The Chatterbox Speaks (and Listens): Draft Complete!

Another Draft Down
by Jennifer Greene-Sullivan

This afternoon, I sent something very special to Joshua Wichterich, my illustrator—the final typed draft of The First Grade Chatterbox. 💛

This story has been living in my heart for a long time. It started as a scribbled idea about a kid who just couldn’t stop talking… and it became a redemptive journey about listening, friendship, and finding your true identity once the “box” comes off.

Charlie, the chatterbox, is loud, impulsive, and lovable—but he has a lot to learn. And when his words finally go too far and his big mouth hurts someone he loves, he faces the silence that follows. That’s where the change begins.

Writing this story reminded me of all the times we—kids and adults alike—have used our words without wisdom, and how deeply transformation can begin when we listen.

I smiled more than once while typing the final pages. The ending, where Charlie removes the box and hears his name again—his real name—feels like holy ground to me.

I cannot wait to see how this story will look through the eyes and brushstrokes of the illustrator, and I absolutely cannot wait to place this book in the hands of first, second, and third graders who may just see a little of themselves in Charlie… and a lot of hope in his journey.

The draft is done. The story is coming.
And soon, The First Grade Chatterbox will speak for himself.

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