For Immediate Release
Contact: Headline Books, 1-800-570-5951 / 304-789-3001 email: cathy@headlinebooks.com
TERRA ALTA—From the depths of a child’s imagination comes a beautiful new children’s book, Kyle’s Colorful Life; the latest release from Headline Books. Written by Drema McNeal and illustrated by exceptional talent Kasey Short-Sexton, Kyle’s Colorful Life will create a reading experience unmatched by most picture books.
Author Drema McNeal felt a book about Kyle, a young boy living with autism, would promote autism awareness, the understanding of the uniqueness of a child, and the acceptance of others. “Kyle has been a work in progress for a couple of years,” said McNeal. “Autism affects 1 in 150 children and millions of families worldwide. This book creates a colorful way to explain autism to help others understand that children with autism have difficulty with social interaction, problems with verbal and nonverbal communication, and repetitive behaviors.”
Beautifully illustrated by Kasey Short-Sexton, Kyle's Colorful Life will enhance reading time for children of all ages and become a keepsake for every family. Short captures the thoughts of Kyle and translates them into outstanding pictures from the tip of Kyle’s crayon.
“This story does a great job depicting a child with high functioning autism and how they are no different than any other child with friends, family and ambitions in life,” said Keri Robinson, M.A. Developmental Therapist for Early Intervention.
“This book is a wonderful story that provides readers with a soothing and warm sensory experience. The brilliant illustrations along with the musical rhyme are sure to engage all children with and without autism spectrum disorder,” says Andrea Campbell, Assistant Professor of Early Childhood Special Education Concord University.
Author and middle school teacher Drema McNeal is a three time nominee for Raleigh County Teacher of the Year and twice was chosen as one of the top five finalists. She has been in public education over twenty years and is working on her National Boards for Professional Teaching Standards. She authored two educational articles published by The Parent Institute-Family Involvement and received First Place Honorable Mention at the 2007 West Virginia Writer’s Conference for a non-fiction piece Making a Difference One Child at a Time. She has a Masters +45 from West Virginia University in Communications Studies, a Bachelor’s of Science Degree from Concord University, a degree in Elementary Education 1-6, English 5-9 and Social Studies 5-9 and Reading Specialist K-Adult. Drema lives in Beckley, WV with her family.
Kasey Short-Sexton, portrait artist, muralist, and illustrator, was born and raised in Southern West Virginia. She studied at the Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, Georgia and graduated Summa Cum Laude, from Concord University. Kasey has also developed a highly skilled technique in Portraiture. She lives in Bluefield, WV with her family.
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