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Some kids view volunteering as a box to be checked for college applications. Others view it as a way to do something good. Caroline Van Schoor views volunteering as something to be grateful for. 

“I just fell in love with my job and the role that I played, and the role that the jungle bus played in the community,” Van Shoor said. 

Last year, the LaGrange resident and Springwood student began thinking about ways to give back to her community. An avid reader, Van Shoor thought the Jungle Bus would be a good fit. 

The Jungle Bus is an actual school bus that has been converted into a mobile library of sorts. The bus will go to local events and schools to give away free books to kids. Van Shoor asked the Jungle Bus if she could hand out books and help the kids during these events. The high schooler saw the impact access to reading material can have on kids. 

“I just thought, what’s a way that I could give back to the jungle bus for letting me experience these things,” said Van Shoor. 

Thus, the idea of a coloring book was born. While writing a book seemed daunting, Van Shoor found the prospect of creating a coloring book doable as well as a unique way to give back. 

The book, “Learning the ABCs with My Jungle Friends: Baby’s First Educational Coloring Book,” has animals with corresponding letters to help kids learn while coloring. The book also has tips for adults teaching kids how to read.  

As a new coloring book author and designer, Van Shoor used the tools at her disposal to create the book. She said she went on the design website, Canva to edit and layout the book. For the reading tips, she worked with the Jungle Bus representatives, Gail Gordon and Nicole Kennedy.

“We are beyond excited about this coloring book and Caroline’s generosity in using it to benefit the Jungle Bus. It is a two-generational coloring book!” Gordon stated in a press release. “Children can enjoy coloring with an adult, and the adult can benefit from helpful reading tips on each page.”

Kennedy echoed this saying, “Coloring together with your child is a great way for family members to not only spend quality time with their child but for both generations to strengthen hand-eye coordination, improve fine motor skills, build creativity, and relieve stress. We would love to see families with this coloring book at restaurants, at doctors’ offices, in the car, everywhere.”

Van Shoor wanted to express her gratitude for the representatives and their role in making the project come to life.

“I just want to thank Miss Nicole and Miss Gail, because they helped me 100 percent of the way,” Van Shoor said.

The project’s aim was to give back not only to the community but to the Jungle Bus itself. All the proceeds raised by book sales will go back to the Bus. Van Shoor said people are buying the book to donate to the bus so kids can receive it for free. It is available on Amazon for $6.99 at this link: https://a.co/d/1a44GSZ.

“It was just really cool to see their impact on little kids, and to see the little kids learn and have fun while learning,” Van Shoor said.