Stand UP.

October is National Bullying Prevention Month!
Be like JANINE! 


Love who you are. Stand up for yourself and Stand up for others.
Don't change.

Talk About A Throwback- by Janine

Me and my Mom, Maryann, Speaking at Lynnhurst School in Saugus, MA
Our mission for the JANINE book and this Janine’s Party website is to change the public’s perception of children with disabilities and inspire inclusion.  I have spent the past two months traveling to local schools with my mom to help spread our message. It has been a great experience especially, last week when I visited two places, which played an important part in my education. It's been a whirlwind.

On Wednesday, April 29 my mom and I traveled to Henniker, NH to speak at my (and my boyfriend Matt's) alma mater New England College. It was wonderful to see my old professors again. I love Henniker and miss it a lot. We spoke in front of a group of professors and students mostly, in the education department. I hope they gained some insight into what it’s like to be a student with disabilities.

On Thursday, April 30 we traveled to my former elementary school, The Lynnhurst School in Saugus, Massachusetts. After 17 years the school still looked the same and there were even several teachers still teaching there.
We spoke to all the students, for three sessions, grades Kindergarten to 5th. The kids were awesome and asked some great questions about how I have overcome challenges over the years. I gladly answered them. I am so humbled to be able to come back to the place I grew up and inspire future generations to put an end to bullying.

Here are some former teachers from Lynnhurst:
Me with Mrs.Bibeau (5th Grade Teacher)

Me and Mrs. Nadeau (2nd Grade Teacher)

 Mrs. Elwell (3rd Gr.) and Me, with a book I created in 3rd grade!
Thanks everyone - It was fun!
Janine

Thank you. JANINE has been LAUNCHED.

Thank you so much for joining us at our JANINE Publishing Launch Party!  
We enjoyed sharing our Book, our Story and our CAKE!  Please continuing sharing our message...Stand UP, Inspire, and Include...
and spread the word about JANINE.
  


All Photos by Brian Woodbury- Toadstool Bookshop. Thanks Brian.


It may be the end of the cake....but just the beginning for JANINE!
A big thanks to Toadstool Bookshops (Support your independent bookstore!)
and our Publisher, Albert Whitman & Co.
Love who you are! Warmly-
Maryann & Janine

Touching Lives through JANINE

Janine & Maryann before Amherst NH Middle School Presentation
Amherst Middle School 5th & 6th graders- A full house.
Janine and I have spent the last several weeks visiting schools, (Elementary and Middle) as well as presenting to a Parent Night and to the community at our local Public Library. The reaction to our our book, JANINE and our message has been overwhelming. A warm thank you to every person who embraced us with your words and your hugs. Most comments were directed at my daughter Janine, who bravely stood in front of crowds of students and adults, publicly disclosing her disabilities and going on to tell the emotional story of a bullying incident, (which sparked the idea for the book). I'm very proud of my daughter. She is truly my hero and is an amazing role model to not only children, but adults. She never let her challenges get in the way of her goals. Life for her has not always been easy, but her powerful sense of self and her ability to see the bright side of every situation has helped her embrace who she is. As Janine puts it;
 "My disabilities are part of me, and I am proud of who I am." 
We are hoping that our book, JANINE opens up conversations within families and schools. Perhaps if we teach kids to STAND UP for themselves and others and help them change the way they view people with disabilities, we'll put a stop to bullying and create a better world. 

Amherst Library


A FAMILY AFFAIR
During our Gr5 to Adult presentations, we show the film FOLLOWING FLAME which is an Award winning documentary-short created by my daughter Kristin and inspired by Janine. Her film follows the rock band FLAME which is made up of adults with disabilities. Our mission, to help change public perception of children and adults with disabilities and increase awareness and acceptance, has become a family affair.

 From Kristin, (who is currently working in Alaska):  "Growing up, I watched my older sister, Janine face a lot of challenges. The worst of those challenges were not from her disability itself, but rather society's inability to see what she was capable of. School bullies have transformed into impatient employers, unwilling to give my fun-loving, intelligent, hardworking sister a chance. These perceptions we hold about "disabilities" start at a young age and continue on into adulthood. That's why, even from thousands of miles away, I'm cheering on my Mom, Maryann Cocca-Leffler, and my sister as they present my mom's new book "Janine" in schools to show kids how important inclusion is."
Henniker, NH
Henniker, NH- Our message: Be Your Spectacular Self
Our last local Event is March 28th
Booksigning, Talk and Cake! Join us:
As you can see...The BOOK is the beginning...the "spark" which is igniting conversations in schools and communities. I have many more School visits this Spring, but please contact us if you would like us to present at your school or organization.
BE YOUR SPECTACULAR SELF! 
Warmly, Maryann and Janine
mcleffler@aol.com
JANINE is published by Albert Whitman & Co.

EVENTS- Join us.

For those unable to make our events, Janine and I would be happy to mail you a personalized signed Bookplate. 
Just email mcleffler@aol.com Subject line:"Bookplate"
Available through all stores or online at: 
Week 4 Winner Nancy Venezia- MA
Last Book Giveaway-Mar 30.  See below.
Local Amherst,NH Events:
Janine and Maryann will be presenting:

March 18-  Wilkins School  8:30AM Gr. 2,3,4 assembly (Booksigning 3PM)
March 23-  Amherst Middle School- 7PM  Presentation* and Booksigning
                        Sponsored by AMS Parent Partnership Team Meeting
                        (Any Amherst/ Mont Vernon resident is welcomed to attend.)
March 25-  Amherst Public Library, Evening Presentation*. Open to Public 7-8:30PM
                        (Registration required for Library Program  603-673-2288 )
March 26 - Amherst Middle School: 9AM, 5 & 6 Grades- Assembly
March 28-  Toadstool Bookshop, Lorden Plaza, 101A in Milford, NH. 2-4pm. 
Party and Signing - Everyone is invited!
*Presentation: STAND UP and INSPIRE-Embracing Disabilities in Books and in Life.

Other Events:
March 6 -   School Visit- Hampton, NH
March 11-  School Visit- Holliston, MA
March 13-  School Visit- Chelsea, MA
March 16-  School Visit- Henniker, NH
April 6-     Make a book Program- Chelmsford MA
April 12-14- School Visits Battle Ground, Indiana 
April 14-16- Texas Library Conference  Austin, TX
April 29- New England College-  Education lecture
April 30- School Visit- Saugus, MA

 BOOK GIVEAWAY!
To celebrate the publishing of JANINE we are giving away 5 Autographed Books, one book every Monday in March. To enter, just help us spread the word about JANINE on Facebook, Twitter or Email and then enter through the GIVEAWAY BOX on the right. We will randomly pick a winner each Monday. The winner will be contacted and the winner's Name and State will be posted here.
Week one winner : Cindy Thayer- OH
Week two winner: Liz Ullrich, NH
Week Three winner: Evelyn Cronin- VA
Week Four winner: Nancy Venezia-MA
NEXT & Last DRAWING: MARCH 30rd.

(If you entered before, your name stays in the drawing.)

Happy Publishing Day JANINE !

JANINE IS NOW AVAILABLE!! 
 "this gentle portrayal of difference is powerful"-Review-Booklist

 Book Giveaway WEEK ONE WINNER:
Cindy Thayer, Milan,Ohio 
Book Giveaway WEEK TWO Begins! Please enter on right. See below for details.
Mark Your Calendar-You Are Invited! 

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Meet Janine. She is one of a kind. She talks to her imaginary friends, reads the dictionary for fun, knows lots of big words and remembers, things-lots of things. She even has her own style of cheering! Some kids think she's strange and want her to change. They don’t want her to come to their COOL party unless she changes. Will she? 
Or will she stay her spectacular self? 
In this charming story, Maryann Cocca-Leffler uses her own daughter as inspiration for a delightfully spunky character. Janine Leffler, who gave her mother permission to tell her story about being a child with disabilities, focuses on the positive while navigating life with disabilities. She has become a role model to children and adults, encouraging them to focus on abilities and promoting respect, tolerance, and kindness.
ISBN # 978-0-8075-3754-1
Published by Albert Whitman & CO.
 BOOK GIVEAWAY!
To celebrate the publishing of JANINE on MARCH 1st we are giving away 5 Autographed Books, one book every Monday in March. To enter, just help us spread the word about JANINE on Facebook, Twitter or Email and then enter through the GIVEAWAY BOX on the right. We will randomly pick a winner each Monday. The winner will be contacted and the winner's Name and State will be posted here.
Week one winner : Cindy Thayer- OH
NEXT DRAWING: MARCH 9th.
(If you entered before, your name stays in the drawing.)
Locals...we hope to see you at the signing on March 28th. 

Reviews and Publishing Countdown

Janine publishes March 1st!
To Celebrate we'll be giving Away 1 
Autographed Book a week 
every Monday in March.
Entries open Feb 23. Stay tuned.

 Reviews are in and I'm thrilled: 
Here are some highlights from three reviews. 
(The entire reviews can be read on the BOOK link on this site.)

School Library Journal:
Bespectacled Janine reads the dictionary for fun, plays with invisible friends, enjoys singing on the bus, and is kind to everyone. ... The taunting classmate invites the “cool” kids to her birthday party, leaving Janine off the guest list and telling her, “You are STRANGE! You have to CHANGE!” Instead of feeling hurt or ostracized, Janine decides to host her own party in which no one will be excluded.... Gently dealing with a bully while remaining true to herself, Janine is an admirable character who doesn’t need to put someone else down in order to feel good about herself. VERDICT: A refreshing tale of being true to oneself.–

Publisher’s Weekly:-Leffler  introduces an unconventional girl named Janine who stays her own course, even though it deviates from those of her classmates. .... readers will have seen how Janine’s generosity and kindness have gradually won over her classmates, so it’s no surprise that all of them (save one) take her up on her offer. Cocca-Leffler’s portrayals of her heroine illuminate her thoughtfulness, resilience, and self-assuredness, and while the story’s message is far from subtle, it may encourage children who don’t fit in (and wouldn’t have it any other way).

 Kirkus Review: slightly new twist on the kid-getting-bullied story.Janine is certainly her own girl. .... It’s nice to examine how a group can choose kindness and thus take away a bully’s power. Charming illustrations highlight Janine’s independent style and unfailing optimism. Teachers looking for a positive solution should reach for this one. Children will enjoy knowing that Janine is actually the author’s daughter. An optimistic but nevertheless real solution to a common school problem.

                   Publishing Date Count Down....Janine Publishes MARCH 1.  
If you can't wait, JANINE can be pre-ordered at your Local Bookstore or on Amazon. com
Some Background on the book and it's inspiration:
 JANINE. is a book I have wanted to write for over 25 years, but the time was not right, until now. My daughter, Janine Leffler, the inspiration for my new picture book, has bravely given me permission to develop a character based on her life as a child with disabilities. Before now, I could not have written this book, because, in reality, it was not my story to write. Disclosing my daughter’s disabilities had to be my daughter’s decision. Now, as an adult, Janine has embraced her life and has become an amazing role model, one who focuses on the positives in life and uses her own experiences and stories to promote respect, tolerance and kindness.

Real Janine, 1st grade

Book Janine, 1st grade

As a child Janine was quite a character. She was always happy and outgoing with an amazing contagious upbeat attitude. She lit up a room with her smile. To this day she holds these attributes. Though she was teased and bullied, she used those moments to find strength in herself. She amazed and inspired me, and became my hero. I believe others with her challenges may have withdrawn from the world, but she did not. She learned to Stand Up for herself and would not allow others to get her down. 

Janine as a Pizza!
Early book dummy and sketches

"Different- not Less" is a quote by Temple Grandin when describing herself as an adult with Autism. It can also be used to describe Janine, and every child or adult out there with disabilities. Miss Grandin spends her life trying to change attitudes. It is our hope that through this book, we will help in that cause, starting with our young readers.   


We hope that this book, in our small way, will help society "come to a place where we understand that disability is part of human life and an aspect of diversity." -Larry Roberts, in Following Flame

It took years to bring this book out into the world. I have worked in publishing for over 30 years and I know that this book would not have been published 25 years ago. As a young mother, I remember searching for positive books for my daughter in which the main character had a disability. Besides a few books on Helen Keller, there wasn’t much out there.

Life has moved forward and thankfully, so has the publishing industry. Recently more books have been published in which the main character is a positive voice who happens to be disabled. (We have listed many great books in the 'Suggested Books' Link). Every child wants to see themselves in books including kids with disabilities. A big thanks to Albert Whitman & Co for publishing Janine. It's brave publishers like them who help increase tolerance and acceptance for all.

We look forward to sharing JANINE with our readers.
Stand Up and Inspire,
Maryann and Janine

Schneider Family Book Awards Announced

Janine's Party is proud to include the three winners of the The Schneider Family Book Awards to our suggested books. Just announced today, February 2nd, at the ALA Mid Winter Conference, all three of these books feature main characters who reflect a positive view of people with disabilities.

 The Schneider Family Book Awards honor an author or illustrator for a book that embodies an artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences.

Picturebook: A Boy and A Jaguar  (Stuttering)
Written by Alan Rabinowitz Illustrated by Catia Chien

 Middle Grade:  Reign Rain (Asperger's Syndrome) by Ann M. Martin

 Young Adult: Girls Like Us ( Special Needs) By Gail Giles 



Just in:   El Deafo wins the Newbury Honor!

 El Deafo  ( hearing impaired)  by Cece Bell 

 Congratulations!

Bringing JANINE to the Book World


March 1, 2015 is the publishing date for JANINE., a book I have wanted to write for over 25 years, but the time was not right, until now. My daughter, Janine Leffler, the inspiration for my new picture book, has bravely given me permission to develop a character based on her life as a child with disabilities. Before now, I could not have written this book, because, in reality, it was not my story to write. Disclosing my daughter’s disabilities had to be my daughter’s decision. Now, as an adult, Janine has embraced her life and has become an amazing role model, one who focuses on the positives in life and uses her own experiences and stories to promote respect, tolerance and kindness.

Real Janine, 1st grade

Book Janine, 1st grade

As a child Janine was quite a character. She was always happy and outgoing with an amazing contagious upbeat attitude. She lit up a room with her smile. To this day she holds these attributes. Though she was teased and bullied, she used those moments to find strength in herself. She amazed and inspired me, and became my hero. I believe others with her challenges may have withdrawn from the world, but she did not. She learned to Stand Up for herself and would not allow others to get her down. 

Janine as a Pizza!
Early book dummy and sketches

"Different- not Less" is a quote by Temple Grandin when describing herself as an adult with Autism. It can also be used to describe Janine, and every child or adult out there with disabilities. Miss Grandin spends her life trying to change attitudes. It is our hope that through this book, we will help in that cause, starting with our young readers.   


We hope that this book, in our small way, will help society "come to a place where we understand that disability is part of human life and an aspect of diversity." -Larry Roberts, in Following Flame

 It took years to bring this book out into the world. I have worked in publishing for over 30 years and I know that this book would not have been published 25 years ago. As a young mother, I remember searching for positive books for my daughter in which the main character had a disability. Besides a few books on Helen Keller, there wasn’t much out there.

 Life has moved forward and thankfully, so has the publishing industry. Recently more books have been published in which the main character is a positive voice who happens to be disabled. (We have listed many great books in the 'Suggested Books' Link). Every child wants to see themselves in books including kids with disabilities. A big thanks to Albert Whitman & Co for publishing Janine. It's brave publishers like them who help increase tolerance and acceptance for all.

We look forward to sharing JANINE with our readers.
Stand Up and Inspire,
Maryann and Janine
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