LI Boy's Short Story Typed In Braille Featured On 'Story Pirates'

MIDDLE ISLAND, NY — When Joseph "Joey" Buccilli was born prematurely, his doctors speculated that his development would be delayed, but the visually impaired 10-year-old moved past those obstacles.

Joey made it into school, learning to read in braille, and developed an affinity for all things auditory, not excluding podcasts. He is an aficionado.

The quick-thinking youngster has become an avid traveler and is fascinated by those he meets along his journey — peppering them with interview-style questions — even journalists.

But it was not until a recent trip to the Outer Banks, NC, that he was able to join his affection for podcasts with that of traveling.

While following his favorite podcast, the award-winning "Story Pirates," a lively and educational broadcast that features stories written by its young listeners which are performed by the hosts, Joey came up with the idea to write his own story inspired by his trip down south.

He informed his parents, Denise Serina and Joseph Buccilli, Jr., and they told him that he would have to type it in braille. So, he got to work, conceiving the short story, "Fainting," which is about a boy who goes to the Destination Hotel and finds that all of the objects in his room can talk.

"He went into school and [typed] the whole story and brought it home," Serina said. "That was a big deal because he had never even written more than a sentence."

"It was just amazing that he did that," she said.

The story took three days — one to dictate to a teacher, then the other to type with a braille machine, which is like a typewriter with only six keys, at Longwood Elementary School last April.

"Fainting" was later chosen to be featured on "Story Pirates" in an episode that dropped on Thursday.

To listen to the episode, click here.

"The reward was it being created," Serina said, adding that it was more motivation for her son to hear the story brought to life with sound effects.

In a statement to Patch, Lee Overtree, co-founder and creative director of "Story Pirates," had this to say: "Joseph's story was everything we look for when choosing stories to adapt for our show: it's imaginative, funny, interesting and a meaningful insight on how one kid experiences the world."

The proud mom said her son, now a middle schooler, has overcome a lot despite the delays that he has experienced.

"He's really overcome a lot, and for some reason "Story Pirates" just broke through," she said. "It was just a major breakthrough. We did not even know that he could do a story. So, this was just amazing."

"And, now he is on to writing other stories," she added.

But as far as interviews go, Joey is definitely an elusive author.

He described for Patch all of the fun that he had on his trip to the Outer Banks where he stayed at the Marriott Hotel. He met a nice receptionist called Kirby and enjoyed talking to the people that he met in the hotel.

"I asked them where they were going," he said.

The elevators at the Marriott were great.

"I love how the bell works, and the elevator's doors and buttons, and how it talked," Joey said.

Still learning to be interviewed, Joey quickly turned the table on Patch.

"Where are you? Are you in your house? Do you have any toys?" he asked in rapid-fire succession.

After a couple of minutes the table was turned back.

So, does Joey have a lot of stories in him?

The answer is yes.

It was 3:30 p.m. and he had just finished another story earlier that day. He plans to send it to "Story Pirates" again to see if it also would be picked up for the podcast.

On the podcast's website, there's a "story spark" and an invitation for children to submit their stories for the broadcast, and every submitted story gets some "Story Love" from the Story Pirates. There's also a chance to hear their tale translated into song or sketch comedy for the podcast or the public television series, "SPTV," as well as accompanying books and music.

In the meantime, Joey asked other kids to pen their own stories so that they can be sent to the podcast.

"Kids, write a story about a person who goes to NASA," he said. "What's on their mission? "

"What will we find there? How can we call? What would the sounds like be in space?" he added.

Serina said everything to Joey is an adventure.

A ride on the bus is an ride in a time machine to Joey.

"His imagination is all over the place," Serina added.

But it's not one without heart — he feels very deeply for others, Serina says.

With all of the obstacles that Joey has overcome Serina said he now serves as an inspiration.

"It's inspiration for parents that hear their children won't do it, and here it is: Joey did do it," she said. "I just feel it's a great message and Joey really pushed through his challenges."