McKeesport, PA Author Publishes New Children's Book

Dizzy Daisy, a new book by Theresa Paterra, has been released by RoseDog Books.

Theresa Paterra was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Ever since she started middle school and began taking care of her little sister, she wanted to be a teacher. But her other dream was to be a parent, which was difficult due to a medical condition. She put her college education on hold to try to have children, and success came a year later when she had her daughter, Shenan. But complications left her daughter with multiple disabilities.

As the years went by, Paterra taught herself how to manage a physically- and intellectually-challenged child. She watched as her daughter struggled through school, and saw how "normal" children treated her. Paterra instilled in Shenan the value of perseverance, teaching her that anyone is a winner as long as they give 100%.

Paterra currently works as an elementary instructional assistant and a personal care assistant in a local school district. She helps a variety of children, including those in regular classes and those in full-time special education classes. She continues to see how some students still do not accept disabled children, even in this age of inclusion in education.

Paterra's experiences inspired her to write Dizzy Daisy, the story of a sparrow that cannot fly. She wrote it to express the importance of awareness and acceptance of those who are disabled.

Dizzy Daisy is a 30-page paperback with a retail price of $16.00. The ISBN is 978-1-4349-8779-2. It was published by RoseDog Books of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. For more information or to request a review copy, please visit our virtual pressroom at www.rosedog.com/pressroom or our online bookstore at www.rosedogbookstore.com.