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Daughter inspires kids' book
By Ashley Rhodebeck
Daily News staff writer
After Beloit resident Heather Scharlau-Hollis gave birth to a daughter with Down syndrome more than two years ago the hospital handed her a book several inches thick about the chromosomal disorder that explained what sort of suffering the child may endure.
“It just tells you the bad things,” the 31-year-old stay-at-home mom and former daycare worker said.
Scharlau-Hollis wanted to find a book to reinforce what she knew deep down: despite Annika's disability she would be OK and like any other kid.
“There's nothing like that out there,” the mother of three said.
So she wrote her own book: “Meet Annie.”
More than a year later the story is a 24-page book of short, simple sentences and colorful illustrations produced by Tate Publishing, a company based in Oklahoma.
Scharlau-Hollis wrote the story as a form of therapy one night in the fall of 2006. At that time Annika, who was born with a rare heart defect, had just undergone a second heart surgery.
She began about 10 p.m. while everyone but her husband, Mark Hollis, slept. She finished within a few hours.
The story introduces readers to Annie, who tells them about getting into trouble and feeling certain emotions. At the end of each page Scharlau-Hollis bridges Annie's and the readers' differences by asking them when they've acted or felt the same way.
Scharlau-Hollis has felt the stares of adults while feeding Annika through a feeding tube - the toddler refuses to eat anything but pudding and yogurt. Although Annika is too young to have experienced stares or taunts from her peers, Scharlau-Hollis hopes “Meet Annie” will teach children acceptance.
“The faster we educate these kids about special needs kids the better they'll be in the long run,” she said.
Hollis encouraged his wife to send the manuscript to publishing companies. Scharlau-Hollis knew the chances of getting published were slim, but she solicited five companies, two of which focused on special needs and turned her down.
After signing with Tate Publishing, Scharlau-Hollis learned the business accepts about 4 percent of its submissions a year.
“It must have hit somebody,” Scharlau-Hollis said.
For the illustrations Scharlau-Hollis mailed the artist photographs of her family and refused the first set of sketches because the characters' heads were too big for their bodies.
“I don't know if you could take that seriously,” she said.
For the book's audio version, Scharlau-Hollis selected her eldest daughter, Alexia, then 9, to read it. Not only would it be a once in a lifetime opportunity, she reasoned, but also having an adult reader wouldn't produce the same effect.
Since Scharlau-Hollis authored “Meet Annie,” she has thought of a string of sequels and has already penned some, such as “Annie at the Park.”
“It just tells you the bad things,” the 31-year-old stay-at-home mom and former daycare worker said.
Scharlau-Hollis wanted to find a book to reinforce what she knew deep down: despite Annika's disability she would be OK and like any other kid.
“There's nothing like that out there,” the mother of three said.
So she wrote her own book: “Meet Annie.”
More than a year later the story is a 24-page book of short, simple sentences and colorful illustrations produced by Tate Publishing, a company based in Oklahoma.
Scharlau-Hollis wrote the story as a form of therapy one night in the fall of 2006. At that time Annika, who was born with a rare heart defect, had just undergone a second heart surgery.
She began about 10 p.m. while everyone but her husband, Mark Hollis, slept. She finished within a few hours.
The story introduces readers to Annie, who tells them about getting into trouble and feeling certain emotions. At the end of each page Scharlau-Hollis bridges Annie's and the readers' differences by asking them when they've acted or felt the same way.
Scharlau-Hollis has felt the stares of adults while feeding Annika through a feeding tube - the toddler refuses to eat anything but pudding and yogurt. Although Annika is too young to have experienced stares or taunts from her peers, Scharlau-Hollis hopes “Meet Annie” will teach children acceptance.
“The faster we educate these kids about special needs kids the better they'll be in the long run,” she said.
Hollis encouraged his wife to send the manuscript to publishing companies. Scharlau-Hollis knew the chances of getting published were slim, but she solicited five companies, two of which focused on special needs and turned her down.
After signing with Tate Publishing, Scharlau-Hollis learned the business accepts about 4 percent of its submissions a year.
“It must have hit somebody,” Scharlau-Hollis said.
For the illustrations Scharlau-Hollis mailed the artist photographs of her family and refused the first set of sketches because the characters' heads were too big for their bodies.
“I don't know if you could take that seriously,” she said.
For the book's audio version, Scharlau-Hollis selected her eldest daughter, Alexia, then 9, to read it. Not only would it be a once in a lifetime opportunity, she reasoned, but also having an adult reader wouldn't produce the same effect.
Since Scharlau-Hollis authored “Meet Annie,” she has thought of a string of sequels and has already penned some, such as “Annie at the Park.”
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