Ralph (almost) flies

By Corrine Davies
Illustrated by El Ashfield
Lulu
Londoners. We’re all in touch with our inner child.

Why else would we choose this city, which is one big playground, as our home? Why do we squeal with childish glee upon spying free cheese samples in Selfridges? And what other possible explanation could there be for us making such utter, unselfconscious, twits of ourselves on a regular basis?

It’s because we’re still brimming with youthful promise and delight, right?
Right?

Oh, alright then. Sometimes we like to read children’s books. You got a problem with that? Good.

Ralph is (not) a Superhero is about a quiet, studious boy who nobody really notices. But one night Ralph dreams that he has super powers. He thinks it’s just a dream but, when the town needs a hero, Ralph finds his powers exist in real life. Soon Ralph is the most popular boy in school and everyone believes he’s a superhero, except Ralph himself.

This modern parable is told in Revolting Rhymes style verse: it’s pacey and funny, although the meter suffers from the occasional hiccup. The story contains a lesson that can never be learnt too young: self-belief is pretty much everything. Although it probably won’t make you fly.

The illustrations, which abound on almost every page, are a delight of scribbles and vivid colours, and owe more than a little debt to Quentin Blake. They’re brilliant.

But, the story is a little too sweet: Ralph gets on the football team, gets the girl and befriends an old lady along the way. There’s no retribution for the people who bullied Ralph and we’d have liked to see them come to a stickier end.

It’s a nice book but suffers a little for being that. You see, we still have a childlike sense of justice.