Keep Your Ear on the Ball [Hardcover]

Genevieve Petrillo (Author), Lea Lyon (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 31, 2007 | Age Level: 6 and up | Grade Level: 1 and up

Everybody wants to help Davey. "Let me open that." "Do you want to hold my hand?" Davey has one answer for all, "Thanks, but no thanks."

Davey is blind--and he is perfectly capable of doing everything on his own. His well- meaning classmates stop offering help when they see how able Davey is. They respect his self-reliance--until he tries to play kickball. After several missed kicks and a trampled base keeper, no one wants Davey on his team.

Working together, the children figure out a way to offer help that respects Davey's unique abilities and his desire for freedom. In this seamless tale, based on a true story, the children realize that interdependence can be just as important and rewarding as independence.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...good story...shows how simple things like helping people rather than doing things for them...make people feel much better, and more appreciated..." -- Bangor Daily News, December 10, 2007

"Bright, energetic watercolors illustrate this excellent example of classroom adaptations that allow for the inclusion of various abilities...affirming text never strays into didacticism." -- Multicultural Review, Spring 2008

About the Author

Genevieve Petrillo has been teaching elementary students at School Ten in Belleville, New Jersey, for thirty-four years. David DeNotaris was in her classroom many years ago, and Keep Your Ear on the Ball is a true story. Lea Lyon is an illustrator who lives in Richmond, California. She has also illustrated Say Something and Playing War for Tilbury House.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Hardcover: 30 pages
• Publisher: Tilbury House Publishers (August 31, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0884482960
• ISBN-13: 978-0884482963
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 9.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,791,947 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I was an elementary school teacher for 34 years. It was a lot of fun. Being an author is fun, too, and now I can go to "work" in my pajamas.

I am the author of Keep Your Ear on the Ball (Tilbury, 2007). I also write stories, poems, articles, and recipes for magazines like Highlights, Spider, Mailbox, Ladybug, and Turtle.

I love visiting schools. I talk about writing, and read my book to groups of kids.

I have a web site that tells more information about my book. It has writing tasks for kids, so students can learn about Keep Your Ear on the Ball and practice writing, as well. Visit my web site at: genevievepetrillo.webs.com.

My dog, Cupcake has a blog where she talks about things I am writing, and tells some stories about herself. What a diva! Visit Cupcake's blog at: cupcakepetrillo.wordpress.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars True story of kids working together, February 12, 2011

By 

Pamela S. "I Read. Do You?" (Pacific Northwest, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Keep Your Ear on the Ball (Paperback)

Based on true events, Keep Your Ear on the Ball is an inspiring story of kids coming together to solve a problem when their blind classmate can't see the ball. By creatively using a whistle, the kids help their friend learn the joys of a good kickball game. This book is short and easy to read, but the message is powerful and uplifting. The "Teachers Take Note" webpage for this title on the Tilbury House Publishers webpage includes internet links to the National Federation for the Blind as well as information on Seeing Eye Dogs. I received this title complimentary from Tilbury House Publishers in exchange for an honest review, but the opinion is all mine.

5.0 out of 5 stars helpful resource for being sensitive to the needs of the blind, December 20, 2010

By 

Wayne S. Walker "Home School Book Review" (Salem, IL) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Keep Your Ear on the Ball (Paperback)

Do you know someone who is blind? A boy named Peter narrates the story of how Davey came into his class. Davey is blind. At first, all of his classmates want to help him, but he feels that he is perfectly capable of doing everything on his own, so he says, "Thanks, but no thanks," over and over again. As a result, his well-meaning friends stop offering help, until he tries to play kickball. He misses kicks and tramples a first baseman, so no one wants Davey on his or her team any more. Will the students be able to find a way to help Davey that respects his unique abilities and his desire for freedom? And will Davey learn that interdependence can be just as important and rewarding as independence?

Author Genevieve Petrillo taught school for 34 years in Belleville, NJ. Keep Your Ear on the Ball, which won a Moonbeam Children's Book Award, is based upon her experiences with a blind student named David DeNotaris. Concerning those who are blind or have some kind of similar difficulty, there is a fine line when it comes to offering them help when there is an occasion which calls for it and respecting their need for self-reliance. This book, with illustrations by Lea Lyon, is an excellent resource to assist children, and adults as well, in being sensitive to these kinds of situations. Teachers and parents are invited to visit publisher Tilbury House's website for activities, games, discussion points, and further activities related to the book and its subject. I believe that young people will benefit from reading stories where blind, deaf, and other special needs children are portrayed in real-life circumstances.