Ralphy’s Rules for Living the Good Life by Talar Herculian Coursey teaches big lessons about seeing yourself and the world with kindness through an approachable, gentle, and colorful story for young readers.
Joey the squirrel isn’t just grumpy but downright cranky. He’s weighed down by pessimistic thoughts about himself like “I’m not good at math” and “I’m funny looking.” But Joey bumps into Ralphy, a happy dog who introduces Joey to his different, empowering perspective, Ralphy’s Rules for Living the Good Life. Ralphy teaches him critical lessons on emotional resilience, which are communicated in a way that any child can identify with.
Ralphy’s Rules for Living the Good Life stands out among its peers for its easy and flowing writing.
The rhythm of dialogue between Joey and Ralphy makes reading aloud feel like you’re overhearing a conversation between two friends, one a little wiser than the other.
Meri Andreasyan’s bright, warm, and expressive pictures make Joey’s frowns and Ralphy’s cheerful energy come alive.
Through them young readers can easily understand Joey and how he changes as he learns. His initial words and way of seeing the world may remind you of moments as a child or even as a grown-up when you have muttered to yourself or to others about how you are not enough.
The themes of kindness, resilience, self-love, and understanding others are clear but never heavy-handed.
These lessons are not only for children but adults as well. They remind readers not to take things so personally, not to be so hard on themselves, and sometimes to be just a little bit braver.
Ralphy’s Rules for Living the Good Life by Talar Herculian Coursey is cheerful, encouraging, and real. It’s a story that gives children life lessons they can adopt right away, and one that parents will appreciate for its lingering message of kindness to oneself.
