Squishy Sand

by Charlene McIver, Caroline Keys (Illustrator)

Overview

Multi-Award Winning picture book about courage and friendship

...."This engaging picture book features Leigh, a disabled child who uses a wheelchair. It highlights some of the everyday obstacles that wheelchair users have to cope with. A great choice for any child, reinforcing the importance of empathy, resilience, teamwork, kindness, and creative thinking." Little Parachutes Gold Star Winner

Join Leigh and his friends on this fun-filled beach adventure as they try hilarious ways to move a heavy wheelchair across the sand.

Based on the true story of Leigh. A beautifully illustrated story of friendship, fun, and determination.

*QR Code on back cover to watch the full video and read along*

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780648417835
Publisher:	Charlene McIver
Publication date:	10/02/2020
Series:	Leigh's Wheelie Adventures , #1
Pages:	38
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.25(d)
Age Range:	4 - 10 Years

About the Author

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Editorial Reviews

..."This engaging picture book features Leigh, a disabled child who uses a wheelchair. It highlights some of the everyday obstacles that wheelchair users have to cope with. A great choice for any child, reinforcing the importance of empathy, resilience, teamwork, kindness and creative thinking.

Author Charlene McIver has created a story that retains its light-heartedness and sense of fun while at the same time delivering helpful and comforting messages. Leigh's reliance on his friends is never understated, but he's portrayed as being extremely capable (the story opens with a lovely double page spread showing Tara and Cosmo trailing behind him as he speeds along the road). Illustrator Caroline Keys has ably and naturally captured the moods and actions of the children, using beautiful delicate pencil drawings washed with water colour."

- Little Parachutes Gold Award Winning Book.

..."Squishy Sand is an educational children's story that teaches young readers valuable life lessons and problem solving using creativity, all wrapped up in a fun little beach adventure. This book shows that it's important to be understanding and patient with people that struggle with a disability. The story is fun and entertaining for the audience. Overall, the book is a great read for children to learn about others, and how to help them!"

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Literary Titan Gold Star Award.

From the Publisher

2021-01-20
A boy and his friends use a wheelchair for sand adventures in a picture book about creative problem-solving.

Leigh, Cosmo, Tara, and two dogs are enjoying the boardwalk together when Tara suggests going down to the beach. “Sorry, guys, my wheels get stuck in the sand,” explains Leigh, who uses a wheelchair. The pals brainstorm ways for everyone to enjoy the sand, first using the dogs to pull the chair like huskies. When that doesn’t work, Cosmo realizes the wheels need to be wider and finds dune-buggy tires, which the friends affix over Leigh’s wheels. The result? “Leigh is zooming across the sand all on his own!” Although McIver’s story focuses on a wheelchair’s limitations, the way the three kids find solutions feels empowering. Some may find a scene in which Tara and Cosmo take Leigh’s chair for a spin to be problematic, but the way they credit Leigh as the expert on maneuvering the chair helps to normalize his experience. McIver’s simple sentences and accessible vocabulary (with some Australian spellings, such as tyres) make this story, inspired by the author’s late son, a good choice for independent readers. Debut artist Keys’ eye-catching, cheerful watercolor illustrations realistically depict the characters; Tara appears to be of Asian heritage, and Cosmo, who wears glasses, and Leigh are light-skinned.

A series starter that encourages thinking in new ways.

Kirkus Reviews