NORTH YARMOUTH, Maine — It's been nearly a year since a children's book depicting a unique bond between a young man with special needs and his life-sized stuffed dog hit the bookshelves.
"A Dog and His Boy: The Adventures of Spillway & Scotty" is a heartwarming story about friendship with no limits and has been distributed to thousands of students in elementary schools and libraries throughout Maine. Now, one of the country's toy manufacturers is helping promote the book and its message of acceptance of people of all abilities.
Life has been a whirlwind for Lisa and Scott Wentzell and their son Scotty.
"It just has exceeded our expectations," Lisa exclaimed.
Nine thousand copies of the book, depicting Scotty's adventures with his favorite toy, have been printed since last February.
"Scotty has been enjoying it too. He loves to be famous. If you ask him who is famous? He taps himself," Lisa added.
Scotty, who has had a lifetime of heart surgeries, has Dubowitz Syndrome. The extremely rare chromosomal disorder causes physical and developmental delays.
Scotty started therapy at a young age, and his parents also immersed him in activities, from skiing to riding horses to surfing.
Lisa brought home the life-sized stuffed dog, Spillway, when Scotty was nine years old, and they have never been apart. She wrote "A Dog and His Boy: The Adventures of Spillway & Scotty" with Heidi Bullen, a long-time friend, children's book author, and third-grade teacher, to teach kids they can have the same dreams and aspirations as people of all abilities. For months the family and Heidi have crisscrossed the state, distributing hundreds of copies of the rhyming tale to elementary students.
The book also shows pictures of Scotty & Spillway participating in activities many students enjoy themselves.
"Focus on, you know, the things that Scotty can do, that they do, so he is not as different as they might think," Scott explained.
Last fall, CMP distributed 600 books to schools and public libraries within their service area. Spillway and Scotty's bond with no limits has also inspired a song by Jason McClure, as well as a new partnership with one of the country's top toy manufacturers based in Wilton, Connecticut.
Melissa & Doug, which made the original Spillway, is promoting the book's message of universal inclusion. The stuffed toy is no longer available, but the company has sent the couple several mini versions of Spillway to distribute to readers.
"Scotty can do anything, and that is part of what Melissa and Doug are about too: the power of play and having a friend by your side," Lisa explained.
Scotty is now 23 years old and embarking on new adventures with Spillway, possibly inspiring another book and reaching an even larger audience. The book also features a list of nonprofits he participates in for a variety of activities. Those organizations provide programs and resources to Mainers of all abilities. Some of the organizations include Riding to the Top Therapeutic Riding Center, Special Surfers, Maine Adaptive Sports & Recreation, and Best Buddies in Maine.