By Hannah Curran, Editor
TRUSSVILLE — A Former Trussville teacher is encouraging others to be kind in her new book.
Sally Blass Murray writes books to encourage young readers and teach life lessons in a fun and creative way. She is the author of a series of five “guess who” books entitled God Made Me! Who Am I? Farm Animals, Zoo Animals, Ocean Creatures, Jungle Animals, and Insects. Her newest book, When You Take A Cow On A Train, is a book about encouragement, choosing to be kind, and looking for the best in others.
“My sister was telling me a story about a year ago of my grandmother actually taking a cow on a train,” Murray said. “Back in the day, she went to college, and her daddy sent a cow with her to give to this family that she was going to stay with, and I just thought that was the funniest mental picture.”
Murray decided to write a book about a cow on the train.
Murray was looking for an illustrator for her book when her nephew reminded her of Abigail Banks Brandenburg, and when looking through Brandenburg’s previous work, she stumbled across a train that Brandenburg had drawn, and at that moment, she knew that train was the train for her story.
“We talked, and she was very interested in the book and project, and it went from there,” Murray said. “She’s just wonderful to work with, and she’s so talented.”
With her illustrator bringing the story to life she now could focus on the storyline, which is about choosing to be kind, looking for the good in other people, and being an encourager.
The book is written for children ages 5 to 10, and the book shows the flip side of bullying and how just one person choosing to be kind can encourage others to do the same, which can change everything about a situation.
“I feel like we live in such a time where people are not careful with their words, they just say whatever comes to their mind, and they don’t care who gets hurt in the process,” Murray said. “I wanted something that would encourage children to think about the power of their words and that words can be good, they can be bad, they can build up, and they can tear down.”
She wanted a book that would stress the importance of looking for the best in other people and choosing our words to celebrate the good in someone and encourage them with kind words. The cow does precisely that in the story when she rides the train.
“She sees people who are being bullied and mistreated, and she turns it around by pointing out kind things and good things in each one of these people,” Murray said.
Murray taught music for many years at Paine Primary School, and she watched this happen all the time.
“A child would come in who had a bad day, for whatever reason, saying one kind, encouraging thing can just turn it all around,” Murray said. “When a child would come up and say something kind, it just kind of caught on, and other children would all join.”
She believes that kids innately want to be good. They want to be kind, but they have to be reminded to look for the best in people.
“I think as adults, we need that, too, but that’s kind of the message of the book and why I wrote it,” Murray said. “I just feel like we live in a time where kindness is in short supply.”
Throughout the book, the reader will find a repetitive passage that states, “When someone speaks encouragement, a special thing begins… It seems, when people hear kind words, they want to join right in.”
Be an encourager, and choose to be kind.
Several Trussville City Schools educators and local counselors shared their thoughts on the book.
“Sally Blass Murrary’s wit and clever use of rhyme will delight children of all ages in this tale of a wise cow whose kind words change everything. A truly MOOgnificent story of kindness and encouragement!” – Betsy H. Schmitt, Ed.S Retired Principal
“As teachers, we know that words are very powerful! Sally Blass Murray is a gifted writer and educator who has used her words to teach, in an incredibly creative way, just how important our words are! She takes readers on a surprising little trip and teaches all of us how we can “get on board” with using our words for good. I can’t wait to share this book with my students!” – Shayna Swann, Alabama Teacher of the Year District VII (Elementary) 2022-2023
“When You Take A Cow On A Train is MOOgnificient! Sally Blass Murry skillfully uses a pet cow and her desire to travel, to teach children the power of encouragement. “When someone speaks encouragement, a special thing begins…” This book belongs in every classroom!” – Joy Triggs Tyner, Elementary Principal
With the start of school right around the corner, Murray believes that a climate of kindness and encouragement among classmates is vital.
“I know our wonderful teachers are already promoting these character traits in every way, but if this simple book could be a useful tool, I would be thrilled,” Murray said.
Murray also offers free downloadable certificates that teachers and parents can use in connection with the story.
“It’s something to encourage children to be kind,” Murray said. “When parents or teachers see them being kind, or they overhear them saying an encouraging word, it’s a way to say good job.”
You can purchase the book on amazon or visit www.sallyblassmurraybooks.com.