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.

Nurturing Your Self While Caring for Another is for all those who face the prospect of caring for aging parents. The reflections shared in this book are written from their hearts, with the hope that readers will find the hope and courage, sprinkled with a smile and sense of humor, to carry on through what can be a very difficult time. Drawing on their own experiences, sisters Rose Kaszycki and Juanita Liepelt impart 31 days of inspirational thoughts, one for each day of the month, that point out the importance of the care you give to your self. "We hope that something in this little book will help you make good decisions in the care of your loved ones, and to understand that the most important decision you will make is to take good care of your self." Rose Kaszycki is a certified massage therapist, with a background in oncology massage. She is also a certified infant massage instructor. Rose is currently volunteering at Rush University Hospital, Chicago, working with cancer patients at the Cancer Integrative Medicine Program. Juanita received a B.S. in applied psychology from Loyola University Chicago, and an M.A. in pastoral studies from the Institute of Pastoral Studies/Loyola University Chicago. She is a GriefRecovery Specialist and received training from The Grief Recovery Institute. Juanita has created a series of workshops based on the practice of mindfulness and spiritual growth.