By Mary Brooke Casad Illustrated by Benjamin Vincent Bluebonnet, the traveling Texas armadillo, shows children the fun of exploring new places as she tours the Marshall Train Depot and learns about its history.
When Bluebonnet arrives in Marshall, she bypasses the beautiful “Wonderland of Lights” festival in search of something more interesting to her—the historic Marshall Train Depot. Once there, she meets a friendly local cat, T.P., who explains that he is named for the Texas & Pacific Railroad. T.P. and Bluebonnet tour the depot and learn about its history while developing a charming friendship. At the end of the tour, the two friends boldly leap onto a train and head off together for their first train ride.
Mary Brooke Casad Mary Brooke Casad spent her childhood summers in the Texas Hill Country at Camp Waldemar, where she was first introduced to armadillos! She is the author of the Bluebonnet Armadillo Adventure Series, written to teach Texas children about their rich local heritage. www.bluebonnetarmadillo.com
A native of Louisiana, Mary Brooke received a journalism degree from Southern Methodist University. She has written for numerous publications and edited “The Waldemar Story: Camping in the Texas Hill Country.” A life-long United Methodist, she has served both as a volunteer and lay professional. Her husband, Dr. Victor E. Casad, is a United Methodist clergyman. They have two sons, a daughter-in-law and three grandchildren.
Benjamin Vincent BJamN (Benjamin) Vincent has been illustrating Bluebonnet the Armadillo’s adventures across Texas for over 20 years. Based in Dallas, BJamN does artwork for advertising agencies, and creates cartoons and caricatures for a variety of events, productions, and uses. He left Dallas briefly to attend Art Center College of Design in California and high-tailed it back home to Texas as quickly as he could after receiving a BA in illustration.