Book Blast & Giveaway: The Tale of the Prince and the Spider by Sasha Hopkins

THE TALE OF THE PRINCE AND THE SPIDER

by

Sasha Hopkins

Children’s Book

Publisher: Tellwell Talent

Publication Date: April 28, 2026

Page count: 38 pages

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SYNOPSIS:

Prince Alexander is a boy filled with courage, laughter, and light, until a chance encounter with a mysterious new "friend" changes everything. Trapped in a web of fear and silence, he must find the strength to fight back against a dark trickster who wants to steal his voice, his joy, and his future.

The Tale of the Prince and the Spider is a modern fairytale for children, parents, and anyone who has faced fear in silence. Told with warmth, honesty, and hope, it reveals how secrets can poison, how love protects, and how even the smallest voice can grow into a roar.

Through Alexander's journey, readers discover that pain does not define us—courage does. His story is both a thrilling adventure and a gentle reminder that you are stronger than your fears, your voice matters, and you are never alone.

This is more than a tale of princes and monsters. It is a story for every family who longs for healing, resilience, and light in dark times. Beautifully written to spark conversations between children and adults, it invites readers to talk openly about bravery, truth, and the power of standing tall.

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ENJOY AN EXCERPT:

One sunny morning, Alexander started an adventure. The sun shone bright like a golden bell, lighting up hills covered in green grass, and wildflowers—yellow, purple, red—spread out like a painter’s canvas. The wind carried scents of dirt and sweet clover, tickling his nose as he rode Menace, his brown horse, whose fur coat gleamed like a soldier’s sword. Menace’s hooves thumped the dirt road, kicking up dust that sparkled. Alexander held the reins tight, feeling them rub his hands, the breeze messing up his hair as his saddle creaked along with the swaying trees above.

Bushes shook—a rabbit darted past; a hawk’s shadow soared overhead. The road stretched on, but where trees grew thick, shadows moved, hinting at a forest full of secrets. Menace huffed, ears twitching, and Alexander patted his warm, scratchy neck. “Keep going, boy,” he said quietly, his heart beating with excitement.

Through the kingdom he went, past roads busy with familiar smiling people who stopped to cheer, their voices lifting him up. But farther out, it got quiet, the land wide and free. With a lion’s bravery, a fire’s strength, and a heart full of love, he rode into the unknown.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Sasha Hopkins is a father of five and a storyteller from Melbourne, Australia. His journey has been shaped by both love and hardship. As a child, Sasha endured trauma that left deep scars, yet he chose not to remain silent or let those experiences define him. Instead, he transformed his pain into a story of courage, resilience, and hope.

He wrote The Tale of the Prince and the Spider during a period of recovery in Western Australia, creating it as a gift for his children, Winter, Hunter, Hudson, Navy, and Orion. What began as a father's offering of love became a timeless fairytale for families everywhere: a reminder that even in life's darkest moments, light can be found, voices can be heard, and healing is always possible.

Through his writing, Sasha shares a powerful message: your past does not diminish you, and speaking out is an act of bravery that can inspire others. When he isn't writing, Sasha is adventuring with his kids, encouraging them to embrace adventure, laughter, and the strength within themselves.

REVIEW:

4 stars!

An adventure picture book that tackles important and sensitive issues and big emotions. 

The Tale of the Prince and the Spider by Sasha Hopkins is the emotional adventure of a young prince, beloved by his future subjects, who runs into an evil intent on doing him terrible, long-lasting harm. Young Prince Alexander comes across a forest-dwelling while out riding one day. Knocking on the door, he meets Jonathan, a young man or perhaps just an older boy, with whom he quickly develops a connection because of their similar likes. However, once Alex enters Jonathan’s house, he discovers Jonathan is hiding bad intentions. 

Inspired by events from the author’s own childhood, the tale is an allegory for lost innocence and friendship betrayed, but also about having the courage to speak up, overcoming the trauma of the past, and not letting it define one’s future. The story presents important and sensitive issues that children can understand, especially if shared one-on-one or in a group, followed by adult-led discussion of what Alexander experienced, and probably not for random consumption without context. The way the author delivers the story is a gift to parents who need to share this with their children. 

The author does a great job developing his characters, and while Alexander has princely virtues, he still feels like any young boy. His championing of his younger sister when Jonathan comes back around will resonate especially well with children who have siblings. In the story itself, there is mention of The Lost Forest that goes unexplained and a few stories that are given a quick description as Alex and Jonathan converse and build rapport. I hope the author follows this picture book with others that pursue those mentioned tales and location, but I found their inclusion here, while intriguing, a distraction from the bigger story. 

The story is enhanced by Kyle Completo’s artwork, which illustrates different scenes throughout the story. I found Jonathan’s alter ego particularly vivid and appropriately menacing. 

I recommend THE TALE OF THE PRINCE AND THE SPIDER for home, school, and afterschool program bookshelves.

GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!

Sasha Hopkins will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.