Ben Has Something to Say: A Story about Stuttering (Concept Books (Albert Whitman)) [Hardcover]

Laurie Lears (Author), Karen Ritz (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up | Series: Concept Books (Albert Whitman)

On Fridays, Ben's dad, an auto mechanic, picks Ben up at school and they drive to Wayne's Junkyard to look for parts. Ben, who doesn't talk much at school, does look forward to telling his dad all about his day. That's because Dad doesn't laugh or tease when Ben stutters. At the junkyard, Ben avoids talking to Mr. Wayne. But he meets the friendly new guard dog, Spike, and over the next couple of weeks, Ben and Spike grow close. When Mr. Wayne is robbed and complains that Spike didn't even bark, he says he may take Spike to the pound. Can Ben make himself speak up for Spike?

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 5-Ben and his dad visit a junkyard every Friday to get car parts. There the boy befriends the guard dog, Spike. Week after week, he tries to communicate with the owner about taking better care of the animal, but he's too ashamed to speak because of his stutter. Finally, after a break-in, the owner threatens to get rid of the dog because he is too friendly, and Ben finds the courage to ask if he can buy him. As the boy goes home with Spike, readers know that he has gained a little self-confidence. The illustrations realistically represent the situations, conveying the junkyard setting, Ben's reluctance to speak, and the growing attachment between the child and the dog. The book has a foreword for adults and lists additional resources, including organizations and Web sites. This inspirational story will be invaluable for children who stutter or who know someone who does.
Kate McLean, Dekalb County Public Library, Tucker, GA
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"This inspirational story will be invaluable for children who stutter or who know someone who does." -- School Library Journal,

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Shen's Books (October 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0807506338
• ISBN-13: 978-0807506332
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 8.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.3 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,477,453 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Ben is a clever boy, August 17, 2003

By 

Bonnie Sayers "autismfamily" (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Ben Has Something to Say: A Story about Stuttering (Concept Books (Albert Whitman)) (Hardcover)

I especially liked the illustrations in this book. The reader gets to observe from a distance the delightful play between Ben and Spike, as well as the concerned look on Mr. Wayne when contemplating why Ben is never talking. I enjoyed observing the maneuvers Ben cooked up in an attempt to avoid talking. The concern that Ben showed for the dog increased as the weeks went by, drawing the reader into this blossoming friendship.

One aspect in the text of the book was a bit different to me. Each time a comma was placed on the page it was followed with a period. I tried not to let it distract me, but I did find myself trying to copy the format when taking notes. Basically the period was on top of the comma, making them look like one character of text. I am not sure why this was done, maybe a signature style for the author.

As far as books go about teaching children on issues relating to disorders I did not feel this book did that great a job. I was impressed more by the illustrations than the neat story that had the happy ending, if only it were this easy to overcome stuttering for a child.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars EXCELLENT, MOVING BOOK, March 16, 2001

By 

liz bradford (NYC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ben Has Something to Say: A Story about Stuttering (Concept Books (Albert Whitman)) (Hardcover)

I really enjoyed this book- it is thoughtful and simply well-written. Animal-loving children will love it too! i also liked the fact that the book takes place in a middle-class millieu- the average 'non-yuppie' child will identify with it easily.

5.0 out of 5 stars A touching story about how a young boy copes with stuttering, January 12, 2010

By 

Z Hayes (TX, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Ben Has Something to Say: A Story about Stuttering (Concept Books (Albert Whitman)) (Hardcover)

This is a well-written book about how a young boy, Ben copes with his stuttering, a communication disorder that is still misunderstood. At the beginning of the book, there is some brief explanation about stuttering and guidelines on how to listen to someone who is talking with a stutter. Ben's story is relatively straightforward - instead of focusing on his interactions (or lack of) in the school environment, the story is mainly set in a junkyard where Ben makes the acquaintance of Spike, a lonely guard dog who would prefer to be a pet instead. Ben needs to overcome his fear of speaking in public (for fear of being ridiculed for his stutter) in order to give Spike the life it truly deserves.

I love these series of books dealing with children's disabilities and how they cope with the challenges in day-to-day life - others in the series are :Ian's Walk: A Story About Autism,Nathan's Wish: A Story About Cerebral Palsy, and Becky the Brave: A Story About Epilepsy. I've been reading these books with my 5-year-old and hopefully she'll be able to understand and provide support to her peers in school who have disabilities. At the end of this book there is a list of resources about organizations that offer support and educational programs on stuttering. Recommended for grades K-3.