Hanni and Beth: Safe & Sound

Hanni and Beth: Safe & Sound, is the story of how Beth, who is blind, travels safely around the city--to work, shopping, even to baseball games--with the help of Hanni, a specially-trained Golden/Labrador Retriever. It's a touching tale of mutual devotion and teamwork. Hanni and Beth: Safe & Sound includes factual information about how Hanni was raised and trained, how Beth and Hanni learned to work together as a team, and what it's like to be blind.

NPR commentator Beth Finke is an award-winning author, teacher and journalist. She also happens to be blind. Her children's book about Seeing Eye dogs "Hanni and Beth: Safe & Sound" was published by Blue Marlin Publications in Fall, 2007. Beth's memoir, Long Time, No See; was named one of the Chicago Tribune's favorite non-fiction books for 2003 and made the Book Sense 76 Top Ten list of university press books. Beth's essays air on the Morning Edition segment of National Public Radio, and her piece about the World Champion White Sox on Chicago Public Radio won awards in journalism excellence from the Society of Professional Journalists and the Illinois Associated Press Broadcasters Association. These awards gave Beth some pretty nichey notoriety: she's the only blind woman in America to be honored for sports broadcasting. Beth's work has appeared in Woman's Day, the Chicago Tribune, Dog Fancy, The Bark and countless other publications. Beth teaches a writing course for senior citizens sponsored by the City of Chicago's Department on Aging and works part-time moderating a blog about autism for Easter Seals Headquarters in Chicago. She claims she is the only blind woman in America being paid to moderate a blog. So far no one has told her differently. Beth's experience and candor have made her a popular speaker at conferences and events across the country. Her heartfelt, funny, and thoughtful talks leave audiences smiling and knowing a lot more about adaptability and resourcefulness.