THE KEY TO MY CHILDREN SERIES: WILHEMINA'S STRONG WILL

About the Book

THE KEY TO MY CHILDREN: WILHEMINA’S STRONG WILL is about a three year old little girl who was born eleven weeks preterm, a “preemie.”  She was in the hospital over 200 days and had to fight to live.  Her strong will and determination to thrive are still displayed today by her feisty personality in the Early Childhood classroom.  When Wilhemina ‘acts out’ during circle time, the other children giggle and enjoy her funny antics.  The teachers realize the need to help guide her behavior in a positive direction and yet allow her to feel free to talk, thereby diminishing her frustration from her language delay which enables her to learn.  “Shape the spirit, not damage it” is the teachers’ motto.  The teachers secretly enjoy Wilhemina’s spunk but also realize they have to gently show Wilhemina and the other children proper conduct in the classroom.  Wilhemina’s key to learning is her strong will to survive and take care of herself. Wilhelmina was a "preemie" and was placed in the classroom with a label of Developmental Delay.

Visit the Illustrator's website at www.creativeartsbycathy.com

About the Author

AUTHOR - SUSAN SURGOTH

Susan Surgoth is an Early Childhood teacher and a Developmental Therapist in the state of Indiana. She received her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education with an endorsement in Special Education from Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana. She earned her Masters degree from Butler University in Indianapolis.

Susan began teaching special needs children at the junior and senior high level. She then worked as a Secondary Coordinator for a Special Services Cooperative consisting of seven school corporations.

Some years later she worked for the Indiana Department of Education, Division of Special Education as an Area Coordinator. However, she quickly learned she was getting too far removed from the thing she loved the most: the children. She then accepted a job as the Preschool Data Collection Coordinator, with a promise of returning to teaching when the State of Indiana became mandated to provide education for developmentally delayed preschoolers three years later. Little did she know she would find her passion in life. Besides her family of three children and husband, teaching developmentally delayed preschoolers is her blessing.

"After years of heart-warming experiences, I decided I had to find a way to share the children with others. I began writing down rewarding moments and finally decided to invite people into my classroom by writing a series of children’s books. After finding just the right illustrator, my adventure began."

Cathy Kravitz is originally from Colorado and has been living in Carmel, Indiana for the past 20 years. She is married and has 2 grown children. Cathy began her career in elementary education until her children were born, at which time she became an artist. She has taught art classes for the past 18 years as well as established her own business Creative Arts by Cathy. Cathy primarily works in clay and has sold pieces throughout the world. She has exhibited in New York City as well as many locales in the Indianapolis area. Cathy recently finished writing and illustrating her first book, A DOG’S DAY with DOG EAR PUBLISHING.

Visit her website at www.CreativeArtsbyCathy.com.