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The William Hoy Story by Nancy Churnin

2/3/2016

16 Comments

 
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Albert Whitman Publisher: All William Ellsworth Hoy wanted to do was play baseball. After losing out on a spot on the local deaf team, William practiced even harder--eventually earning a position on a professional team. But his struggle was far from over. In addition to the prejudice Hoy faced, he could not hear the umpires' calls. One day he asked the umpire to use hand signals: strike, ball, out. That day he not only got on base but also changed the way the game was played forever. William "Dummy" Hoy became one of the greatest and most beloved players of his time!

Nugget: A young deaf man wants to play baseball, but others see his disability as an obstacle.

Need Enticement: William scooped dust to dry the sweat off his slick rubber ball. He stared at the small X he'd chalked on the barn wall. He closed his eyes. He opened them and threw.
     
I am hooked. I see the sweat, the dust, I feel it. I am closing my eyes and throwing. Nancy's use of action right from the start will grab you and pull you in.

Escalation: A solid beginning, middle and end.
As a teenager, how his family interacts with him and baseball and how his deaf school deals with his baseball ability.
Playing baseball as an adult in a "hearing world."

Satisfying Ending: All he'd wanted to do since he was a boy was find a way to play his favorite game. He never dreamed he'd change how the game was played. But he did, and we still cheer him today.
     
​We are brought full circle, back to William playing the game he loves, and now the world loves him too. From the side of a barn to changing the game, we know that William made a difference.

Sources: Great back matter with additional information about William Hoy, a timeline and even his baseball stats. In the acknowledgments, the bibliography is woven in as a thank you to those who provided the information.

Show Words: Lost terms such as cobbler for shoe repair. Baseball terms: sure arm, National League, majors, and outfield. Cities: Oshkosh and Cincinnati. But my favorite, this is the perfect opportunity for children to learn some simple American sign language and spike their curiosity for more.

Why?: Baseball, America's sport. Who knew that we use umpire signals all because of one deaf player, and it has carried into football and basketball. The idea, that any one person can change something so HUGE as an entire sport is amazing.

Need and Want: William wants to play baseball.  But, William truly needs others to understand that just because he is deaf, it should not stop him from doing what he loves. 

Needless to say, I loved this story. I feel that it will work in classrooms for many topics from social studies (cities that William played for), language (American sign language), and mathematics (simple principal of three strikes). 


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16 Comments
Vivian Kirkfield link
2/4/2016 03:55:46 pm

Absolutely LOVE this book...and can't wait till my copy arrives! Thanks, Kristen, for the excellent examination of another great nonfiction picture book - the compass doesn't lie! This one has everything a great pb should have!

Reply
Kristen
2/4/2016 05:58:12 pm

Thanks Vivian. Nancy did a great job.

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Nancy Churnin link
3/10/2016 05:12:36 pm

Thank you, Vivian and Kristen. I appreciate the support and Kristen's excellent analysis.

Charlotte Dixon
2/5/2016 12:26:29 pm

I'm looking forward to purchasing this book. I'd read about it and your assessment fills me with I want it :)

Reply
Kristen
2/6/2016 10:13:04 am

Charlotte, there is a spot in the book that I just stared at the two-page spread and got teary. Touching, very touching.

Reply
Nancy Churnin link
3/10/2016 05:13:50 pm

Thank you, Charlotte, and thank you, Kristen! I'm getting teary reading your kind comments.

Pamela Courtney
2/6/2016 11:04:58 am

Let me begin by saying your blog is AMAZING! I've clicked on every tab and there are true golden nuggets on each page. Your quotes are such the quotable lines. Watch out, we teachers are gonna be repeating them to our students!

As for this post, this is why your classes are so successful. I've always said this, but your innate skill and talent for breaking down books and exposing the mechanics of what makes them good reads or not is admirable. I want to read this book to my class. This blog is definitely going to serve as a "go to" resource. Great post.

Reply
Kristen
2/6/2016 11:40:12 am

Thank you Pam. I love nonfiction, no doubt about that :-) This book is worth it, your students will love learning some simple sign language.

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Nancy Churnin link
3/10/2016 05:16:03 pm

Pamela, I so agree with you about Kristen's blog. Kristen is in the acknowledgements for The William Hoy Story because her class, her one-on-one Skype sessions and her unflagging encouragement and belief in the story were such a help to me on this journey.

Nicole Popel link
2/7/2016 12:36:05 am

I have a soft spot for all disabled, disenfranchised children, but especially the hearing impaired/deaf population. Two of my own were born with an unexpected hearing loss which colored their world in a unique way. I can't wait to read this book.

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Nancy Churnin link
3/10/2016 05:18:50 pm

Nicole, I would so value hearing your thoughts after you share this book with your children.

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Adam Hoy
2/7/2016 04:07:56 pm

William Hoy was my Great Grandfather. Thank you for telling his story.

Reply
Kristen
2/7/2016 04:37:58 pm

Adam, the author Nancy Churnin did a fabulous job honoring your great-grandfather. Please visit her website as well at nancychurnin.com

Reply
Nancy Churnin link
2/7/2016 04:57:18 pm

Adam, it was an honor to write about your Great Grandfather. I am very grateful to Steve Sandy for providing me with so much information and stories about him. I was so impressed because the more I learned about William Hoy, the more I could see what a great man he was. Thank you, Kristen for sharing about my book!

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Jilanne Hoffmann
2/8/2016 01:12:45 am

Terrific analysis, Kristen! This sounds like a wonderful book, one that will make me cry, like so many of my favorite PBs.

Reply
Nancy Churnin link
3/10/2016 05:20:04 pm

I loved Kristen's analysis, too, Jilanne. I hope you will enjoy the book.

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    Kristen is the author of several up coming nonfiction picture books. Following the simple points on a compass rose, Kristen finds direction in nonfiction writing.

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