First-time author Paula E. Gelbach, a retired first-grade teacher, has written three stories for children in her book, "It's OK!!, Everybody's Different."

"I always had it in my head to write something someday," Gelbach said. "Being exposed to young children, it seemed logical to write something for them.

"I just wrote what I wanted children to know. It was to be a fun read and a learning tool as well.

"I wrote from my heart, about things that mattered most to me."

Gelbach said she wrote to educate children about the importance of self-esteem, how to handle bullies and why some children might not want to go to school.

All characters in her stories are animals or insects.

The first story, "The Purple Bottomus," is about how a hippopotamus has pride in her differences, and is accepted by others because of her positive attitude and self-esteem.

The second story, "Frightened Jack, The Yellow Jacket," is about how a yellow jacket learns to overcome and possibly understand bullying and negative behavior directed at him, by speaking to a friend and his mother about what is happening to him.

The last story, "Teacher Katie" tells why a polar bear in first grade decided she did not want to go to school and what made her decide to go anyway and how her decision affected her future.

Gelbach had thoughts of working on a book while she was still teaching.

When she retired, she did not start writing until something she was told inspired her.

"One day my grandson David, when he was 5 years old, whispered to his aunt Sarah, 'Did you know that a hippopotamus has a purple bottomus?'" Gelbach said. "My daughter Sarah told me about it later on, and it was then I decided to write the book."

"I feel we need to start at a very young age to impress upon our children that it's okay to be different.

"If children learn it's OK to be different and have no fear of differences, then there would be a lot less ugliness and less bullying as children grow up."

The book did not take long to write and research was not necessary because of her background in education, teaching.

Gelbach chose the title "It's OK!!" knowing when children hear "It's OK" and it is directed at them, it is an affirmation of their goodness and sense of self.

Gelbach chose a subject she liked and felt would be a fun and learning experience for children.

She wrote a separate workbook to go with "It's OK!!" filled with ideas and suggestions for teachers or parents to do with children based on the book.

Finding the right illustrator was challenging for Gelbach and held up publication for two years.

She searched for an illustrator she felt was good, had the time and knew how to draw pictures for children based on her stories.

After many tries, her search ended when she met Kathleen K. Potts.

Potts liked illustrating books, she liked the theme of "It's OK to be Different" and has 10 grandchildren she claims are all different.

She also illustrated Gelbach's second book, a companion book of "It's OK!! Let Your Light Shine," that delves deeper into the problem of bullying.

The book suggests a hug is a light and when you give somebody a hug, you shine.

There is also a song at the end of the book.

This book took less time to write because she had Potts to do the illustrating.

"This book is at the publishers but will be on book shelves soon," said Gelbach.

Paula Gelbach's family moved from York to Washington, D.C., when she was about 10 years old.

She was raised there, where her father, a minister, was called to pastor a church.

After graduating high school, Gelbach attended Wells College in Aurora, N.Y., earning a Bachelor of Arts degree.

She received a Master's Degree in elementary education from Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven, Conn.

Gelbach and Charles, her husband of 50 years, retired in 2000.

They raised their daughters Sarah and Ellen, while she taught school and her husband performed ministerial duties and together they managed a 202-unit apartment building for elders, all done while in Connecticut.

Following their retirement, the Gelbachs moved to Topton.