Little Parachutes award Squishy Sand a Gold Star for the highest quality and most helpful book in their libraryThis 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 watercolour.

Review by: Claire Ward-Dutton

Founder, Little Parachutes