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.

"A joyous ode to inclusion, realised in the most delightful, uplifting way."

-- Cerrie Burnell

"A masterclass in empowering young readers to believe in themselves."

-- Fiona Noble The Bookseller

“Based on real children’s own voices and messages, You Can is a fabulously inclusive picture book that reminds all children that they are valued individuals with a bright future. Steve Antony’s marvellous illustration is full of action and emotion.”

BookTrust Bookmark: Book of the Month

“Joyful from start to finish and bursting with the most wonderful illustrations. There is so much to discuss and explore! There is so much to notice - so many stories to tell. I shared the book with our Y6 children and they were completely captivated…The book ends with a lovely note about the young contributors with their pictures and a link to Inclusive Minds, co-founded by author, Alexandra Strick. A complete joy!”

North Somerset Teachers' Book Award Blog

“Hugely empowering and inspiring, this a book that needs to be in every home and classroom. Children and adults will love the gentle humour and playfulness in Steve’s illustrations: each spread deserves close study."

Red Reading Hub: Picture Book of the Day

“If you haven’t yet read You Can buy a copy today. It is absolutely brilliant. A positive, life affirming book full of empathy. It knocked my socks off and I can’t find the words to say just how much I love it.”

-- Annie Everall OBE via Twitter

“How lovely to have a reading of You Can! the new inclusive dreamy picture book. And what an amazing example of how to bring children’s voices directly to the page.”

Letterbox Library

“It’s such a gorgeous book. So empowering! I really hope it flies, it should be in every bookshelf!”

-- AM Dassu Inclusive Minds

“Make no mistake, this is an utterly ground-breaking read. A truly uplifting and inclusive read with a real and thoughtful substance behind the concept. A picture book that puts the child well and truly at the heart of the story and one which includes ALL children irrespective of background, ability, faith or colour."

Bookgiftblogger

"Joyous and empowering...the fact that the text was suggested by children themselves makes it extra special."

-- Malorie Blackman

"Follow 14 children as they grow from babies to adults in this inclusive picture book...Antony's humorous, dynamic illustrations develop each child's story from page to page."

Guardian

 “This deceptively simple book nevertheless manages to address some truly fundamental issues.” 

Books for Keeps

"Thoughtful, uplifting and empowering, ‘You Can!’ is a joy to explore."

Books for Topics

"You Can! is a beautiful book from start to finish, it’s empowering, inspiring and incredibly reassuring... Each page is packed with encouraging words and messages of inspiration, empathy, hope and promise for the future. With diversity and inclusivity at the core of this book, You Can! is a potential life-changer for the younger generation, with little reminders to us adults."

-- Tangle Tales via Instagram

"You Can! gives me a sense of hope for all the children who will hear this book and see themselves and their classmates, cousins, siblings, neighbors and and also kids they might not know yet."

-- The Wandering Bookseller (US) via Instagram

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.


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.

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