Selkirk author’s new book teaches gratitude
The second book of author Sharlene Yarish’s children’s book series is out now and encourages readers to practise gratitude.
Hobbledy Gobbledy Learns to be Thankful has been released three years after the first book in the series introduced the character and covered lessons of empathy, problem-solving and kindness.
“I’ve had these books in the back of my mind for quite a few years,” Yarish said. “In 2020, I decided to just fine-tune everything, and I recognized that there was a pattern of lessons in values, or just general life lessons like gratitude.”
At the end of the Hobbledy Gobbledy books, Yarish includes questions for children to help them understand the lesson or value covered in the book.
Yarish goes to markets to sell her books and has had the chance to talk with potential and past readers, where she’s heard positive feedback, including people saying it’s the favourite book of the child they gave it to.
“The younger ones really liked the rhyme because every book is done in rhyme, and the older kids, I’m hoping they’re understanding the value,” Yarish said.
Yarish’s son Jesiah has illustrated the books.
“I had a very specific image of Hobbledy in my head, and I was able to convey that to him, and he was able to illustrate it perfectly,” she said. “We really have a good working relationship, and I can tell him what I’m looking for… We go back and forth with expectations, and I really enjoy working with him.”
Hobbledy, a sage green character with one prominent front tooth, a large nose, a bumpy head, and four fingers on each hand, has a unique look, and Yarish said it’s hard to explain the inspiration behind the character.
“It was something that just came to me. I would say it was God-inspired. The picture of Hobbledy in my head just came to me, and the storyline just came to me,” she said. “I wanted him to look different than all the kids because part of the message of the story was to not judge a book by its cover, or things aren’t always as they seem, so by him looking less than beautiful, the kids had to get past that in order to find out that Hobbledy is really a great guy after all.”
While this series of books is her first time writing children’s books, she and her husband have been writing and publishing contemporary Christian music for years. She said it just seemed to morph into writing children’s books.
The next book in the Hobbledy Gobbledy series will be released next summer. It focuses on individuality and showcases how everyone is different and unique.
Yarish’s books are available in Selkirk at Wishme and The Cozy Fox. They’re available online through FriesenPress, Indigo, and Amazon and by contacting Yarish at sharleneyarish@mail.com.
For those who have read any of the Hobbledy Gobbledy books, Yarish encourages readers to rate and review the book on Goodreads to help get the word out about the series.
