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NJ Author Celebrates 25-Year Anniversary of Iconic Children’s Book

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NJ Author Celebrates 25-Year Anniversary of Iconic Children’s Book

NJ Author Celebrates 25-Year Anniversary of Iconic Children’s BookPRINCETON, NJ, SEPTEMBER 15, 2015Is Your Mama A Llama?, a classic children’s book, celebrated its silver anniversary this past Saturday at Community Options’ gift store Presents of Mind in Flanders, NJ,  as author Deborah Guarino signed books for all of her fans and talked to the young ones about the importance of reading.

“I’m thrilled to be doing this anniversary book-signing at a store which does so much to help its community, especially those who have intellectual and physical challenges. My own younger sister, Adriane Guarino, has Down syndrome and truly enjoyed her time with the staff at Presents of Mind,” Guarino said before the event.

“It’s also fun that this appearance is right before Grandparents Day, September 13th, so I’m hoping both proud grandparents and parents will stop by to have a copy signed for the youngest readers in their family. There’s nothing like sharing the love of reading early with children, and what better way for one generation to bond with the next than to enjoy the experience of hearing a story read aloud–or learning to read themselves–with a beloved family member like a new grandparent? I’m really looking forward to meeting readers, young and old, familiar with my book…or just discovering it for the first time.”

Is Your Mama A Llama? sold more than a million copies and has been named in Oprah’s Book Club for Kids.  It is also on the list of “Top 50 Books for Kids” by the Early Education Childhood Degrees Association.  The book is available in several editions, languages and is even animated on DVD.

NJ Author Celebrates 25-Year Anniversary of Iconic Children’s BookGuarino is originally from New Jersey, having also lived in Manhattan and London.  In addition to writing, she is an actor, illustrator, professional speaker and journalist.  A single mother of two sons, she has authored several produced plays, short stories and articles for newspapers and magazines, and frequently appears as a visiting author at schools across the country.

Presents of Mind, an enterprise of Community Options, Inc., is a boutique-style gift shop located at the Mall at 206, on Route 206 South in Flanders, NJ. It is an entrepreneurial business that provides job training and employment to individuals with developmental disabilities. Presents of Mind employs several adults with disabilities as retail associates. They work with cross-trained employment specialists who have experience in both retail and job training. All of the functions of a typical business are incorporated into the training program at Presents of Mind, including sales, inventory, maintenance, and design.

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About Community Options

For over 25 years, Community Options has developed housing and employment programs for people with disabilities. Community Options operates with a budget over $107 million and serves thousands of people with disabilities through 38 offices across 9 states. Providing advocacy assistance to empower people with disabilities, Community Options believes that all people –regardless of disability level – should live and work in the community with dignity, choice, and self‐determination. A registered PVO with USAID, Community Options is also the pioneer of innovative programs for people with disabilities in the Middle East, Russia, and South America. Please visit our website at www.comop.org.