For Autism Acceptance Week on the 2nd – 8th April I am spotlighting this brilliant early reader book for children ages 6+, which is due for publication on the 18th April 2024 by Little Island Books.
Blurb
A hilarious and heart warming chapter book for readers aged 6+ about a boy with ADHD who is transformed into a dinosaur, with dynamic black-and-white illustrations throughout.
I’m Rory, sometimes Roary Rory, and this is the story of the weirdest week of my life. Well, the weirdest week so far. Probably. I mean the week I was born was probably quite weird for me. But, I don’t remember that. Thankfully. Anyway, SPOILER ALERT, this week’s weirdness starts on Monday, when I am accidentally turned into a dinosaur… Rory is having a weird week. A really weird week.
Blurb for Dinosaur Pie by Jen Wallace and Alan O’Rourke
He has been turned into a ridiculous, small, feathered dinosaur. Pretty awkward.
Rory can’t use a human toilet. He can’t hold a video game controller in his little dino claws. His breath smells really bad. And his new carnivore body can’t stop craving sausages.
Rory finally gets his friends to take his embarrassing situation seriously, and together they embark on Operation Make Rory Human Again. But it’s not easy. Will Rory be stuck as a dinosaur forever?
Heart-warming and funny, debut author Jen Wallace explores ADHD and celebrating difference in Dinosaur Pie. With illustrations by Alan O’Rourke, this is the perfect story for children moving on from picture books, ready to take the next step on their reading journey.
Extract
Jen says:
“This book started out as a cunning ploy to get my kids to eat their dinner (Is it really dinosaur pie, Mum?) Then it became a poem for a few years. It enjoyed that but then it began to dream of being a book. So it pestered me and pestered me and eventually I helped it become this book.”
Jen Wallace
My Thoughts:
Written from the point of view of Rory who has ADHD and a very limited attention span. I found I could relate to this book and Rory’s stream of thought. I enjoyed his interesting insights of his school, home life, friends and You Tube videos. I also liked the way Jen Wallace built in coping strategies into the narrative.
An ideal book for every child who has ever felt different from everyone else.
Jen Wallace writes stories and poetry, for both children and grown-ups. After being diagnosed with both ADHD and autism late in life, she loves to write neurodivergent characters so people like her can see themselves in books. She lives by the sea with her family and their cats, goats, chickens and rabbit. Jen has wanted to be a writer since she was very small, although she also wanted to be a superhero, a firefighter and the President of Ireland.
Alan O’Rourke Alan is tall. Very tall. He writes and illustrates children’s books. But that is a work in progress. The tallness is permanent. Hopefully. Alan lives with his family beside the sea in the northeast of Ireland. Find out more and subscribe at www.spoiltchild.com
Much To Do About Writing 