Bette Talks About Baseball and Life
An Interview with author Bette Levine

QUESTION: Why did you write The Talking Baseball? Did your parents encourage your interest in sports?

ANSWER: Unlike Jake and Noah — the two brothers in The Talking Baseball — I had a difficult childhood growing up. That’s probably why I wrote the book — to help insure that future generations have the up-bringing that I wished for way back when.

You see, I always loved sports, particularly baseball and basketball. My Mom, on the other hand, wanted me to be a famous musician. I had no talent in that direction and knew I would never succeed in being a vocalist or a pianist. I loved my mother and tried to please her, but in my failed attempts I ended up becoming self-conscious and angry.

Like many fathers at that time, my father was busy making a living for his family. He didn’t interfere with my mother pushing me into music or notice that I was talented in sport activities. Had he read a book like The Talking Baseball, I believe he might have seen the example of father and sons (it could have been daughters, too) who played ball together, grew to know each other and offered support when it was needed.

QUESTION: If it wasn’t your parents, who did encourage your interest in sports?

ANSWER: I am so thankful that I had an older brother, Les, ten years my senior. At a time when young girls were not expected to be interested in sports, Les encouraged my love of sports. He recognized my abilities and somehow he knew that as my older brother he needed to take responsibility for nurturing my talents. So he coached me as often as possible.

Les would take me to a field near our house and work with me in baseball practice. He corrected my stance so I could meet the bat more accurately, and he worked with my pitching, catching and fielding. He knew I also liked basketball, so he hung a make-shift basket behind our house and taught me to pay attention to dribbling, try for a basket, play defense, etc.

Les once said to me, “Don’t ever give up your love of sports. You’re good and sports will take you a long way when you’re grown up.” And it has. I may not be a professional sports star, but thanks to my brother’s encouragement, I learned to persevere at everything I do. I also learned from my brother that family ties are so important. He gave to me his time, his effort and his brotherly love. He’s gone now, but I will always remember him with much love.

QUESTION: Is The Talking Baseball only for children who have an interest in baseball or sports?

ANSWER: The Talking Baseball isn’t just about baseball. Julie Glaser Howery's beautiful illustrations make the intent of the story very clear — to show a loving, caring family with good family values. Of course, it becomes clear within the book that these values are passed on to the children.

There’s another advantage to reading to children. Studies have show that reading to children instills in them the desire to read themselves as they grow up.

Perhaps most important of all, children eventually grow up and become adults, but they do not forget the time you spend with them, reading to them and unselfishly giving of your time. Whether you are a grandmother or grandfather, a mother or father, or an older brother or sister, the young children in your life will always remember that you took the time to read to them and encourage them in their interests.

The Talking Baseball is dedicated to my brother, Les. He encouraged my love of sports, and in the process gave me strength and character.