Strong and Tough
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‘A very touching and honest story … Rico and Nick make a great team!’ – Jacqueline Wilson
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An empowering adoption story by eleven-year-old Premier League Young Writer of the Year Rico Hinson-King, illustrated by the award-winning Nick Sharratt
There is a kid. Let's call him Charlie.
On the outside he looks like every other football-mad boy of his age. But he isn't ...
A story of hope and resilience, this gentle, inspiring picture book tells the tale of Charlie, a little boy who was taken into care when he was very small. Charlie dreams of finding his forever home to share with his sisters. Sometimes he feels scared. Sometimes he wants to scream and cry (and he does, just a little). But he is strong. He is tough.
Strong and Tough is by the amazingly talented ten-year-old Rico Hinson-King. Rico, like Charlie, found strength and resilience along the journey to find his forever family (and played lots of football along the way!). Rico is a Junior Premier League footballer with a knack for words too, who wrote his story so that other children going through similar circumstances can feel less alone, and to encourage empathy in others.
His moving and powerful words are paired with warm, friendly illustrations by the award-winning Nick Sharratt, who famously illustrated many of Jacqueline Wilson's books including the Tracy Beaker series.
Rico Hinson-King is just 13 years old. As a baby, he was taken into care. He spent years in the care system before finding his 'forever family’. Rico now lives happily with his two dads, sisters and their dog in Cheshire. He is an avid footballer and has played for Liverpool FC, Manchester United and Manchester City.
Author and illustrator Nick Sharratt has created illustrations for over 300 books. As well as producing around sixty of his own titles he’s worked with numerous writers including Julia Donaldson, Michael Rosen and Jacqueline Wilson, for whom he’s illustrated more than fifty novels. His books include Ketchup on Your Cornflakes?, Shark in the Park, and the million-selling You Choose. He has won many national and regional book prizes including the Children’s Book Award and has been the official illustrator for World Book Day.