GENEVA – Wilson “Corky” DeYulio’s life is shaped by education and fitness.
But that’s not all. The long-time educator and certified personal trainer tried his hand at journalism for a while and even played semi-professional football in Syracuse at times. DeYulio can now add an author to his list of experiences.
In fact, DeYulio was inspired by Buffalo Bill’s linebacker Ray Bentley (who played for the NFL team from 1985 to 91) – not just because of his skill on the grid, but also because he wrote children’s books.
“Here’s this guy who’s a crazy man in the field, but he wrote a book,” DeYulio said. “When I heard about it, I said, ‘I can do that.'”
DeYulio, 64, wrote “Berry the Parrot” for the first time about 25 years ago. He tinkered with it every now and then and occasionally sent the manuscript to publishers.
“I’ve been through times where I tried not to try,” he said. “It just got to the point where I said this was a good story, so I’ll have to keep trying.”
Thanks to a tip from Mike Cutillo, editor-in-chief of the Finger Lakes Times, DeYulio’s efforts finally yielded results earlier this year when Idea Press published the 26-page book aimed at 6- to 10-year-olds. The company (www.ideapress-usa.com) also published Cutillo’s book “George Washing Machine, Portables and Submarine Races: My Italian-American Life” in 2019.
“If it weren’t for Mike…” DeYulio said. “You jumped on it immediately.”
During his 36 years of education, DeYulio (1975 Geneva High School graduate) taught English and physical education to young and older students in the Finger Lakes, Rochester and Syracuse. Over the course of his career, he has faced thousands of children’s books.
“That’s another thing that drove me. I said, ‘Gosh, I can do better,’ ”he said.
DeYulio’s book describes the parrot Berry’s desire to no longer be a pet and his desire to explore the outside world, where “even the air felt and smelled different”.
Inside, Berry watched the animals outside, envious of their adventures. But after trying to engage with them even though they were aloof from him, he discovered that the outdoor animals were jealous of him and the comfortable life he had as the Rose family parrot.
“’Jealousy can get in the way,’ thought Berry. ‘Jealousy can really change someone and make everything look different.’ “
The book includes colorful illustrations by Danny Jock and Dominic Campanile. DeYulio is interested in expanding the first book in a row and already has some ideas floating around; he thinks the next part will explain how Berry got his name.
DeYulio got some of the names in the story from his own family. The Rose family is a nod to his mother Rose and the snake Willy was inspired by his father Wilson.
He has given the book to teachers in the school districts of Lyon and Geneva and is holding several readings (see box).
Brian Askin, a first grader in Lyon, used Berry the Parrot as a stepping stone for a social / emotional learning project that he conducted with his students, trying to teach them how to respond to different situations. Askin said his students loved the book, which he called well-written, clear, and relatable for his students.
“It helped them understand the negative experience of judgment,” he said. “And the best part is, you met the author … it was really cool.”
DeYulio believes that the message of the book applies to children and adults alike. He called “Berry the Parrot” a love work.
“I want children and families to enjoy reading the story, learning some lessons, and having a family experience together,” he said.
