KSA 4th Grader Publishes Short Story in Local Magazine

Fourth grader Rayna Taliano, of Walpole, loves to read and write. So when her mother and sister brought home a copy of Hutch magazine from the Blue Bunny Bookstore in Dedham, the 10-year-old’s imagination began to churn.

“All those wonderful stories and poems told by kids of all ages,” Rayna exclaims. “It was something I was born to do!”

With that, a story – and an author – were born.

Rayna, who attends Kehillah Schechter Academy (KSA) in Norwood, soon developed the short story Faithful, about a child who is upset about her family’s plan to move into a new house. The child is crying under an oak tree when a yellow Labrador puppy unexpectedly nudges her. The lovable animal’s arrival gives the child a reason to smile, and before long, she is feeling like “an explorer with my sidekick, a fire fighter with my assistant,” as her family moves into the new house and she grows to see her situation in a new light.

Writing about a child and a dog when she does not own a pet herself could have been a challenge to another child, but Rayna drew inspiration from her own experiences with literature.

“I am obsessed with books,” she said. “I can learn from them, which often helps me with writing stories.”

The experience of becoming a published author and having her picture taken with Blue Bunny owner and renowned children’s book illustrator Peter H. Reynolds has sparked a creative urge in Rayna that she is racing to fulfill.

“My next story is not yet complete but will be soon,” Rayna said. “I also hope to find other magazines or newspapers where I can submit my writing.”