Pediatric speech-language pathologist Marvie Ellis has authored two award winning children's books to help explain typical autistic behaviors and offer suggestions in how a child and/or grown-up might better engage and interact with a child with ASD.

Austin, TX (PRWEB) August 21, 2007 -- Public school teachers are being faced with the daunting challenge of educating the increasing number of children with autism mainstreamed into their regular classroom environment. Teachers are also finding it difficult to help children who are non-autistic understand the behaviors sometimes exhibited by children with autism.

Marvie Ellis, a pediatric speech-language pathologist and author in Austin, Texas, saw a need to help educators with this area of classroom connectedness and communication. Her two award winning children's illustrated books, "Keisha's Doors: An Autism Story" & "Tacos Anyone? An Autism Story," were written to help explain typical autistic behaviors and offer suggestions in how a child and/or grown-up might better engage and interact with a child with ASD.

Marvie explained, "These stories are meant to open the doors of communication among the students and help the teacher/ child relationship. Autism is so prevalent in our schools and communities, that it is important to have books that are specifically written for children. Explaining autism to children is much easier when they can read a story and see pictures in a book. A storybook allows the child to go back through the pages, gain new meaning, better understanding, and usually a higher level of interpretation of what is in the story and therefore, what happens in their own environment. If a child can understand typical behaviors of a child with autism, they are less fearful, more compassionate and accepting of that child's behavior. Reading books about children with autism encourages open discussions about their own family experiences, their concerns, and offers an opportunity to try different ways to connect with the child with ASD. It is important that all public, charter, and private schools have children's books about children with autism and other disabilities."

"Keisha's Doors" and "Tacos Anyone?" are 32 pg. hardcover illustrated books written for adult-child read thru 3rd grade reading level. Both books were nominated for the 2006 Dolly Gray Children's Developmental Disabilities Literature Award. "Keisha's Doors" won the 2006 Benjamin Franklin Silver Seal. "Tacos Anyone?" won the 2005 Barbara Jordan Media Award. Both books are written in English and Spanish. Marvie will be releasing two more childen's illustrated bilingual special needs books in 2008, "Busy Bees: A Sensory Defensiveness Story" and "Sitting on Letters: A Story about Low Muscle Tone." Current books are available on the publisher's website at www.speechkidstexaspress.com , at bookstores, and on Amazon.com.

"Keisha's Doors: An Autism Story" (ISBN 1-933319-00-3) $16.95
"Tacos Anyone? An Autism Story" (ISBN 1-933319-02-X) $16.95

Contact:
Marvie Ellis
Autism Expert/ Available for Media Interviews
Speech Kids Texas Press, Inc.
(512) 426-0163
marvieslp @ speechkidstexaspress.com
www.speechkidstexaspress.com

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