You Can!

Full of inspiration, empowerment and visual pleasure – real children give their thoughts and ideas for the future

Not many picture books for children can claim to be based on a unique idea, but this is one of those rare examples. Several years in the making, it engages with young people aged from 8 to 18, from the widest possible range of background and experience. They were asked what they would say to their younger selves to reassure, enthuse and inspire them about the future. You Can gives their answers, from personal talks, emails, and video talks. We see 14 diverse children grow from babies into toddlers, children and young adults, with all sorts of different interests, ideas and attitudes. It's an empowering book through children's own messages of inspiration, empathy, hope and promise for the future. And the future is theirs – they are the ones who will make it work. Based on an innovative concept from Alexandra Strick, co-founder of Inclusive Minds, and brought to vibrant life by Steve Antony's astonishing visual narrative, here are children reaching out to the future with optimism, energy, and the will to make things different. You Can is a potential life-changer for its young readers.

About the Author

Alexandra Strick has consulted on many inclusive and accessible books. She is a founder of Outside In World, which promotes books from around the world (particularly children’s books in translation) and consultant to BookTrust. As co-founder of Inclusive Minds, she is particularly proud to have set up a network of Inclusion Ambassadors – young people with lived experience who are able to share their knowledge with book creators. She lives in Surrey, England.

About the Illustrator

Steve Antony was born in the UK and raised in New Mexico, USA. After returning to the UK he studied art and gained a first class degree in Children’s Book Illustration from Anglia Ruskin University. His award-winning picture books, including The Queen’s Hat, Please Mr Panda and Amazing! have sold over a million copies worldwide and been translated into 19 languages. As an LBGTQ+ illustrator he is dedicated to including diverse and inclusive characters in his books. Steve lives in Swindon, England.