Amazing

by Steve Antony

A joyful new picture book by the award-winning Steve Antony, creator of the bestselling Please Mr Panda.

A little boy and his pet dragon are the very best of friends. They laugh, they sing, they dance, they snooze. They are both amazing - just like everyone else!

A celebration of friendship and being yourself with a positive message about celebrating diversity. The perfect platform to start conversations about the importance of understanding and acceptance.

Steve Antony is the winner of the Oscar's First Book Prize and has been nominated for the Kate Greenaway Medal and shortlisted for the Waterstones Children's Book Prize.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Friendship, Dragons, Humor

32 pages, Hardcover

Published July 7, 2020

About the author

Since his 2014 debut, Steve Antony has so far written and illustrated over 20 picture books, including the Mr Panda series, The Queen Collection, Unplugged, Green Lizards Vs Red Rectangles, Amazing and You Can. Steve has been nominated seven times and long listed once for the Kate Greenaway Medal. The Queen's Hat was adapted into a musical concert by the London Symphony Orchestra and won the Evening Standard's Oscar's Book Prize. His award winning Mr Panda series has so far sold over one million copies worldwide and has been optioned for TV. Steve also illustrated Tim Minchin's When I Grow Up, a cover of the Famous Five and the all-new Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (adapted by Peter Bently). He has contributed work to the LGBTQ+ Pride YA anthology and Drawing Europe Together.

Reviews

[Mathew · Rating 5 out of 5]

When we talk about reflecting realities and diversity in children's literature the focus is generally upon BAME characters and although this is important, there are many other minority groups who would benefit from finding themselves in literature. This is something that Steve Antony has been thinking about since the turn of this decade when he reflected on the fact that, as a child, there were little to no gay characters like him in literature.

Noting the lack of representation of minority groups and having been inspired by Susan Laughs, Steve decided to pen a picturebook about a boy (who happens to be in a wheelchair) and his pet dragon, Zibbo. The book would not be about the wheelchair at all but instead, celebrate the normative lifestyle of this boy and his pet dragon.

In the book, the boy teaches Zibbo to fly, roar and join him in all the regular activities he does (drawing, dancing, eating, playing in the rain). In a masterstroke, it is Zibbo, different to other pets, who draws our attention. We enjoy the fact that he too can access the world around him and I can only marvel at the subtle way in which Steve Antony shows us that the little boy in the wheelchair can too.

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Children's picture book. This story is about a young boy and his pet dragon Zibbo. The boy uses a wheelchair, but this book is not about the wheelchair, which is refreshing. The boy and Zibbo make quite a team, teaching each other things, playing and learning together, and going to parties. Unfortunately Zibbo gets a little too excitable at the party, which has consequences you might expect from a dragon. The illustrations here are very fun, with Zibbo being a cute green dragon with small wings and a pointy tale. Reading this helps the reader normalize the life of wheelchair users-- they still sleep, eat, and play just like other children. But it does so without being didactic which is appreciated. This is a story that I can easily see a child wanting to read again. Fun, warm, and inclusive-- this story is a winner. I also loved the cameo of Mr. Panda from the author's other books, he appeared in one of the boy's drawings.

[Bev · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely story about a young disabled boy and his pet dragon. The dragon, Zibbo, encourages his owner to do all the same things as his able bodied friends, his wheelchair doesn’t stop him joining in all their activities at all! Great ending that concludes we are all amazing, just the way we are. Charming, colourful pictures and a fun text make this a must buy for primary schools or anyone who has young relatives, I am envious, I would love a pet dragon!

[Jenna Mills · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great message

[Chloe · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice picture book (maybe a little simple) that focuses on the main character being a wheelchair user. Good for just increasing the amount of diverse books in a classroom.

[Gabby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a unique yet needed book! One of the few books I know that celebrates children with disabilities and does such a great job at it.

[Ms Doxey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely story about a boy and his dragon and what they get up to

[Ann Sawyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Zibbo, he's such a cute dragon

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is a great book.
The pictures are amazing

[Chantelle Davies · Rating 4 out of 5]

Diverse, wheelchair users, various backgrounds. You is amazing just the way you are.

[Sean Harding · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK yarn of kid and his dragon - has the pauses before the next big adjective type word which will depend on the reading ability how it will come out.
Similar to The Queen series in style.

[Devin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually liked everything in the book and I really liked the dragon called Zibbo. I can’t believe he made an accident at the party - he blowed fire at the birthday girl.