Image by Christopher King Associate Director of Student Life and Well-Being Hannah King '21 wrote "Ellie Elephant & Tate the Talker" for her niece Ellie, whose rare genetic disorder affects her speech, mobility and development.
Six-year-old Ellie knows the story by heart.
Every time her aunt, Hannah King ’21, opens “Ellie Elephant & Tate the Talker,” Ellie beams with anticipation. She recognizes herself in the young elephant who communicates using a talking device because the story is, in many ways, her own.
King, associate director of student life and well-being at UMass Lowell, never intended to become a children’s author. She originally wrote the book as a birthday gift for Ellie, whose rare genetic disorder affects her speech, mobility and development. But what began as a personal project has grown into a mission to help children better understand disabilities, assistive technology and inclusion.
“I wake up every day thinking about how I can make the world a better place for Ellie,” King says. “Sharing her story is the best way I know how.”
At UML, King helps students overcome challenges that can stand in the way of their success. Through wellness initiatives such as Unwind Your Mind and her work on the university's Disability Advisory Committee, King encourages students to seek support, build resilience and find a sense of belonging.
The children’s book, she says, grew from that same belief: that everyone deserves to be understood, included and given the tools they need to thrive.
Image by Ed Brennen Hannah King '21 made a stamp of Ellie's signature so she can sign copies of "Ellie Elephant & Tate the Talker."
When Ellie wasn't meeting developmental milestones as an infant, genetic testing eventually identified RHOBTB2 syndrome, an extraordinarily rare condition that affects speech, mobility and neurological development. Today, Ellie communicates using an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device — affectionately known in the family as her “talker.”
Watching her niece navigate therapies, adaptive equipment and the daily challenges that accompany a disability opened King’s eyes to a lack of representation.
“I realized there really weren’t books that featured kids like Ellie,” she says. “There wasn't much that helped young children understand why someone might use a communication device or how to interact with them.”
King originally envisioned the book as a 6th birthday gift for Ellie. But after connecting with another independent children’s author, her family rallied around the idea of sharing Ellie’s story more broadly. King and her brother, Seth, formed an LLC with pro bono legal help from a family friend before King independently published “Ellie Elephant & Tate the Talker” on Rare Disease Day in 2026.
Image by Ed Brennen Hannah King '21 plans to continue the "Ellie Elephant" series with future books about Ellie's adaptive bicycle, safety bed and inclusive friendships.
Since then, more than 500 copies have reached homes, classrooms, libraries and therapy centers.
King, who authored the book under her maiden name, Hannah Monbleau, hopes “Ellie Elephant & Tate the Talker” is only the first in a series highlighting different forms of assistive technology and disability. Future books may feature Ellie's adaptive bicycle, safety bed and the inclusive friendships that have shaped her life. Long term, King wants proceeds from the books to help establish a nonprofit and scholarship fund supporting children with rare diseases.
In the meantime, King has been reading the book at schools, libraries, community events and inclusive play centers. During one classroom visit, King asked students how they would communicate with someone like Ellie. One child simply replied, “We just talk to her.” For King, it was a reminder that children often embrace differences more naturally than adults do.
For all the classroom readings and community events, King’s favorite moments happen at home with Ellie.
“She's read it 100 times with me,” King says. “When she sits on my lap, you can tell she feels proud. She's like, ‘I'm a part of it. That’s me.’”