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Mostly Cloudy Sparking imagination in children
Hewlett resident writes first book
Inspired by her love of looking into the sky and a noted humor writer, Hewlett resident Abbe Reichman wrote and self-published a children’s book, “If I Could Reach the Sky,” that was released on Dec. 15.
Reichman has always had an interest in writing. Authors like Erma Bombeck and observations of the universe are what inspire Reichman’s writing. “I’ve always considered myself a moonchild,” she said. “I find it cathartic to look up at the moon, the sky, and the clouds and see pictures in the cloud formations. I’m most inspired when I’m relaxed, look up into the sky at the universe.”
She said that her best writing is done when she is free to explore her mind. “Sometimes a light bulb goes off and sparks an idea,” she said. “This story just came to me. I love children. Their minds are like little sponges.
Of her current book, Reichman said that it is written for early explorers of reading, children up to six years of age. “My book involves the circle of life and love,” she said. “It focuses on planets, the sun, the moon, all of which are circles. It also involves philosophies of friendship, kindness, giving, love, exploration and self-discovery.”
Through her writing, Reichman wants to spark children’s creativity, have them
expand their imagination and stretch it beyond their reach, and to encourage them to explore their minds and thoughts.
Nancy Schwartz, married to Reichman’s cousin, Gene Schwartz, has known the newly published writer for seven years. Schwartz said she thinks Reichman is creative, witty and smart.
“What I liked most about the book was the creativity, and it enabled the imagination of the reader, young and old,” Schwartz said. “The questions at the end of the book were a pleasant surprise. The illustrations were beautiful as well. How nice to keep a child thinking after a story is over.”
For the past decade, Reichman has been the community services coordinator of EPIC Long Island, which serves people with epilepsy. Kim Perticone, a co-worker of Reichman’s at EPIC Long Island, said she enjoyed how the book made her feel like a kid again.
