Victoria Ames

The libraries at the elementary schools in the Butler School District have received a book donation courtesy of a former student.

Victoria Ames, a 1997 graduate of Butler High School, published the children’s book “I Can Dance, Too!” in 2010.

Along with her mother, Ames donated a copy of the book to the 11 elementary schools in the district.

Ames, who lives in Denver, earned degrees in communication sciences and disorders, which she used in writing the book.

“I Can Dance, Too!” follows Mia, a deaf girl, who wants to be a ballet dancer. With the help of hearing aids, she is able to hear the music. She also answers questions about her hearing aids to the other students in the dance class.

“I wanted a book that kids could understand,” Ames said about the book that is geared to children in kindergarten and first grade.

Ames credits her first- and fifth-grade teachers with helping instill in her a passion for reading and writing.

“I feel like I’ve always been an educator,” Ames said.

She combined her background in speech pathology and dancing with her passion for educating people to create the book.

Ames’ book has been recognized by many groups including the Mom’s Choice Award, the American Speech Language and Hearing Association and the Zonta Professional Women’s Service Club.

The book also has been featured in classrooms in California and Michigan and was featured at the Center for Performing Arts in Butler and at a Butler County Community College Literacy Luncheon.

“The book has been well received in a couple of states, and I wanted to give back to the school,” Ames said.

Ames’ mother, Cathy D’Antonio of Butler dropped off the books before the school year started, and they were distributed to the 11 elementary schools in the last week of August.

D’Antonio used to work in the school district and set up the donation with Superintendent Mike Strutt.

“I used to work with Cathy,” he said.

Talking about the donation, Strutt said, “We are very glad that a Butler graduate did that.”

Ames said she has good memories being a student in Butler. She hopes to make the book into a series.

“I have ideas for a series, but nothing in the works as of now,” she said.