Keep Your Ear on the Ball

by Genevieve Petrillo, Lea Lyon (Illustrator)

Overview

* Moonbeam Award *

Even though Davey is blind, he is quite capable—until he tries to play kickball.

After several missed kicks and a trampled base keeper, no one wants Davey on the team. But maybe, just maybe, there’s a solution that will work for everybody.

F&P Text Level N

Genevieve Petrillo has been teaching elementary students in New Jersey for 34 years. David DeNotaris was in her classroom many years ago, and this is a true story.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780884483243
Publisher:	Tilbury House Publishers
Publication date:	07/01/2009
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	218,621
Product dimensions:	8.80(w) x 9.80(h) x 0.10(d)
Age Range:	7 - 10 Years

About the Author

Genevieve Petrillo has been teaching elementary students in New Jersey for 34 years. David DeNotaris was in her classroom many years ago, and this is a true storry.

Lea Lyon is an award-winning children’s book illustrator, painting teacher, and portrait artist who has made a childhood dream come true. Lea loved to draw and paint as a child, and she wanted to be a children’s book illustrator.  She ended up raising a family, going back to school for an MBA, and working in the corporate world, but she kept painting. Now, at long last, Lea is a children’s book illustrator with five published picture books: Say Something, Playing War, Keep Your Ear on the Ball (all with Tilbury), The Miracle Jar and Operation Marriage. She lives in Richmond, California.

Editorial Reviews

"This is a wonderful story! It’s an inspiring example of how children are able to understand and respect differences in others—all on their own. This class used creativity and teamwork to include their classmate Davey in a game of kickball, and Davey learned that he can accept help from others and still remain independent."

Maria Runyan

Gr 1-3
When Davey enters his new classroom, he needs to orient himself by walking around, mapping his environment by touch. After taking his seat, he says to the boy next to him, who narrates the story, "It's awfully quiet. Is everybody staring? I'm blind, I'm not an alien!" Other students offer to do things for Davey, but he always replies, "Thanks, but no thanks." When the kids play kickball, however, he misses the pitches and knocks someone down while running. Soon he is no longer invited to participate. The children then figure out a way for Davey to play ball by listening for cues from his team, and he learns that he can benefit from the help his friends offer. Lyon's engaging pencil-and-watercolor illustrations invite readers into this picture book. The story provides excellent insight into the world of a child with visual impairment who has learned many coping skills but continues to meet new challenges.
—Mary HazeltonCopyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

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