Austin’s Amazing Adventures: The Big Test – A Story of Courage, Resilience, and Inclusion. A PENfriend Picture Book

Austin’s Amazing Adventures: The Big Test is a children’s book written by Dave Steele, known globally as The Blind Poet.

Dave, who is also a proud father and advocate for the visually impaired, was the guest speaker at the flame lighting ceremony for the Paralympic Games, held at its birthplace in Stoke Mandeville Stadium, Buckinghamshire. His powerful words and personal journey of living with blindness have inspired many, and now he brings these experiences into the world of children’s literature.

The story follows Austin, a young boy adapting to gradual sight loss as he learns Braille and prepares for a spelling test with the support of his blind father, his classmates, and his teacher, Miss Tierney. The character of Austin is based on Dave’s own son, creating a deeply personal and relatable narrative. Through this tale, your readers/listeners will learn about courage, friendship, and the power of community in overcoming challenges.

Click here to listen to Dave talk about this book

• Key Learning Features for Classrooms – Insight into visual impairment:
  Students will gain a better understanding of the difficulties visually impaired children face, such as orienting a picture book the correct way.
• Interactive learning : The book features a page with Braille, allowing sighted children to experience the challenge of learning it just as Austin does.

• Narration by Dave Steele: Every page is narrated by Dave using the PENfriend device. For those without access to PENfriend, the narration is available for free on the book’s website. Dave provides not only the text but also detailed descriptions of the illustrations.
• Discussion prompts : The book concludes with “Talking Points” that can be used by parents, caregivers, and teachers to facilitate meaningful conversations about visual impairment, inclusion, and resilience. –
• NaviLens technology: The book’s QR codes have been replaced with NaviLens codes, making it easier for visually impaired readers to access the narrations. –
• Customisable engagement: “Sound Spots” on each page allow students to record their own voice for a personalised reading experience. This story is the first in the Austin’s Amazing Adventures series, which introduces sighted children to the challenges and triumphs of visually impaired individuals in a way that is engaging, educational, and relatable.

Specification: 32 page book plus covers, softback, Price £9.50 per unit.
The book can be read on its own by a sighted person or with the free audio file on a computer or with the PENfriend. (The PENfriend is our patented device which is one of the RNIB’s best selling product. But I do not expect you to carry this.)

About Dave Steele, The Blind Poet Dave Steele lives in Prestwich, Greater Manchester, and is an award-winning poet, author, and advocate for the visually impaired. As a father of four, Dave brings a personal touch to everything he creates, using his own experiences with vision loss to inspire others. His global mission is to demonstrate that “Disability isn’t an excuse to do less, but a reason to be more.” Dave travels internationally, giving talks, recitals, and sharing his message of resilience. His role as a guest speaker at the Paralympic Games was a testament to his powerful advocacy.