Merrick author, Gina DeGregorio-Sonbert, publishes first book

Gina DeGregorio-Sonbert, a mom-of-three, will have her first book, “Theodore Bearkins Lost His Blue Sunglasses,” released on Sept. 16 by the Benjamin McRae Publishing Group.

DeGregorio-Sonbert, who resides in Merrick, began her career as a publicist in the music industry. She later went back to school, and got a master’s degree in clinical psychology, specializing in clinical behavioral therapy, or CBT.

After getting her degree, she had three children, and her middle son, Teddy, now 10, was diagnosed with autism in April of 2018, she said.

“When Teddy was diagnosed with autism when he was 2, I kind of decided that this is where I need to go — like this is my journey now, teaching people about autism,” she said. “I remember when he was first diagnosed, I spoke with a woman who had a son with autism, she kind of explained everything to me — I knew nothing about it.

“The one thing she said that really stood out to me was ‘My son’s going to be fine, I’m not worried about him— what I’m worried about is everybody else in the world accepting him,’” DeGregorio-Sonbert recounted. “That really stuck with me.”

After that, DeGregorio-Sonbert said her mission became teaching people about autism, to ensure that people like Teddy are accepted, involved and welcomed with open arms. She started the nonprofit, Families For Inclusion, which supports schools, teachers and parents in educating elementary-aged students about autism.

“I did this for both sides,” she said. “For Teddy, so that he’s comfortable, so people know all about him, and they don’t think that what he’s doing is strange. And then for the kids also — so that they understand what they’re seeing, and they’re not nervous or afraid, or that they know the questions they can ask.”

What makes “Theodore Bearkins Lost His Blue Sunglasses” different from other books that feature a character with autism, is that while the main character, Theodore, has autism, the book doesn’t explicitly say that.

“I’ve noticed that all the autism books out there, they’re wonderful and they really teach a lot,” DeGregorio-Sonbert said. “But they focus on the autism, and I feel like that’s a great book for me, because I have a child with autism, and I love to read those types of books to my other kids and to Teddy. They’re great for people like me, who might have somebody in their life with autism.”

DeGregorio-Sonbert said she was worried that if a reader doesn’t know someone with autism, they may not be as eager to pick up a book, featuring a character that explicitly has autism.

“So, I made this book not about autism at all,” she said. “The main character has autism, but we don’t talk about that in the book. It’s just a story — a fun children’s story with cute characters.”

Theodore does things throughout the book that suggest he has autism, DeGregorio-Sonbert explained. For example, it suggests he is nonverbal, that he points to a lot of things, and that he always has someone with him, no matter what. 

“These are things that a lot of people with autism do or experience,” she said.

At the end of the book, there’s a learning guide that talks about some of the things readers may read or see throughout the book. The book was illustrated by a talented artist, Claudie C. Bergeron, who DeGregorio-Sonbert said did an amazing job at bringing Theodore’s story to life.

On Sept. 16, “Theodore Bearkins Lost His Blue Sunglasses,” will be available for purchase, anywhere you can buy books. DeGregorio-Sonbert said the tales of Theodore will be a series, so readers will have plenty to look forward to.

The publication of the book will also be celebrated at a Music For Inclusion event at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9592 in Levittown on Oct. 14. For more on the event, visit FamiliesForInclusion.org.

“I really just want to normalize what autism is,” DeGregorio-Sonbert said. “We just want to be able to show people kindness, and know that what they’re doing and what they’re experiencing is normal. That’s what I’m looking to do.”