Tampa Bay Boy Inspires Book Series
A 6-year-old with spiky eyeglasses flashes a kilowatt smile on the cover of the new children’s book, “A Boy with Blue Dino Glasses.” Inside the pages, he teaches readers what it’s like to have Down syndrome, autism and apraxia and proves that it’s possible to keep smiling, laughing, making friends and showing kindness even when life is hard.
The illustrated book is based on Odessa resident Mason Bucalo, who inspired authors Synthia Fairman and Gabriela Rosello to write a series of books based on real children whose stories promote awareness, inclusion, and empathy.
TBPM: Tell us more about Mason, and why you wanted to write a book about him.
SF: Mason is truly one of a kind. The second you meet him, you’re smiling. He’s spunky, fun and just so full of life.
GR: He’s wild about big dogs, swimming, snacking and being outdoors. But more than anything, Mason reminds us every day how magical kids can be even when they need a little extra help.
TBPM: What story does the book tell?
GR: The book follows Mason through a day in his life. It touches on moments when he gets frustrated and needs space, and how his parents, therapist and friends support him.
SF: It really highlights that Mason is a normal little boy, just one who benefits from a bit more understanding. We also included a word bank in the back to help adults explain certain terms and start conversations with kids.
TBPM: What’s Mason’s reaction to being the star of the book?
SF: Oh, he loves it! He knows it’s him and proudly shows it off. He’ll hand the book to any adult nearby and ask them to read it.
GR: At the book signing, he was glowing: posing for photos, loving his custom cookies and asking everyone to sing Happy Birthday to him!
TBPM: What have the last few weeks been like since the book release?
GR: It’s been such an exciting whirlwind! We’ve felt so much love from our Doublemint Sitting family, friends and even local private schools and nonprofits.
SF: Yes! Many have asked for copies to keep in their classrooms or give as gifts. The support has been overwhelming, in the best way.
TBPM: What do you hope young readers will take away from the book?
GR: We hope it helps children see that just because someone might be different, it doesn’t mean they can’t do hard things.
SF: And we want to encourage kindness and inclusion. Every child deserves to be invited, included and supported.
TBPM: This is only the beginning of the Mighty Mint series. What’s next?
SF: Our next book is about a little girl who was adopted straight from the NICU by her NICU nurse.
GR: After that, we’re telling the story of a same-sex couple who used a surrogate to have their son. These stories celebrate love, resilience and different kinds of families.
TBPM: Why are these stories so important to tell?
SF: Because bullying is still very real. And we believe that when kids see diverse stories early, they grow up more compassionate.
GR: We want every child to know they are seen, valued and worthy … just as they are.
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