By Dr. Bill Bauer

Nana y Pap y una COSA llamada cánce

Por el Dr. Bill Bauer

The End | El Fin

About the Author

Dr. William M. (Bill) Bauer is a licensed clinical counselor in the rural Mid-Ohio Valley area who was a former classroom teacher, principal, and college professor.  He has worked with children and adults with disabilities all of his life and hopes that this book brings an understanding to children with disabilities, their teachers, and their classmates. Dr. Bauer was born with a severe hearing impairment. 

“I have had the pleasure of working with Dr. Bauer in the professional education and mental health fields
for over two decades, and this book series is his latest outstanding work to help young people
understand and accept differences. Each title focuses on a uniqueness and assures us that “it is OKAY!”
– Dr. Stephanie Starcher, Public School Superintendent 

“Being different is OK! Every effort to erase stigma surrounding our differences is important. The earlier
we start, the better chance we have at preventing stigma from even occurring. I had the honor of meeting
Dr. Bill Bauer when I was in college, and it is no surprise his work as a mental health advocate would
transpire into this series of books. I’m thankful for his commitment to celebrating our differences.” 
– Nick Gehlfuss, MFA, Actor, film and television. Currently, Dr. Halstead, Chicago Med. 

“This book series by Dr. William Bauer – my good friend Bill – fills a niche in children’s literature that embraces
diversity and self-esteem. This series is not only important, but extremely fun. As founder of Orphans International,
I look forward to reading these stories to children of all faiths and abilities around the world. This book is
indeed a living testament to Bill’s own son. The world is a better place because of Bill Bauer! #GrantSpeed”
– Jim Luce, Founder, Orphans International Worldwide

Aloha kakou. E komo mai. Hello and welcome.

In our Pre-K classroom, you’ll find many things you would expect: a schedule, a calendar, a globe, toys, puzzles, art supplies, books, learning canters. You may be surprised, however, to discover our Diversity Center. Here, you will see posters of children of all nationalities and with all types of disabilities. You will find dolls that I altered to represent these unique children.

We have a doll with glasses, a doll with a hearing aid, a doll on crutches, a doll with one arm, and a doll in a wheelchair. We have books written in different languages: Hawaiian, Spanish, French, Japanese, Chinese, English, Braille. We have books written about all sorts of families from all over the world.

Our prize possessions, however, are our books written by Dr. Bauer.

My students choose to visit the Diversity Center so they can cuddle up with one of our dolls and Dr. Bauer’s books. They have so many questions about the children in the books… leading to countless discussions and even more questions. When we have story time outdoors, students request that we sit together and read one of these books.

I truly believe that “Anakala (Uncle) Bill’s Books,” as we fondly call them, have been instrumental in teaching us about compassion, caring, and empathy towards all human beings. What a beautiful gift to our classroom! What a beautiful gift to our keiki (children)! What a beautiful gift to our future! “Anakala Bill” knows the meaning of ALOHA (love, peace, compassion, affection) and has shared that with us all.

Mahalo nui loa (thank you very much) for making such a difference in our lives! – Kumu Michelle and Pre-K students, Volcano, Hawai’i

More Stories in the ‘And It’s Okay‘ Series

Series I

1. Attention Deficit Disorder
2. Autism
3. Cerebral Palsy
4. Epilepsy
5. Hearing Loss
6. Learning Disability
7. Muscular Dystrophy
8. Spina Bifida
9. Stoma
10. Vision Loss

Series II

1. Asthma
2. Congenital Heart Defect
3. Crohn’s Disease 
4. Cystic Fibrosis 
5. Down Syndrome
6. Family Cancer Journey
7. Juvenile Diabetes – DONE
8. Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
9. Sickle Cell Disease
10. Spina Bifida – DONE

Series III

1. Amputee
2. Cleft Palate
3. Depression – DONE
4. Fragile X Syndrome
5. HIV & AIDS
6. My Fragile Bones
   (Osteogenesis Imperfecta)
7. Severe Allergies
8. Tourette’s Syndrome
9. Trauma (PTSD)
10. Wheelchair User /
    I Use a Wheelchair

Series IV

1. I’m Adopted
2. I’m In Foster Care
3. I’m Not A U.S. Citizen
4. My Dad’s In A Wheelchair
5. My Dad’s In Prison
6. My English Isn’t Perfect Yet
7. My Family Is Moving
8. My Mom’s In Prison
9. My Parents Are Divorced
10. My Parents Are Getting Divorced

#AndItsOkay   #FamilyCancerJourney   #ChildrensBooks   #BilingualBooks  
#CancerAwareness   #FamilyLove   #EmotionalLiteracy #LucePubllications
#DrBillBauer #MentalHealthForKids   #DisabilityInclusion   #StewardshipReport

TAGS: Dr. Bill Bauer, children’s literature, family cancer, bilingual children’s book,
emotional health, disability inclusion, And It’s Okay series, cancer education for kids,
mental health awareness, family resilience, storytelling for healing, Luce Publications