The Australian Bite

Author urges us to Treat Everyone Decently

14 December 2010

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Coming up this week on the Australian Bite, author Maryanne Harrison tells us about her new children’s book that will make us stop and think about how we  treat and interact with people who are “different”.  Here’s a sneak preview.

TED has a message for us all

Just because someone looks different, or is doing something differently, it doesn’t mean that it is wrong.

That’s just one of the messages Melbourne author Maryanne Harris hopes to get across in her new children’s picture book, TED’s first day back at School.

In the book, TED – which stands for Treat Everyone Decently – is returning to school following an accident that has put him in a wheelchair. And all he wants is for people to treat him the same way they always did.

The book is based on Maryanne’s own experiences.  She lost her hearing at age 3 following consecutive bouts of measles and mumps, and she has worked in primary schools raising awareness of the issues faced by people with disabilities.

I asked her about the inspiration for the book.

More information at www.tedbooks.com

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