Warsaw Woman Writes Children's Book Targeting Disabled
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By David [email protected]
Skylar, now 10, has cerebral palsy but is as active and fun as the other children Wentz takes care of during the day.
When Wentz started attending Ivy Tech through the Teach Scholarship Fund from the state to be a better daycare provider, she took several classes including one called “The Exceptional Child.” As part of the class, Wentz did research on children’s books about children with disabilities, but soon realized that even the local public library doesn’t have many.
“I felt I needed to do something about it. I also thought it would be fun to write a book,” she said.
A year ago she went to Winona Lake Park and sat there for four to five hours trying to decide the wording and story for a children’s book about disabilities. She knew she was going to write about a purple bear in a wheelchair.
She wrote much of the children’s book that day. Then she tweaked it and rewrote it. When she was done, she had her first book, “Purple Bear in her Wheelchair Making New Friends.” It was released Sept. 24.
“It’s designed to help children learn their colors. There is rhyming with good language skills in there. There’s a page to help parents. Reading is very beneficial to a child’s language (skills),” she said.
Since Wentz has provided daycare in her home for eight years and Skylar stays at her house, she sees how people relate differently to Skylar. Wentz said she wrote the book to show that Skylar and other children like her are like every other child who likes to play and have fun.
Around 22 pages long, the book is designed to be read by first- and second-graders, but can be read to children younger than that. The illustrations by Sue Kruger are very colorful to keep younger children’s interest, Wentz explained.
Kruger and Wentz are good friends who have known each other for about 15 years. Wentz said they went to church together and Kruger did a mural for her in the downstairs of her home.
Wentz self-published through Create Space after doing a lot of research online.
Her book is available on Amazon, at the Buffalo Street Emporium/The Next Chapter and in the bookstore at Warsaw Community Church.
Wentz said she isn’t making any money off the book. For every two books sold, she said she is able to purchase another one of her books and donate it to a hospital, children in need or other places where children may read it.
“The money brought in from the sale of the books will go back into the book,” she said. “It’s all to promote awareness that these children are people too and they need more space than a small section in the library.”
Wentz said she also wants to do a 1,000-book giveaway, but is looking for an organization or business to donate $3,500 so she can buy 1,000 of her books to give them away “to get them into a lot of children’s hands.”
She also stated that she’s worked with children for over 25 years, including 10 years at Presby Preschool.
A book signing is scheduled at Warsaw Community Public Library for 11 a.m. to noon Nov. 22, Wentz said. The event will be geared toward children with a fun activity.
More information on Wentz and her book can be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Purple-Bear-in-Her-Wheelchair/514302258703345[[In-content Ad]]
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Skylar, now 10, has cerebral palsy but is as active and fun as the other children Wentz takes care of during the day.
When Wentz started attending Ivy Tech through the Teach Scholarship Fund from the state to be a better daycare provider, she took several classes including one called “The Exceptional Child.” As part of the class, Wentz did research on children’s books about children with disabilities, but soon realized that even the local public library doesn’t have many.
“I felt I needed to do something about it. I also thought it would be fun to write a book,” she said.
A year ago she went to Winona Lake Park and sat there for four to five hours trying to decide the wording and story for a children’s book about disabilities. She knew she was going to write about a purple bear in a wheelchair.
She wrote much of the children’s book that day. Then she tweaked it and rewrote it. When she was done, she had her first book, “Purple Bear in her Wheelchair Making New Friends.” It was released Sept. 24.
“It’s designed to help children learn their colors. There is rhyming with good language skills in there. There’s a page to help parents. Reading is very beneficial to a child’s language (skills),” she said.
Since Wentz has provided daycare in her home for eight years and Skylar stays at her house, she sees how people relate differently to Skylar. Wentz said she wrote the book to show that Skylar and other children like her are like every other child who likes to play and have fun.
Around 22 pages long, the book is designed to be read by first- and second-graders, but can be read to children younger than that. The illustrations by Sue Kruger are very colorful to keep younger children’s interest, Wentz explained.
Kruger and Wentz are good friends who have known each other for about 15 years. Wentz said they went to church together and Kruger did a mural for her in the downstairs of her home.
Wentz self-published through Create Space after doing a lot of research online.
Her book is available on Amazon, at the Buffalo Street Emporium/The Next Chapter and in the bookstore at Warsaw Community Church.
Wentz said she isn’t making any money off the book. For every two books sold, she said she is able to purchase another one of her books and donate it to a hospital, children in need or other places where children may read it.
“The money brought in from the sale of the books will go back into the book,” she said. “It’s all to promote awareness that these children are people too and they need more space than a small section in the library.”
Wentz said she also wants to do a 1,000-book giveaway, but is looking for an organization or business to donate $3,500 so she can buy 1,000 of her books to give them away “to get them into a lot of children’s hands.”
She also stated that she’s worked with children for over 25 years, including 10 years at Presby Preschool.
A book signing is scheduled at Warsaw Community Public Library for 11 a.m. to noon Nov. 22, Wentz said. The event will be geared toward children with a fun activity.
More information on Wentz and her book can be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Purple-Bear-in-Her-Wheelchair/514302258703345[[In-content Ad]]
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