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Yes, you can bring a Schmoog to school
By PAULETTE LASH RITCHIE
© St. Petersburg Times, LECANTO -- Schmoogieland came into being in the mind of Madonna Maze 17 years ago. Last week she brought it to Pope John Paul II Catholic School. "It's a glitzy, glittery fantasy forest and it's full of multicolorful and multicultural critters," said Maze, known in Schmoogieland as Lady Creator. "All the creatures are based on my friends and family, and I turn everyone I know into critters." Schmoogs are furry creatures with big hearts and long tails for hugging. When they cry happy tears, the tears come out as jewels, which schmoogs wear or display in their homes because they are happy memories. Maze is heavily decorated with jewels when she visits children as Lady Creator. "And all schmoogs have hearts of gold, because they always do good things," she said. Maze, 50, was at the school to read and tell stories to the children, paint a science and periodic chart mural on a science classroom wall and visit her sister, principal Lou Whittaker. She doesn't just visit her sister's school, though. "I go around to the schools and do musicals and plays," she said. "I write the music, too." She plans to return to the school in January to do the musical Three Cheers for Volunteers. Maze has written 24 books about schmoogs and has illustrated 16 of them. She is looking for a publisher, but for the present, self publishes. She has a coloring book, stationery, T-shirts, buttons, cassettes and videos depicting schmoogs for sale on her Web site, www.schmoog.com. She gave students some of her pictures to color. Her video is the story telling she does for acable TV station in McHenry County, Ill., where she lives. Another way she will spread the message of schmoogs is through the McDonald's Corp. McCares program in McHenry County. Maze has been invited to go to the McDonald's there to tell her stories. Part of Maze's time is spent practicing what she preaches. Once a week she volunteers at an animal shelter, and another day she can be found at a hospital. "'Cause Schmoogieland is all about volunteering," she said.
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