'Choose Kind': Beverly kindergartner's school family spread acceptance of cranial facial conditions
Mary Cate Lynch
Among those in the audience were  kindergartner Mary Cate Lynch  as well as her parents   Kerry and Chris Lynch; little sister Maggie; and grandparents Maureen and Bob Ryan.
Born with a cranial facial condition known as Apert syndrome   Mary Cate  has been at the forefront of a local campaign started by  her  mother to remind people of the importance of acceptance and kindness.
People are afraid of differences because they're mysterious and unfamiliar   Kerry Lynch  said.
Even  she   a nurse  never had heard of Apert syndrome until  her  daughter was born  she said.
"It's scary because it's an unknown. So I thought if I could make cranial facial syndrome a 'known ' that would not only help  Mary Cate  but everyone who's different  " Kerry Lynch  said.
Since  her  oldest daughter's birth   Kerry Lynch  has brought the "Choose Kind" message featured in "Wonder" into schools across the Chicago area.  Mary Cate  accompanies  her .
Gary Middendorf / Daily Southtown  Mary Cate Lynch   center  exits the AMC Theatre in Chicago Ridge on Friday after watching âWonderâ with fellow the students from Christ the King elementary school.  Mary Cate Lynch   center  exits the AMC Theatre in Chicago Ridge on Friday after watching âWonderâ with fellow the students from Christ the King elementary school. (Gary Middendorf / Daily Southtown)
The book was published two months after  Mary Cate  was born.
"Somebody sent it to me when  she  was 6 months old. I read the back cover and then put it on my nightstand. I was not emotionally ready to read it " Kerry Lynch said.
Then  she  and  Mary Cate  were invited to Christ the King school. That was followed by an invitation to talk at Kolmar School in Oak Lawn.
"So I decided to read the book. I finished it in one day and cried my eyes out. I was just enthralled with it and its message. I knew a lot of it mirrored our life and what it will be like as  Mary Cate  grows up " Kerry Lynch said.
As the invitations rolled in  Kerry Lynch began to give the book a shout-out wherever  she  delivered the "Choose Kind" message  not that it needed  her  endorsement   she  said.
"The book kept picking up more and more momentum and became kind of a steppingstone and a good tool for teaching kindness. I'm amazed at how many kids and adults have read it "  she  said.
Because  she  loved how it shed light on cranial facial syndrome and the way it promoted empathy and kindness  Kerry Lynch said  she  was nervous to see the movie. So often movies don't live up to their literary roots.
So when the sixth-grade class at Christ the King won a free screening through a contest sponsored by Lionsgate and The Gap  Kerry Lynch accompanied the students to the theater two weeks ago.  She  saw it for the second time with  Mary Cate  on the field trip.
"They nailed it. They hit every important piece. You're laughing and crying  tears of sadness and anger but also of happiness. The actors and actresses are great. And just the whole message is so important to the world we live in today "  she  said.
Among those in the audience were  kindergartner  [TGT] as well as  [TGT]  parents   Kerry and Chris Lynch; little sister Maggie; and grandparents Maureen and Bob Ryan.
Born with a cranial facial condition known as Apert syndrome   Mary Cate  has been at the forefront of a local campaign started by  her  mother to remind people of the importance of acceptance and kindness.
People are afraid of differences because they're mysterious and unfamiliar   Kerry Lynch  said.
Even  she   a nurse  never had heard of Apert syndrome until  her  daughter was born  she said.
"It's scary because it's an unknown. So I thought if I could make cranial facial syndrome a 'known ' that would not only help   [TGT]   but everyone who's different  " Kerry Lynch  said.
Since  her  oldest daughter's birth   Kerry Lynch  has brought the "Choose Kind" message featured in "Wonder" into schools across the Chicago area.   [TGT]   accompanies   [TGT]  .
Gary Middendorf / Daily Southtown   [TGT] exits the AMC Theatre in Chicago Ridge on Friday after watching âWonderâ with fellow the students from Christ the King elementary school.   [TGT] exits the AMC Theatre in Chicago Ridge on Friday after watching âWonderâ with fellow the students from Christ the King elementary school. (Gary Middendorf / Daily Southtown)
The book was published two months after  Mary Cate  was born.
"Somebody sent it to me when  she  was 6 months old. I read the back cover and then put it on my nightstand. I was not emotionally ready to read it " Kerry Lynch said.
Then  she  and  Mary Cate  were invited to Christ the King school. That was followed by an invitation to talk at Kolmar School in Oak Lawn.
"So I decided to read the book. I finished it in one day and cried my eyes out. I was just enthralled with it and its message. I knew a lot of it mirrored our life and what it will be like as  Mary Cate  grows up " Kerry Lynch said.
As the invitations rolled in  Kerry Lynch began to give the book a shout-out wherever  she  delivered the "Choose Kind" message  not that it needed  her  endorsement   she  said.
"The book kept picking up more and more momentum and became kind of a steppingstone and a good tool for teaching kindness. I'm amazed at how many kids and adults have read it "  she  said.
Because  [TGT]  [TGT]   loved how  [TGT]  shed light on cranial facial syndrome and the way  [TGT]  promoted empathy and kindness  Kerry Lynch said  she  was nervous to see the movie. So often movies don't live up to their literary roots.
So when the sixth-grade class at Christ the King won a free screening through a contest sponsored by Lionsgate and The Gap  Kerry Lynch accompanied the students to the theater two weeks ago.  She  saw it for the second time with  Mary Cate  on the field trip.
"They nailed it. They hit every important piece. You're laughing and crying  tears of sadness and anger but also of happiness. The actors and actresses are great. And just the whole message is so important to the world we live in today "  she  said.