No. 18 Vol. 2
My Life Publications • 1-800-691-7549
February 2022
Local Mom Authors Trilogy on Autism
I
By: Evan Wechman t’s tough enough for people to survive the loss of their parents or grandparents. However, for local interior designer turned author, Cindy Gelormini, the loss of her beloved son Robbie was both shocking and painful. Robbie was a sweet, loving young son who suffered from Autism and its subsequent seizures. Unfortunately, this led to his passing away in November of 2017 at the age of 21. Many parents would just become hardened or stay in their home all day, but due to Gelormini’s strength and faith, she wanted to teach students, parents, and even other teachers about autism. In early 2021, Gelormini released a trilogy book series titled Robbie’s World and His Spectrum of Adventures! The author who also illustrated the books credited the creation of the series as part of her “ healing process.” Though much of the work was completed during the pandemic, the author remained on task and the words and pictures came easily to her. In her children’s book
Cindy and Robbie Gelormini.
series, she created the character of Robbie the Penguin who has autism so children can relate to the adventures of Robbie. Some may wonder where the idea of a penguin with autism came from, and Gelormini believes Robbie was trying to send her a message from heaven. Shortly after his death, when his mother went to the group home he was living at to collect his belongings, she found toy penguins almost everywhere. She also found out that the last movie he watched was the classic “Happy Feet.” Gelormini who has a strong Christian faith concluded “Robbie’s trying to tell me
something,” and the idea of the book series was born. During the last year, Gelormini has tried to get the books into the hands of as many teachers as possible throughout the state. She wants to destigmatize some of the negative and incorrect assumptions about autism. Robbie, like many other students with autism were bullied in public schools because they were misunderstood and seen as weird. The local author found that when schoolteachers read the books to their students, they adored Robbie the Penguin. Gelormini said the “kids fell in love with Robbie the Penguin.” In addition to the stories involving Robbie the Penguin,
at the end of every chapter, Gelormini offers a segment called “Mom’s Minute”. In this special section, the author explains the real-life events which the story was based on and teaches the readers how autism affects the behaviors of people with this diagnosis. According to Gelormini, the universal message of love is spread throughout her books. Throughout the stories, the mother tells Robbie the Penguin “I love you just the way you are.” This is something the author feels all children can connect with. Unfortunately, many children with autism have confided to the author that they wish their parents continued on page 4
The DeFazio Flanagan Team Denise Flanagan Cell: 973.420.4590 dflan2015@gmail.com
Margaret DeFazio Cell: 201.738.7636 medefazio@gmail.com
211 South Street, Morristown, NJ 07960 • 973.285.4677 www.defazioflanaganteam.com
Every Day is a Good Day when you start at Swiss Chalet
Family owned since 1970 159 South Street Morristown • 973-267-0092 www.SwissChaletBakery.com
Mon-Wed 6:00AM-4:00PM • Thurs. & Fri.: 6:00AM-6:00PM Saturday: 7:00AM-6:00PM • Sunday: 7:00AM-2:00PM *Please note: Kitchen closes 15 minutes before end of the day.
Try our new
Southern Style Chicken Sandwiches