Abilene The City of Abilene Justin, Ethan & Wesley Polk Bobbie Anderson Gee Joe Allen Dylan & Colton Proctor Robert (Bob) & Ardis Gillette Abilene Reporter-News Kimberly & Sam Proctor Meredith & Landon Gray In honor of our grandchildren, Jerri & Dr. & Mrs. H.M. Richert Callie & Lee Hampton Jim Alexander Sharon Riley Rebecca Harris Arrow Ford Lynn & Carl Roeder Pete & Martha Hinman Carolyn & Harwell Barber Senter Realtors Jacob, Zach & Madison Jones Grandchildren - The Berry’s Logan, Security State Bank of Abilene Junior League of Abilene Sam, Abby, Tom, Wes, Will & Brook Lila & Bill Senter Scott & Jill Bishop Lauren Engineers Constructors Gary & Gwen Sitton Lauren & Reagan Livingston Watson Bowen Sara, Sally, Jack, Sadie & Meredith Timothy & Adam MacArthur Ken & Sue Burgess In honor of Paige & Lola from Pat & Spalding Marilyn Ann Caldwell T & T Family Foundation Ralph McCleskey Joe Ed. Canon Tom Taylor family in memory of Eileen Miss Brooke Miers Mary F. Clark Taylor Massey In memory of Alice Faye Miller Canon & Caroline Cleveland John R. & Jana Thacker Jane & Bob Milstead The Crowe Group, Inc. Clarine & Bob Tiffany Honoring Sam Morford L. Glenn Cummins Marissa, Stephen & Gianna Munoz Mary & Zane Travis Donna & Chester Dougherty Dr. & Mrs. James D. Webster Kenneth L. Musgrave Glenn Dromgoole Anika, David & William Wright Julie & Buddy Napier Lily, Miles & Chloe Etter from Mommo Bill Wright & Alice J. Wright Sydney & Evelyn Niblo

8