Local self-taught author-illustrator brings elephant story to life

January 15, 2019 | 3:13 am

Updated January 15, 2019 | 12:00 am

Photo courtesy of Hannah Goebel

When Hannah Goebel was in college at the University of Kentucky, she traveled with her roommate, Langley Wetzel, to a family event in Greenville, Ohio for the weekend. It was while staying with Wetzel’s grandmother that Goebel first heard the story that inspired her children’s book, “There’s an Elephant in the Yard.”

According to her grandmother’s account, when Langley Wetzel’s dad, Doug Wetzel, was a boy he went outside to play and claimed there was an elephant in his backyard. As luck would have it, a real live elephant had escaped from the circus that was visiting town.

“Now I’m a mom of three and they loved hearing the story of Dougie finding an elephant in his yard — because who wouldn’t want to find an elephant in their yard?” Goebel said. “I was driving down the road one day and thought, this would make a great children’s book — more people should know this story.”

So, drawing from her degree in English Education and limited writing in her professional life, Goebel created her first children’s book. The writing seemed to come naturally, but Goebel said drawing presented a new challenge.

“After I wrote the book, I thought maybe I could draw,” Goebel said. “I’d never actually drawn before [so] I watched YouTube videos and illustrated the book.”

Through her journey of putting Dougie Wetzel’s story to paper, Goebel has been able to meet other characters involved in order to share more details.

“I’ve spoken to the lady that now owns the circus the elephant escaped from. She’s 93 and lives in Michigan and wants a book,” Goebel said. “I’ve been able to collect vintage photos of the elephants and a circus poster. These photos and a photo of Dougie are at the end of the book.”

While the e-book for Kindle is already available on Amazon, Goebel said she anticipates the hardback book release on Amazon and Barnes and Noble sometime next month. She also plans to have personal copies for sale through her website and Facebook page, and Kidstop Children’s Boutique and Studio Slant have partnered with Goebel to carry the book in store after its release.

Goebel said the Daviess County Public Library has graciously agreed to host a book event and reading, once the book is in her hands, and available for purchase.

“I’ve never considered myself to be an author or an artist, so it’s intimidating sharing this project with the world,” Goebel said. “I have always loved children’s literature and have spent hours reading to my own kids. It’s a new journey and new adventure for me — we will see where it goes.”

To learn more about Goebel’s book, “There’s an Elephant in the Yard,” please visit her website.

January 15, 2019 | 3:13 am

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