Susan Laughs

Story

Susan can do all kinds of things: laugh, sing, dance, swim. She can feel happy, sad, angry. She can be good and bad. It is only on the final page that we find out that Susan is in a wheelchair.

Why we chose it

With vibrant illustrations and simple rhyming text this is a warm and cheerful book about a lively, busy little girl.

Where it came from

Jeanne Willis and Tony Ross have worked as a partnership on many children’s books including the Dr Xargle series.

Where it went next

Susan Laughs was the winner of the 2000 NASEN Special Education Needs Book Awards.

Associated stories

Other books by Tony Ross and Jeanne Willis include Killer Gorilla, Slug Needs a Hug! Sloth’s Shoes, Don’t Let Go! Not Just a Book, Lucinda, Belinda, Tadpole’s Promise and Melinda McCool

Tony Ross is the author of the popular Little Princess books. Favourites include I Want My Potty, I Don’t Want To Go To Bed, I Want My Dinner, I Don’t Want To Wash My Hands and I Want A Bunny. He illustrated the Horrid Henry stories written by Francesca Simon and a number of David Walliams books including The World’s Worst Teacher, The World’s Worst Children, The Ice Monster, Slime, Beast and The Midnight Gang.

Jeanne Willis has written over 80 books for children of all ages. Her picture books include Bog Baby, illustrated by Gwen Millward, The Monster Bed illustrated by Susan Varley, Don’t Go There illustrated by Hrefna Bragadorrir, Dinosaur Olympics illustrated by Arthur Robbins and Frockodile illustrated by Stephanie Laberis.