Blue

Although he is not small and cute like the other puppies in the pet shop, Blue takes a chance and gives a strong bark that attracts the attention of three year old Geno and his Mommy and Nana. Geno falls in love with the puppy at first sight, and Mommy and Nana are captivated by the puppy's strong bark. Blue learns that his appearance is not as important as who he is, and that being different is not such a bad thing. Blue: The Luckiest Dog in the World tells how Blue grows up to be a happy, grateful, and responsible dog in spite of the ever-changing circumstances in his life.

Juanita Liepelt grew up on the near southwest side of Chicago in what is now the Little Village neighborhood. She attended DePaul University for two years after high school, then returned to college part time in 1986. Juanita received a B.S. in Applied Psychology (1997) from Loyola University and an M.A. from Loyola University's Institute for Pastoral Studies (2003). Juanita and her sister, Rose Kaszycki, have co-authored a book for caregivers, Nurturing Your Self While Caring for Another. This is Juanita's first children's book.

A portion of all net proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to Autism Speaks, 2 Park Avenue, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10016. For information about Autism Speaks, please see their website at www.autismspeaks.org. Phone: (212) 252-8584, Fax: (212) 252-8676.