A Walk in the Words

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.

Praise for A Walk in the Words

"Schneider Family Award Winer: An ode to persistence and determination, this inspiring autobiographical picture book recounts the author's struggles and triumphs in learning to read. Drawing came easily to Hudson, but reading longer and longer texts was challenging. The illustrations communicate the emotion Hudson felt as he found his own way in a world filled with words." - American Library Association

"Inspired by his own childhood, Talbott details the experiences of a dark-haired, light-skinned child who loves drawing and stories, but is 'the slowest reader' in their class. Seamless interplay between the text and the art, rendered in ink, colored pencil, and watercolor, amplifies the text. Emphasizing sheer persistence as the way through, this is a personal, visually arresting read for those who may find themselves learning at a different pace." - Publishers Weekly:

"Drawing was 'like diving into my own world,' Talbott writes in this fast-paced, highly visual autobiographical tale. Reading was terrifying — 'too many words coming at me at the same time.' While tempted to give up, Talbott 'loved stories too much to quit.' - New York Times 

"Strongly influenced by Talbott's own childhood reading journey, a young tot..loves art, but reading doesn't come as naturally. The youngster learns to search for familiar words, using them as steppingstones. And there are advantages: 'Slow readers savor the story!'" - Kirkus Reviews

"With a directness similar to Jordan Scott's I Talk Like a River, this story addresses the stigma surrounding dyslexia...Leavened with humor, charm, and a child's self-empowerment, this is an important book both for struggling readers and for classmates who need to cultivate a dose of empathy." - School Library Journal