Ralph is (not) a Superhero
Posted by tcook on Tue, 13 Jan 2009
ABCtales Editor Tony Cook reviews the new children's book by Corinne Davies with illustrations by ABCtaler El Ashfield:
Corinne Davies’s Ralph is (not) a Superhero is one of the best children’s books I’ve read in quite a while. It’s funny, witty, pleasantly moralistic and wickedly silly. The accompanying illustrations by El Ashfield complete a memorable experience – and they’ve self published it on lulu.
The sing-a-long rhyme of the story makes it great to read out loud and the basis of the story – that school nerd Ralph is really a superhero (although he isn’t) – is a great starting point. As the story unfolds it becomes clear that Ralph really isn’t a superhero. He knows it, his little old lady friend knows it but everyone else is convinced that he has super powers. I’ll leave the denouement for your enjoyment – but I cannot recommend this book too highly to you. I am very surprised that no major publisher has taken it up – but if you buy a copy and read it to your two to eight year old then they’ll be in early on what could become a major new child’s brand.
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