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What people are saying about the book “Aunt Katie’s Visit”

"Aunt Katie's Visit" is a well-balanced presentation of what it's like to live with disabilities.  Better yet, Aunt Katie shows children how to see the person first and the disability second.  This is an upbeat approach that emphasizes what she can do for herself, but also lets children know that it's okay to feel sad and cry sometimes when something bad happens to them.”    
Jean Taylor, Manager, Juvenile Collection Development, St. Louis County Library

I love the statement that the best thing you can say to people with disabilities is HELLO.”
Jan Hinkebein, retired parent educator, St. Louis

“I got to review this book pre-publication. It’s delightful.”
Joann Noll, Special School District, St. Louis

“My daughter (2.5 years old) loves it. I bet we read the book 10 times the day we got it. She was very interested in the different children and the equipment you use.”
Sheryl Ulin, Senior Research Associate Engineer, University of Michigan

 “Congratulations! I enjoyed the illustrations.  Your sense of humor shines forth throughout the story.”
Suzanne Carron, Program Manager, National MS Society, St. Louis

“We saw your book and we had to have it for our resource library.”
Cheryl Watley, United Hebrew Temple, St. Louis

“Aunt Katie’s Visit” is a tool to open the eyes of all us, not just children.”
Leianne Brubaker, Salomon Smith Barney, Columbus, GA

“I picked up several copies. I absolutely love it, as do my children. I plan to take a copy to my child’s day care as well as their school.”
Jill Coon, parent, St. Louis   

"Dear Katie Banister:

Thank you for sending in a copy of *Aunt Katie's Visit.* I review books for UM-St. Louis' newspaper, the Current.  I've been interested in presenting the students with honest reviews of new books. But, in my experience, none of the books that have been sent in compare to *Aunt Katie's Visit* in terms of importance.

After reading your letter and the press release information, I decided that the best method for reviewing *Visit* was sitting next to my 10-year-old, third-grader niece.  What followed was what I assume you would expect, and what you've come to know through your school visits--she liked the book and was coherent about the message.

You'll find so much in my review, which comes out in the paper on Monday, March 15th. The paper is distributed throughout campus (by midday Monday) and can be viewed at the currentonline.com (probably not before late Monday or Tuesday). My reviews appear in the Arts & Entertainment section of the paper. I hope that I can give you that extra publicity that I think you especially deserve.

Additionally, the copy of *Visit* you sent was donated to Ellisville Elementary School (in West St. Louis County), where my niece will introduce and read it to her classmates in the near future. I'm also confident that her teacher will use the book in her future third grade classes. I will include a copy of the order information for her and her administrators.

Thanks again and I wish you the best of luck in the future *Visits* and your other products, talks.

Sincerely,

Paul Crutcher  
Staff Writer, Book Reviewer, The Current"

Katie Rodriguez Banister, a quadriplegic, is a speaker, consultant, author and creator of the Access-Sack; a backpack for wheelchairs and strollers.