Encouraging words from the CFL trenches
Alouettes defender co-authors kids’ book
TORONTO — Woody Baron finds the spectre of tangling with a hulking offensive lineman much less daunting than sitting before young children.
The Montreal Alouettes rookie defensive lineman has co-authored a book titled #JustaGobbler with his uncle, James Baron, and Henry Taylor. The 38-page hardcover publication was released in August for third- and fourth-graders.
Baron did his first reading last week at an after-school program in a Montreal church and held his first in-school session Monday. The six-foot-one, 270-pound Baron feels more anxiety preparing to read to a young audience than engaging an ill-tempered 300-pound centre or guard.
“I get butterflies before I do any of that like any person does,” Baron said in Toronto last week before Montreal’s 26-22 road loss Saturday to the Argonauts. “But then I realize I know the subject matter and what I’m talking about and I’m not trying to do anything out of the ordinary.”
Baron said his uncle approached him about the book in 2016 when Baron was still at Virginia Tech.
“I just remember it being such an exciting idea and being able to see it now in person, it’s gone above and beyond anything I could’ve imagined,” ,” Baron said. “The illustrations are so unique, so vibrant, so attractive and the book’s message is so versatile. You can take it to anybody and they’ll be able to digest it.”
The book’s central figure is the Virginia Tech Hokie, the school’s turkey-like mascot who’s very excited about an upcoming talent show. But as he learns what his friends will be doing at the show, the mascot’s self confidence diminishes because he’s focusing too much on others and not what he can offer.
“Slowly but surely his confidence kind of dwindles throughout the book until the end when he’s reminded of how much he has inside of himself,” Baron said. “He’s able to rebuild his confidence and be proud of what he can offer.
“It’s all about self-belief, selfconfidence, knowing who you are, being proud of it and always believing in yourself. I think the message is great for everyone.”