ReadItDaddy's Second Picture Book of the Week - Week Ending 25th January 2019: "Amazing" by Steve Antony (Hodder Children's Books)

Steve Antony's journey to picture book superstardom has indeed been amazing, as I think Steve himself would agree...
We always love his books, in particular his unique gift for making stories that impart their messages in subtle and wry ways.

In "Amazing" by Steve Antony, you'll find a gloriously diverse cast, but also a really touching and beautifully written core story of a young boy, his pet dragon and their friendship as they embark on a series of mini adventures together.

Steve ticks all the right boxes for a book that kids can happily pick up and see themselves in. His wheelchair hero feels realistic and gloriously upbeat and happy, and there are so many fabulous little moments in this book that it's impossible not to love it from the outset.

Zibbo is full of energy and sometimes gets a little carried away!

The most interesting character in this story is Zibbo, the boy's dragon friend, and the way the two friends both understand each other (and in fact the way Zibbo is cleverly written to address a range of behaviours right across the autism spectrum) marks this out as a standout title.

Zibbo is more than just a dragon pet. He's an amazing energetic and brilliant best friend

This is the sort of book that you end up thinking about a lot long after you've closed the covers, and once again like most of Steve's books, it's a fantastic showcase for how children's books can tackle tough subjects, but also bring all the brilliance of inclusivity and diversity into the mix too.

Something very special indeed, this.

"Amazing" by Steve Antony is out now, published by Hodder Children's Books (kindly supplied for review).