Sparky the Dragon Bus was a normal bus, just like any other double-decker bus. Every bus on the city street looked the same except their number plates and destinations were different. It was a normal day and some important people came to the bus yard. They inspected Sparky's interiors and made notes. Sparky wondered what they wanted. She heard them saying they were going to make her a playbus. They took her to the garage and made a lot of changes to her upstairs and downstairs decks. There was even a competition held within local schools to design pictures for Sparky's exterior. She was renamed the Dragon Bus and she definitely looked different from the other buses. Let's get into the Dragon Bus and explore what Sparky has to offer. Sparky the Dragon Bus by Sue Wickstead is an adorable and charming story filled with lots of fun and excitement for young readers. The little girl who came in the wheelchair felt so included and happy inside the bus that she wrote an article and sent it to the local newspaper. Everyone wanted to know about the little girl and the Dragon Bus. The Princess met the little girl after reading her article and she wanted to see Sparky. The Princess's visit made Sparky happy and she was glad she was different and special. Justin Wyatt and Keiron Ward bring the story alive and palpable to readers with their magical illustrations filled with color and charm. It is wonderful to see Sparky having a story of her own to tell the other buses. This is a good storybook to help children accept their differences and celebrate them. Tutors and parents can use this book for read-aloud sessions in classrooms and homes to encourage children to appreciate their differences and uniqueness in a positive way. The fact that the story is based on a real bus makes it even more special to readers.

An absolutely delightful story of inclusion Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 16 October 2019 Ms Wickstead is a teacher, as well as a children's author. She understands how to motivate children to read, and produces colourful, educational and interesting short story books to engage and delight young readers. As always, Ms Wickstead's trademark bird - in this book it's a pigeon - is placed in each two-page spread for young readers to find, and add their own words to this story. In Sparky The Dragon Bus, we see another bus fitted out as a play-bus, only this one is specially adapted to accommodate children with mobility issues. When a little girl who uses a wheelchair comes to look at the bus, she is delighted to find that she can use a ramp to wheel herself onto the bus and join in the fun with the other children. There is a stair lift to get her to the top deck where she can play in the ball pond, and use the slide. She says that she has never felt so included! An absolutely delightful story of inclusion, with beautifully drawn pictures, and a cheeky little pigeon, that will delight and entertain young readers.