WIZZY and the Seaside Adventure

Once again, author, Anthony Ridgway, who has cerebral palsy and writes using a special computer programme, and artist, Suzan Houching, bring together a brilliant story about Dan and Wizzy, the argumentative, hi-tech wheelchair.
This time the action is set in a sleepy seaside town. Dan and Wizzy can’t agree whether to go onto the beach (a “no-no’ for Wizzy who does not want his electronics to get wet) or to go for a walk up the cliff. But they don’t have to argue for long, because no sooner have their friends, James and Sophie, turned up, accompanied by Honey, the dog, when the unexpected happens. A poor holiday maker has her bag snatched and without a second thought the friends give chase into the dark, spooky interior of an old church. As they seek out the bag snatchers through a network of underground tunnels, Wizzy’s tracking skills are, of course, superb, but his pride will not allow him to admit that Honey’s nose is playing a useful part as well. Deep into the hillside, the friends find themselves cut off from wifi communication, so they have to rely entirely on themselves to outwit the thieves.

Anthony’s adventure story has suspense, surprise and humour, especially when Wizzy takes everything that the children say literally and slows down their progress. No children’s book should be without illustrations and Suzan’s characterful watercolours really bring the story into wonderful life.