Review of Ralph Tells a Story by Abby Hanlon

As a writer, I completely understand what writer's block can do to a person.  If you let it, it will completely destroy any progress or goals you set for getting words down.  That's why this children's book Ralph Tells a Story means so much to me.  It tackles the issue in a way even children can understand and reaffirms the old saying that "everyone has a book inside of them."

In the story, a little boy named Ralph struggles with saying anything when his teacher has the class write stories.  He thinks his life is too boring to create a story from.  As he goes to escape by lying under his desk, his mind wanders to a time when he found an inchworm, and soon, a story is born!

I love the message that this book sends: even the mundane can inspire a story.  It also has amazing illustrations and fun dialogue that kids will enjoy and adults won't find boring.  The tips for how to write in the back are a fun bonus, as well!

Want to write?  Author Abby Hanlon has this tip for Lille Punkin' readers:  Kids love to hear the events of their day (however seemingly mundane) recounted to them in the guise of a story.  I change my kids’ names but basically everything else is the same. I’ve noticed the look in their eyes when listening to a story about themselves is different than hearing any other kind of story. They are hanging on to every word because they need you to narrate their life before they can do it themselves.

Here is more about the author:

Abby Hanlon has a master’s degree in early childhood education from the City College of New York and bachelor’s from Barnard College, Columbia University. Abby has taught creative writing and first grade in the New York City public school system. Inspired by her students’ storytelling and drawings, Abby began to write her own stories for children. Determined to illustrate her stories, Abby taught herself to draw after not having drawn since childhood. Ralph Tells a Story is her first book. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her husband and their two children. To learn more, visit her website: http://www.abbyhanlon.com/

You can find this book at Amazon.com.  Don't forget to stop by A Mom's Take tomorrow for another chance to learn more about this book! 

Wanna Win?  We are giving one lucky reader their own copy of this fantastic book!  To be entered to win, just comment on why you want it.  You have until October 13th at 11:59 pm CST to get your entries in. One entry per person, please. We will pick one winner at random from all eligible entries. This giveaway is open to U.S. and Canadian residents ages 18+. See our full rules here.

*Review copy received. Opinions are 100% my own.