Rebekah from Hemlock Hollow talks to us about her book 'Ralphie's Day of Dress-Up'

Amanda Jones
Jul 3
2 min read

Rebekah Bailey is an author, illustrator and publisher, her current book is called Ralphie's Day of Dress Up. The story is inspired by her pet hedgehog, Ralphie and follows Ralphie as he explores his treasure chest full of costumes, each of which takes him on a different adventure. The book is designed to be playful, warm, and visually engaging for young readers and families.

1.How did the character Ralphie emerge?

Ralphie is based on my little pet hedgehog, Ralphie. He sadly passed away a year ago, but I love him so much that I wanted to write stories about him and share his character with others through my books.

2.Why a hedgehog?

Because Ralphie was a hedgehog! I’ve always found hedgehogs to be such cute, curious, and gentle little creatures.

3.What inspires you?

Nature, animals, magic, and music all inspire me when it comes to illustrating and creating stories. I love creating enchanting worlds filled with imagination and wonder.

4.Are there any other characters?

Yes! My newest book tells the story of a little witch called Susie.

Future Ralphie stories will also introduce more animal characters along the way. You can also find Hemlock the frog in Ralphie’s first book, and Hemlock will continue to appear in future stories alongside many other animal friends.

5.Does the story have a hidden message?

My book Ralphie’s Day of Dress Up, focuses on imagination, positivity, and wonder. The story shows young readers that even when things do not go to plan, like Ralphie’s day, you can still choose to have fun and make the best of the situation. My next book featuring Susie teaches readers not to rush, as rushing can lead to mistakes. Instead, it encourages children to slow down, focus carefully, and not let adversity bring them down, but to face challenges with confidence.