“Sophir Takes a Walk” here.
Sophir Takes a Walk
Rasha Kawar
Many Realms Media (2026)
ISBN: 979-8990776319
Rasha Kawar is a Texas native and advocate for the disability community. She was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy before she turned two. As a member of the disability community, she has overcome many challenges in her life. In 2024 she earned her BA in communications from the University of Texas at Arlington. She is passionate about improving the quality of life for individuals with disabilities.
At age 10, Rasha welcomed a beagle puppy to her family. That’s when she created the character Sophir, a young beagle with a huge heart who was born blind. Through Sophir’s adventures with her owner Haley, Rasha entertains young readers while also educating them about how people with disabilities contribute to their communities and make the world a better place.
Welcome to Reader Views, Rasha! What is Sophir Takes a Walk about?
This book is about Sophir, an adorable young beagle, and her owner, Haley, who have just moved to Copper Village. When Haley and Sophir go on a walk in their new hometown, Sophir discovers another animal in desperate need of help. She uses her senses to find a kitten who has fallen down a hole and has become stuck.
You came up with the idea for Sophir when you were just 10 years old. What sparked that idea, and what made you hold onto it all these years?
I have cerebral palsy and I wanted to find a way to let other kids with disabilities know that they could do important, meaningful things even if they were different. I had a puppy named Copper who was so patient and loving with me when I was growing up. He helped look after me. Even when I sometimes accidentally hurt him, he never bit me or growled at me. He taught me so much about love and acceptance.
Sophir is a beagle who navigates the world entirely through her nose and ears. How did you develop her voice, and what did you want young readers to understand about how she experiences the world?
While I was writing Sophir’s story, I would often close my eyes and imagine what it would be like to be a puppy who was blind. I would go outside and notice the world without seeing it. I want young readers to know that there are many ways to be present, and to encourage them to pay attention with all their senses wherever they are.
The book is rich with sounds and smells: bacon, pine needles, the stream, the scent of fear. Was that sensory storytelling a conscious choice, and what did it mean to you to tell a story where sight isn’t the primary sense?
Yes, telling this story without sight was a conscious choice. Oftentimes, people don’t realize all the things they take for granted until they lose those things. Sophir is conscious that the ways she navigates the world are different from people who see. She gently reminds Eli that while she doesn’t have the same experiences he does, she still loves and appreciates the world and what she can do.
Eli the kitten is also living with a physical difference, a twisted front leg that doesn’t slow him down. Why was it important to give Sophir a companion who also navigates the world differently?
I made this choice so readers could really see how much difference there is in the world, and to emphasize how much Sophir and Eli helped each other. When Sophir first meets Eli, she doesn’t treat him any differently because of his leg, but he is very surprised that she was able to find him because she is blind. Giving them both different limitations was a good way to show that we shouldn’t underestimate people based on how they look, and that we all have value.
Both Sophir and Eli have to push past fear in this story. What do you hope children take away about what bravery really looks like?
I hope children realize that bravery doesn’t come in only one shape or size. Bravery is a decision. It’s about choosing to help even when we might be afraid. Bravery isn’t something we’re born with or without.
Friendship is at the heart of this book, between Sophir and Eli, and between Haley and Wes. What did you want to show about how friendships form from differences?
I wanted to show that it doesn’t matter what people look like or what they can do. We can be friends with people who don’t look or sound like us, and may not be able to do the same things we can. It’s about not judging someone before you get to know them.
Sophir doesn’t define herself by what she can’t see. She defines herself by what she can do. How did you approach writing a character with a disability in a way that feels authentic rather than surface-level?
I love dogs, and of course I loved my puppy, Copper. I spent time researching dogs and their strong senses in general, and beagles’ senses specifically. I developed Sophir’s backstory and gave her a personality, including her skills, fears, likes, and dislikes, and thought about what would make her tick. I used my imagination and unique insight as a member of the disability community to portray how she might behave when confronted with new challenges. I have learned to adapt to many situations in my life by becoming a determined problem solver and a creative thinker. It seemed appropriate to give these same personality traits to Sophir.
Sophir says, “I don’t need sight to know when love is calling.” That line is quite powerful. Where did that come from for you?
During the process of writing my book, my pastor read an early draft, and commented that she felt Sophir heard and responded to Eli’s calls for help the way God hears and answers our prayers. I loved that idea and wanted to include it in the story.
Your blessing at the end of the book speaks directly to children who have been told they are “less than.” What do you most want that child to feel when they close this book?
I want everyone who reads this book to understand that God knows and loves each of us individually for who we are, not what we can do.
Representation in children’s books still has a long way to go when it comes to disability. What do you think is missing from the conversation, and what role do you see Sophir playing in it?
There are several things missing from the conversation about representation in children’s books. Many times disability is still portrayed as something to overcome, a source of struggle, and as a singular defining trait that completely overshadows the character’s full identity. Sophir is a story in which disability is simply part of the main character’s life, not the entire story. Sophir is a hero not because she “overcomes” the struggle of blindness to help another animal in need, but because she listens to her instincts even though she’s scared. She just also happens to be blind. Sophir not only offers authentic perspective from a self-advocate, but also because it normalizes disability without minimizing it.
You have a background in communications and public relations and have dedicated yourself to advocating for the disability community. How does storytelling fit into that advocacy work for you?
I learned in my undergraduate work over many years that authentic stories are powerful tools for engagement. This story helps me reach a younger audience, but also gives educators and parents an opportunity to help children navigate any social awkwardness they may feel when encountering friends or classmates with disabilities, and help those who have physical and/or intellectual disabilities identify with confident main characters. With storytelling, I can show what inclusivity looks like instead of just telling.
You have been living with this story since you were 10. What did it feel like to finally hold the finished book?
It was a bittersweet day when I received my author copies. My father passed away only a few days before. Both he and my mother encouraged me and believed in me even during times I didn’t believe in myself. To finally hold a copy of Sophir in my hands was a testament of their support and the work they put into raising me to become the woman I am today.
Haley starts the story nervous about starting a new school and ends it realizing she can do brave things, largely because of Sophir. What does that relationship between a child and her dog mean to you personally?
It’s a special bond. Pets don’t judge, they don’t bully or betray or abandon. Copper was always eager to see me, always wanted to be close to me. In a world where it’s so easy to get caught up in self-doubt and loneliness, the love of a pet can be life changing.
What would you like parents and teachers to discuss with children after reading this book?
I envision teachers and parents encouraging young readers to pretend they are Sophir and imagine what they might do if they found themselves in a situation like hers. Empathy and imagination are powerful tools in the pursuit of self-actualization. How can readers be a good friend like Sophir? What are Sophir’s talents? Do they have talents they are proud of? I would love for educators and parents to engage readers in discussions about how people’s bodies and minds might work differently, but that those differences don’t change who they are on the inside.
The book teases the next adventure, Sophir Hunts for Clues. What can readers look forward to in that story?
In Sophir Hunts for Clues, Sophir and Eli will continue to develop their friendship, as will Haley and Will. Our friends will need to learn about cooperation, teamwork, and personal responsibility in order to find the missing item without jumping to conclusions.
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