Best Selling Books by Myron Uhlberg

An insightful memoir about growing up between the hearing and deaf worlds. Myron Uhlberg was born the hearing son of two deaf parents at a time when American Sign Language was not well established and deaf people were often dismissed as being unintelligent. In this moving and eye-opening memoir, he recalls the daily difficulties and hidden joys of growing up as the intermediary between his parents'' silent world and the world of the hearing.

"At night, while the other villagers dreamed of catching fish, Lemuel dreamed of sailing over the horizon." Lemuel is a fisherman and a fool. When he sets out on a journey across the sea, he makes sure to tie a red scarf on the bow and a rope to the stern; with the scarf waving before him and the rope trailing behind, he''ll always know he''s going the right direction. Disoriented after a storm, Lemuel lands near a strange new village—except that it''s strangely familiar, down to the woman who looks exactly like his own dear wife and even calls him by name. Later that night, a very confused Lemuel sets sail for home and away from the madness. With the red scarf before him and the rope trailing behind, he''s confident he''ll arrive at home again—and be safely back among the familiar. A great fan of Jewish folklore, especially the rich tradition of "fools," Myron Uhlberg also looked to his own family for inspiration when writing Lemuel the Fool. His maternal grandfather, John, was consumed by wanderlust and "the next great adventure." Young readers will enjoy the silly charm of Lemuel''s journey, beautifully illustrated by Sonja Lamut.

By turns heart-tugging and hilarious, Myron Uhlberg’s memoir tells the story of growing up as the hearing son of deaf parents—and his life in a world that he found unaccountably beautiful, even as he longed to escape it. “Does sound have rhythm?” my father asked. “Does it rise and fall like the ocean? Does it come and go like the wind?” Such were the kinds of questions that Myron Uhlberg’s deaf father asked him from earliest childhood, in his eternal quest to decipher, and to understand, the elusive nature of sound. Quite a challenge for a young boy, and one of many he would face. Uhlberg’s first language was American Sign Language, the first sign he learned: “I love you.” But his second language was spoken English—and no sooner did he learn it than he was called upon to act as his father’s ears and mouth in the stores and streets of the neighborhood beyond their silent apartment in Brooklyn. Resentful as he sometimes was of the heavy burdens heaped on his small shoulders, he nonetheless adored his parents, who passed on to him their own passionate engagement with life. These two remarkable people married and had children at the absolute bottom of the Great Depression—an expression of extraordinary optimism, and typical of the joy and resilience they were able to summon at even the darkest of times. From the beaches of Coney Island to Ebbets Field, where he watches his father’s hero Jackie Robinson play ball, from the branch library above the local Chinese restaurant where the odor of chow mein rose from the pages of the books he devoured to the hospital ward where he visits his polio-afflicted friend, this is a memoir filled with stories about growing up not just as the child of two deaf people but as a book-loving, mischief-making, tree-climbing kid during the remarkably eventful period that spanned the Depression, the War, and the early fifties. From the Hardcover edition.

Winner of the Schneider Family Book Award A young boy and his deaf father bond over baseball as they root for Jackie Robinson and the Dodgers to win the pennant. It was Opening Day, 1947. And every kid in Brooklyn knew this was our year. The Dodgers were going to go all the way! In the summer of 1947, a highly charged baseball season is underway. The new first baseman for the Brooklyn Dodgers, Jackie Robinson, is the first Black player in Major League Baseball--- and it looks like the team might have what it takes to get to the World Series. A young boy listens eagerly to the games on the radio, using sign language to tell his deaf father about every new development. Getting into the spirit, his father begins to keep a scrapbook, clipping newspaper articles and photos about Jackie. One day, the father has big news: they''re going to Ebbets field to watch Jackie play in person! As the team draws closer to victory, the boy and his dad become more and more excited, going to every game they can— and becoming closer themselves through their shared love of the game. Inspired by memories of watching baseball with his own deaf father, Myron Uhlberg''s story touches on the strength and determination needed to overcome prejudice, and the joy of a shared victory. Colin Bootman''s realistic watercolor illustrations bring 1940s Brooklyn to life, alternating between the drama of Jackie Robinson''s games and tender moments a father and son share. In a moving Author’s Note, Uhlberg explains why his father identified with Robinson and how both men worked to overcome thoughtless prejudice and to prove themselves every day of their lives. A perfect gift for baseball lovers, readers with deaf family members, and devoted Brooklynites, wherever they may live. “...an affecting tribute to Robinson, to a dedicated son and to a thoughtful, deep-feeling father. And, of course, to baseball.”—Publishers Weekly

A coming of age story that includes three generations, with love. Grandpa was never bar mitzvahed; it was wartime, and life was difficult. It''s been a regret his whole life. Many years later, it''s his grandson''s time to go through the Jewish ritual of coming of age. The father suggests that they be bar mitzvahed together. They study together, recite together, and celebrate together.

The inspiring story of a girl whose world never stopped growing. As a baby, Helen Keller lost her hearing and sight to a rare illness. For five years, the world around her was a mystery. Then one day, her teacher taught Helen a single name, and her world started to grow. She went on to graduate from college, write books, and travel the country, speaking out for people with disabilities. Helen Keller''s world never stopped growing. And her story is a reminder that behind every name is something precious, waiting to be discovered.

Two strikes; bases loaded—A classic baseball moment for a timeless story. McGee is a batter to be reckoned with; he wallops every ball that''s pitched to him. Last year, he took the Catbirds to number one. But the pitcher he beat practices through the whole long winter, and the championship is once again up for grabs, with bases loaded. It''s McGee''s turn to bat. The pitcher lets go a fast ball, but is it enough to strike out McGee?

A magical story of how a young boy''s everyday world is transformed into a snow-covered wonderland through the force of a blizzard and the power of a dream. A young boy trudges through deep snow in a neighborhood park. Suddenly a strong wind grabs his coat and lifts the child up into the air. Soon the boy is soaring high above his strangely silent, snow-covered neighborhood. As he flies over familiar sites-a bridge over a frozen river, a baseball field, and an amusement park-he gains a new perspective on the world around him. The boy''s airborne adventure provides a magical-if temporary-escape from the routine of everyday life. In the end the boy returns to the safety of his home and family, but is left wondering: Was it all just a marvelous dream or did it really happen? Author Myron Uhlberg''s story is based in part on his own childhood memories of the Great Blizzard of 1947 which blanketed Brooklyn and the surrounding area under several feet of snow. An author''s note at the back of the book provides details about the snowstorm and places this fantasy in its historical context. Illustrator Gerald Fitzgerald''s two-page, gently softened illustrations beautifully evoke the story''s nostalgia and dreamlike quality.

A moving fictional story about the effects of Hurricane Katrina on the people of New Orleans, as seen through the eyes of a ten-year-old boy. A must-have for introducing this historical event to children. Louis Daniel hates it when Mama treats him like a baby. But when Hurricane Katrina blows through the Gulf Coast, Louis feels like a little kid again. With no time to gather their belongings―except Louis''s beloved horn―Daddy leads the family into an unfamiliar, watery world of floating debris, lurking critters, and desperate neighbors. Taking shelter in the already-crowded Superdome, Louis and his parents wait...and wait. Conditions continue to worsen, and when Daddy fails to return from a scouting mission within the Dome, Louis knows he''s no longer a baby. It''s up to him to find his father―with the help of his prized cornet. Award-winning author Myron Uhlberg highlights resilience and hope throughout this sensitively portrayed fictional story based on the real events of Hurricane Katrina. Colin Bootman''s dramatic illustrations enhance the warmth and strength of the young narrator''s family as they work through the tragedy.

Experience the sights and sounds of 1930s Brooklyn and Coney Island through the eyes—and ears—of a hearing boy and his deaf parents. A Brooklyn family takes an outing to Coney Island, where they enjoy the rides, the food, and the sights. The father longs to know how everything sounds. Though his son does his best to interpret their noisy surroundings through sign language, he struggles to convey the subtle differences between the "loud" of the ocean and the "loud" of a roller coaster. When the family drops in at the library after dinner, the boy makes a discovery. Perhaps the words he needs are within reach, after all. Myron Uhlberg''s story, based on his own childhood experiences, covers the almost unique topic within children''s books of children raised by deaf parents. Ted Papoulas beautifully and sensitively portrays the family''s day and brings the whole experience to life for readers.

As a boy, my father learned to speak with his hands. As a man, he learned how to turn lead-type letters into words and sentences. My father loved being a printer. Each day in 1940s New York a young boy watches as his father goes to work in the noisy newspaper printing factory. But the boy''s father only feels the machines'' loud pounding and rumbling as vibrations through the soles of his shoes. He is deaf. Although his father communicates with a few other deaf printers through his hands, he feels largely ignored by his hearing co-workers. But when a silent deadly fire erupts, it is up to the father to warn and save his coworkers, even when they cannot hear him over the printers. Myron Uhlberg draws on his own experiences as the hearing son of deaf parents to create this dramatic, evocative story that reflects a respect for deaf culture and the unique gifts each individual possesses. Historical details are deftly rendered and brought to life in Henri Sørensen''s extraordinary paintings that dramatize and illuminate the powerful text.

A moving story of the effects of Hurricane Katrina on the people of New Orleans, as seen through the eyes of a ten-year-old boy. Louis Daniel hates it when Mama treats him like a baby. But when Hurricane Katrina blows through the Gulf Coast on a fateful August night, Louis feels like a little kid again. With no time to gather their belongings—except Louis’s beloved horn—Daddy leads the family from their home and into an unfamiliar, watery world of floating debris, lurking critters, and desperate neighbors heading for dry ground. Taking shelter in the already-crowded Superdome, Louis and his parents wait…and wait. Conditions continue to worsen and their water supply is running out. When Daddy fails to return from a scouting mission within the Dome, Louis knows he’s no longer a baby. It’s up to him to find his father—with the help of his prized cornet.