He won't be bringing Coach Nick Saban along, but Big Al will visit Russellville this Friday, November 10th, along with former Russellville City Schools teacher Missy Richey, who has penned a new book, Big Al, Big Al, What Do You See?
The children's picture book was published in April of 2017 and tells about all Big Al sees during an Alabama football game. Richey, a former kindergarten teacher at West Elementary School, now teaches at the Capital School in Tuscaloosa. Second and third graders at the school helped with the book's illustrations.
Richey will have books for sale Friday evening at the Russellville Public Library, 110 Lawrence St. East, from 6-8 p.m. Children can meet Big Al during their visit to the library and tailgate style refreshments will be served.
Children under age 18 can sign up for a drawing where a football autographed by Saban will be given away. The football was donated by Nick and Terry Saban's foundation, Nick's Kids.
The book actually began as a project for Richey's students, who were assigned to write their own stories about Big Al. Last year, those 26 students visited the Paul W. Bryant Museum to read their stories. Each story was titled Big Al, Big Al, What Do You See?
University of Alabama School of Social Work professor Kevin Corcoran learned of the project and contacted Richey about publishing a children's book that combined the students' best illustrations.
Proceeds from the book are divided between the Capital School and the University of Alabama School of Social Work.
As part of the 'field research' for the book, Richey took the students to the University of Alabama's spring football game, A-Day, last year.
According to an interview Richey gave the Tuscaloosa News, her inspiration for the idea came during her time in England, where it's common for elementary students to learn about different subjects by compiling short books about them.
“When you're studying a subject, you do a book on it. We always want to try and do new exciting things,” Richey said.
Richey has taught in Alabama and Tennessee. She is a lifelong Alabama football fan and she holds special her childhood memories of watching the Crimson Tide with a large extended family of cousins, aunts, uncles, parents and grandparents.
Richey and her husband Ben have three children, Art, Alex and Liza Jane. Alex is a drummer in the University of Alabama Million Dollar Band.
Richey has dedicated the book to all of the “wonderful students I have taught in Tuscaloosa, Cottondale, Russellville, Mount Hope, Moulton, Florence and Huntsville, Ala., and Murphreesboro, Tenn.”
She also dedicated it to all of her relatives who are former educators, along her father, Bill Wright, uncles William Flippen, Joe Flippen, Murphree Flippen, Sammy Flippen and Joe Laster.
The hardcover book is also available on www.Amazon.com and www.mascotbooks.com, for $14.95. Copies are also available at the Capital School, the Paul W. Bryant Museum and the Supe Store in Tuscaloosa.
