A Walk in the Words

by Hudson Talbott

Winner of a Schneider Family Honor! “A beautifully rendered and deeply inspiring book for everyone who has ever read slowly—myself included! Hudson shows us the beauty and magic that can come from taking our time. Brilliant.”—Jacqueline Woodson Hudson Talbott's inspiring story vividly reveals the challenges--and ultimately the rewards--of being a non-mainstream kind of learner.When Hudson Talbott was a little boy, he loved drawing, and it came naturally to him. But reading? No way! One at a time, words weren't a problem, but long sentences were a struggle. As his friends moved on to thicker books, he kept his slow reading a secret. But that got harder every year. He felt alone, lost, and afraid in a world of too many words.     Fortunately, his love of stories wouldn't let him give up. He started giving himself permission to read at his own pace, using the words he knew as stepping-stones to help draw him into a story. And he found he wasn't so alone--in fact, lots of brilliant people were slow readers, too. Learning to accept the fact that everyone does things in their own unique way, and that was okay, freed him up and ultimately helped Hudson thrive and become the fabulous storyteller he is today.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Disability, Books About Books, Fiction, Education, Art

32 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 14, 2021

Reviews

[Ms. B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading is not a race. Enjoy the words, enjoy the journey of learning to read in this story that's based on the author's own childhood.

[Bookishrealm · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a good picture book about dyslexia! The author uses their own experience to illustrate what it’s like to be overwhelmed by words. The illustrations worked perfectly with the text. I loved the emphasis on the combination of pictures and texts, and how that can be beneficial to students who may have dyslexia, or may be slower readers. This definitely reinforces the idea that things like comics and graphic novels are beneficial in those instances.

[Michele Knott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is going to be a lifeline for so many readers! The power of seeing yourself in this particular story is going to keep readers on their reading journey.

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

In first person, the author relates his experience learning to read and to accept himself as a "slow" reader.

The pictures in this book do a great job of capturing abstract concepts in a concrete medium. The whimsical illustrations really help to convey how the author felt about words, books, and the act of reading and also how his feelings changed and developed over time. The visual comparison of the world of words to a scary, complex forest works really well, as does his shift in perspective at the end of the story toward seeing the world of words as an ocean whose waves he can surf with ease.

This is a definite classroom book that will most likely be used to address kids' anxiety about reading. There really is no story here outside of the lesson about learning to read at one's own pace, and that's the kind of thing teachers want to read about on the first day of school to break the ice and set the tone for the year. I think the text is pleasant to read aloud, but I'm not sure I see the book being chosen for anything other than bibliotherapy.

I am not convinced that a child who is reluctant to read is going to be persuaded otherwise by reading a book. I do think such kids will relate to some of the images Talbott uses to describe his journey, so it does have the potential to be a good conversation starter, but it would require just the right touch from adults to get the interest of the child who could most benefit from it. For me, this seems mostly like a picture book that will be loved by adults but not necessarily universally embraced by kids. It's a well-done picture book, but its audience is likely to be limited.

I received a finished copy of A Walk in the Words from Penguin Young Readers in exchange for an honest review.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully crafted, inspiring and empowering autobiographical story in which Talbott shares childhood difficulty with reading and how his challenges were overcome with persistence.

[Susan Dunn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great exploration of an individual with dyslexia and how he overcame his disability by focusing on what he did do well, which was draw. Would be great for a unit on perserverance or overcoming challenges.

[Nathalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great story based on the author's experience as a quote-unquote SLOW READER. I loved the fact that Hudson was able to figure out that it's okay to learn to read at your own speed, despite what others students and teachers think. He actually, on his own, which is amazing, learned the way we taught our children. We would take turn reading and our youngest learner would read every word they knew. They were so excited to be able to read the same book as the rest of the family. It was amazing how quickly their reading skills improved too!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author/illustrator shares his account of being a struggling reader in another era. Drawing was always a refuge and curiosity and his own resourcefulness taught him strategies for success.

Illustration is used beautifully to convey mood, like the treacherous word forest and the comparison between writing with new words and practicing drawing horses.

Font size, style, and positioning provide clues and prompts as well

[Michelle Boquist · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fabulous book! First the story is a heart-rendering tale of a boy struggling to read. The story is told through the illustrations and twisted words. I want everyone to read this book to your students.

[Elisabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

[Angelina · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Katrina Dreamer · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a reading interventionist for students with dyslexia, I had high hopes for this book, but it missed the mark for me.

I appreciate the visceral illustration of what it's like to be a student who struggles to read, and many children will see themselves in that, including dyslexic students but also others who have processing disorders or myriad other conditions. The author's emphasis on his love for drawing is also a bright spot, and his illustrations are lovely. Additionally, the narrative about persistence and going as slow as you need to go is beneficial.

The piece that doesn't work for me is that this was the author's experience when he was a child, a time many decades ago when we understood dyslexia far less and many students had to push through themselves with little support. I know that this still happens for many students and I don't want to diminish their struggles.

However, I wonder what message it will send to students today when this book is presented to them and it doesn't include a teacher, tutor, or even parent that recognized the student's struggles and got them appropriate support. I'm all for students advocating for themselves and creatively working through issues, but most students will need a lot of help from others as well. Without a nuanced discussion of how dyslexia and other learning disabilities can present on a spectrum, I worry about the students in these classrooms who might get the message that they can solve their reading issues on their own.

I would love to know what kind of conversations happened around this book behind the scenes and if they consulted with reading interventionists, the IDA, or other dyslexics before they decided it was ready to publish.

[IrenesBookReviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found a book that is perfect if your child has difficulty reading and is feeling bad about it. “A Walk in the Words” by Hudson Talbott. He walks you thru his journey as a child with reading difficulties and explains how he overcame the shame. The authors note at the end is exceptional. I hope this book is an encouragement to children everywhere. I spend a lot of my leisure time reading and am thankful my library had this book on the shelf.

[AnnaBelle Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW. This book was one I just stumbled by, but I really love this book and will have it in my classroom. Winner of the Schneider Family Honor, this book follows a young boy named Hudson Talbott. We learn about how he loved drawing but reading was something he struggled with, and that his friends became better readers, reading bigger and more complex books but meanwhile Hudson felt embarrassed and keeps his slow reading a secret and how year after year it became harder to hide. I think this is really inspiring to the students who don't like reading or have a hard time reading.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a student, a family member, and an educator, you experience the requirements of criteria to be met at certain grades, numbers assigned to books to "level" them, and programs in support of leveling, some with built-in quizzes and rewards. You watch a beloved relative crushed by their slowness to read compared to their parents' expectations. Countless times you've seen sadness pool in students' eyes when the book they want to read is either too high or too low of a required "level". Supported by research, we know individuals learn at their own pace.

Some goals are more easily met than others, but if it is a desired milestone, it will be achieved. It is not for us to say when. A Walk in the Words (Nancy Paulsen Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, September 14, 2021) written and illustrated by Hudson Talbott is the personal chronicle of his struggle with words, reading, and books.


My full recommendation: https://librariansquest.blogspot.com/...

[haya ★ · Rating 5 out of 5]

my first book in this november, i really love to read children books since there are a lot of good illustration. i remember when this book said "books weren't always scary, i realized that just because i was slow at reading didn't mean that i had to fear it, i also learned manmany great people were slow readers"
one of great people that i knew were also slow reader is Albert Einstein. never be ashamed just because you're a slow reader!!!

[Karol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written and illustrated.

I am a “slow” reader. I get nervous when someone asks me to read something in front of them. I feel rushed and not capable of comprehending the words.
I find joy in reading to myself or out loud to my dog. I have time to think and visualize.

I found comfort in A Walk in the Words. Thank you Hudson Talbott.

[Cindy Dobrez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I could gift this book to my husband's parochial school teachers/nuns who slapped his hand if he used his finger to follow along in a book. He was an undiagnosed dyslexic kid, too, like the author here, punished for a reading disorder that he should have been given tools and tips to minimize.

And, huzzah for celebrating slow readers. I am unable to speed up and instead, savor each word. May we all read at our own pace and with encouragement, not punishment.

Talbott's illustrations are delightful as well.

[Bonnie Grover · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is going to be a great book for classrooms. Reading is not a race. The author describes his personal journey of being a slow reader. Hudson finds out that lots of brilliant people were slow readers too. This is definitely going to be a mirror book for students.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A personal but not patronizing story of the author’s childhood experience slowly learning to read. The art and the text work together very well.

[Danette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book could be very encouraging for children who struggle to read.

[Hailey Koyne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Are you looking for a book that represents students with dyslexia? This is the one for you. This follows the author's journey and how he overcame and found out about his dyslexia. It even tells you a strategy he used to make words seem less taunting (breaking words apart). The illustrations in the book are PHENOMENAL! Please, please, please get this in your classroom library, especially for those students who may be struggling with this themselves!!

[Alexandra Beckett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book as a 4-star read. But for anyone that relates with dyslexia or reading struggles, I think it’s a 5-star book. I came across it by accident while looking for other books the author has written (Tales of King Arthur series) and was captured by the cover and concept. This is a great book for emerging readers as well… that just because you might read at a slower pace doesn’t mean you’re a “slow”thinker.

[Jillian Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The war between my fear of reading and my curiosity was over. Curiosity won.” This quote is from the Schneider Family Award winning book "A Walk in the Words" by Hudson Talbott. This post modern picture book also serves as a partial autobiography. "A Walk in the Words" highlights the story of how Hudson overcame his fear of reading. Hudson struggled with what appears to be dyslexia. Like many who struggle with dyslexia, Hudson feared reading, until he found a way to break down the words and feel less over whelmed. He phrased it as he could whelm the words before they overwhelmed him. Not only did Hudson become an author, but as he mentions in the book, he also furthered his love for drawing. The illustrations in this book truly show what having dyslexia is like. Hudson creates forests from the big and scary words he did not know. Without these illustrations, readers would not have been able to see the struggle that he faced on a daily basis as clearly. This book would make a fantastic read aloud for any classroom. In fact, I think it may be on my top ten favorite peices of children’s literature. You are truly missing out if you haven’t walked in the words with Hudson Talbott.

[Robin Coral · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book.

[ClaudiaM · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book in traditional format after finding it on the Schneider Family Book Award Honor list and seeing that it had a good review in The Horn Book. Even though it’s a picture book, I think it really works for older kids too, probably around grades 2–5 and even older.

It’s about the author’s own experience growing up with dyslexia, and it honestly made me stop and think. I liked how it showed what it’s like to struggle with reading, but without making it all negative. It focuses more on how he learned to go at his own pace and figure out what worked for him. It reminded me of what we’ve read about in class, the idea that disability is just part of who someone is, not something that always needs to be “fixed.”

The artwork is super creative. I liked how the words were everywhere in the illustrations, like part of the environment. You could really feel when he was overwhelmed, but then you also see his confidence grow when he starts doing things his way.

I think this would be a great read-aloud to start conversations about differences and learning styles. One simple activity could be asking students to draw or write about something they find hard at school and what helps them keep going. It would help everyone feel more seen and heard.

Overall, I loved this book. It’s inspiring and honest, and I think a lot of kids would relate to it, whether they struggle with reading or not.

[Colette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just my opinion but this is one of those books every teacher and librarian should read. It needs to be in libraries and checked out to any students who desire to read this great book, especially those that fear words or reading.

My journey with reading took much longer. I’m positive it’s because the only access to books during my childhood was school books, that I couldn’t read, was expected to be on pace with every other child my age, and just couldn’t.

I was in Mr Zimanskies 6th grade class before he talked the principal into converting a janitor’s closet into our schools first library. I didn’t read many books out of there, or our intimidating junior high library, with books that looked like encyclopedias and of no interest to kids. We were never taken there either.

I did walk past the city library on my way to and from Jr high, but after forgetting a book or two and no way to pay the fines, I didn’t even have lunch money most days. Never enough for lunch anyway. But in high school our library was a building in the middle of our campus. A whole building full of books. Yes it was overwhelming at times. But I became a library assistant, (though not a good one) and found a book or two to read. My first novel took me nine months to read. The first page took me a week or more to decipher and comprehend. I was decoding each word. By the time I got to the end of a sentence I had no clue what I read. Then it was paragraphs, then pages, by the end I could almost make it through a whole chapter before I had to go back and reread. It’s a wonder I became a teacher and then a librarian. I loved that job! My answer now is let them read. Give them books!

[Shaye Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful, wonderful! Oh how I wish this book had been around when I was little. My little brother was dyslexic and dysgraphic and I think he would have loved reading through this one with me. So grateful to have added this one to my #MustReadin2022 list.

For more children's literature, middle grade literature, and YA literature reviews, feel free to visit my personal blog at The Miller Memo!

[MaryAnne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to give this book a higher rating and would have except for the inclusion of a list of Slow Readers Hall of Fame. The list includes famous individuals almost all of whom lived many years ago. Knowing they were “slow readers” (or had dyslexia or learning disabilities as often reported) relies on flawed biographies and other circumstantial evidence. Such lists continue to perpetuate myths. As a special educator I try to educate others against such myths.

[Amanda Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nominated for the 2024 Washington Children's Choice Picture Book Award, A Walk in the Woods carries an important message for all students. I'm always open with my students about my learning disability and how it's not okay to shame people who need more time. The illustrations support the message in the story so well and there's a Godzilla!