Thursday, October 1, 2026
St. Anthony's Preschool educator Evonne Devivo has turned a lifelong bond with her pet turtle into a published children's book.
Devivo, 49, recently released her book “Myrt the Turt,” a project inspired by her Eastern box turtle and her passion for teaching young children.
The book's publication marks the fulfillment of a longtime goal for Devivo, who said she had always hoped to create a story she could share with her students in the classroom.
“It's been my dream to write a book,” Devivo said. “I want to be in my class reading a book to my children by me.”
The book is centered on Myrt, a turtle Devivo has cared for since childhood. Her connection to the animal began when she was 8 years old and continued for decades. After spending years with her parents, the turtle eventually became part of Devivo's own household and now lives with her family.
“It's all little facts about [Myrt],” Devivo said, “but it's done in sort of a story rhyming way.”
As a teacher and administrator at St. Anthony's Preschool in Oceanside, Devivo frequently incorporated the turtle into classroom lessons, particularly during activities such as "Letter T" week.
The excitement and curiosity students showed whenever Myrt visited inspired her to develop a book that combined storytelling with educational information about Eastern box turtles.
“I've been teaching for a long time, but I never ever brought him to school until 2021,” she said. “And so, the kids get very excited.”
What began as an idea quickly evolved into a complete manuscript. Rather than creating a traditional narrative, Devivo structured the book around Eastern box turtles with a designed to teach young readers in a fun and engaging way.
“It looks like a story from a picture book, but it actually teaches facts,” she said. “The kids are actually learning about Myrt and Eastern box turtles as they go through the book.”
After completing the manuscript, Devivo worked with a publishing company, Kwe Publishing, recommended by a friend. She then partnered with St. Anthony's Preschool Director Jeanette O'Leary, who served as the book's illustrator.
"Each page is a painting and I tend to do a lot of detail,” O'Leary said. “It took a long time. I would do periodically at work when I had free time, I would take it home during breaks, but I love doing it. It's therapeutic to me.”
Known throughout the school for creating murals and artwork, O'Leary spent the school year bringing the story to life visually. She’s always had a love for art, as she was inspired by her grandfather.
“Everything that I thought of, she surpassed that,” Devivo said. “It was just amazing, I couldn't even believe what she did, and I'm so proud of her work that we collaborated on.”
To celebrate the book's release, Devivo organized a school-wide on June 15. She visited classrooms with Myrt, read the book to students and distributed stickers, coloring sheets and other themed activities.
The celebration also included classroom activities and group photos, creating a memorable experience for students and staff. For Devivo, one of the most rewarding moments was reading her own published work aloud to her students.
“It was just wonderful to make the connection, they see it in the halls, they see us every day,” she said, “but now we're in that book, it was very exciting.”
Looking ahead, Devivo said she hopes to continue writing and has already begun developing ideas for future projects. While “Myrt the Turt” is her first published book, it may not be her last.
“I've had a lot of ideas with different books,” she said, “I've written several, nothing published yet, just sitting on them right now.”
For now, the book stands as both a personal milestone and a classroom keepsake, reflecting how everyday experiences can inspire creativity, learning and a love of reading.
The book can be purchased on Amazon.com.
