NORTHPORT, Mich. (AP) -- The adventures of Mabu have entertained students at Northport Public School for more than a year.

The parrot took up residence in Patricia Hogberg's special education class in September 2003. Now, 25 elementary and middle school students have decided to share his tale with others in a book they wrote and illustrated.

"Mabu Goes to School" is expected to be published next week, Hogberg, who also teaches drama, told the Traverse City Record-Eagle for a Saturday story. The 20-page book will be available in both hard- and soft-cover versions.

Mabu's story began in July 2003, when he escaped from the East Grand Rapids home he shared with Hogberg's sister.

"She was working in her yard and had the bird on her shoulder and he flew up in the tree," Hogberg said. "He was up there a couple days. She had ladders out but she couldn't catch him. She thought he'd come down on his own. And then one day he wasn't there."

Later that week the bird flew into the hair of a woman walking in East Grand Rapids. The woman delivered him to police station and the bird was later reunited with his owner. Three months later, Mabu visited Hogberg's classroom.

"The kids just fell in love with him. He's been with us ever since," she said. "I have had kids that have a hard time expressing themselves or they're very quiet or shy. And they just open up around Mabu.

"Everyone wants to hold him, everyone wants to touch him.

Sabrina Laughman, 9, said the bird perches on her finger or shoulder and sometimes on her head almost every day. The fourth-grader's illustration of Mabu looking toward the school is featured on the book's cover.

"It's kind of colorful and it's cool," Laughman said.

Hogberg said she has already taken 50 orders for the book, which will sell for $14.99 and $16.99 at the school, online and at local bookstores. She hopes to use the money it raises to place computers in special education classrooms.