The Big Test v4 3 July by Mantra Lingua

The Big Test!

This page will be fine tuned in Photoshop but is instructions for the Penfriend to listen to. Touch the yellow triangle to listen to this book

Touch this triangle to listen to Dave reading the text

This book can be read to you aloud by a sighted partner. Or, you can listen to the story narrated and the pictures described by the poet author, Dave Steele, with a PENfriend.

1. To identify the title of the book, tap the top left hand corner (yellow with Start Arrow) with the pen. You will then hear the name of the book title.

Listen in another language

2. Then go to any page, tap the top right hand corner and listen to the text spoken in English.

3. Tap the bottom left hand corner of any page with the pen and you will hear an audio description of the illustration.

4. If you want to change the language, tap the start arrow (top yellow corner) and then the bottom left hand green corner.

If you do not have PENfriend, then with the mobile phone app, hover around the QR code and you willl be able to access the narration of the story in one continuous go.

The Big Test!

From the series of talking books for blind and visually impaired people

Amazing Adventures”

By Dave Steele, the Blind Poet

Illustrated by Rebecca Price

In a little town not far from here, There’s a boy that you might know. His name is Austin Steele, And Zane his cane, ‘Come, say hello.’

Each day they take adventures as They travel around the world, And here within these pages Is how their story first unfurled.

When Austin was just five His sight began to disappear. But like his dad he wasn’t sad And felt no need to fear.

His tunnelled view was shrinking, Independence getting tough. Some days the outside world

Was far too hard, he’d had enough.

But with each swipe from left to right They both began to train, Returning pride for by his side

A Friend in Zane the cane.

Though people stare, he doesn’t care Just smiles and says, “Hello.”

For Austin Steele and Zane the cane There’s no place they can’t go.

In a little town called Prestwich

The sun began to rise.

As Austin yawned, a new day dawned, Though viewed through tunnelled eyes.

Today, like many others, Was a day he’d go to school. And with Zane his cane to guide him, Austin felt so cool.

But

this morning feeling nervous, For today was the big test. The teacher gave out spellings And Austin would try to do his best.

Though he could see the whiteboard, Some words were hard to read.

The other kids in Austin’s class

Wrote them down with ease and speed.

“No need to worry,” Miss Tierney said, “These tests you will not fail. Together we will learn A special language we call Braille.”

So Miss Tierney and Austin

Each day would take the time And feeling with his fingers Learnt his spellings line by line.

Once more he felt amazing, And as he journeyed out to play, He spared a thought for the lesson taught, With help, there’s always a way.

Talking points

Talking points for parents, carers and teachers.

These are open ended questions to encourage children of all ages to engage in discussion surrounding sight impairment, and the promotion of empathy (the ability to see the world from another perspective) and emotional literacy (the child’s ability to speak about their feelings using appropriate words to describe how they and others feel).

• How do you think Austin felt when he first found out he was going blind?

• Have you ever worried about something that you could not control?

• What do you think Austin‘s dad said to him to make him feel better?

• Can you think of a time when you needed someone’s help and a time when someone needed your help?

• What things would Austin find difficult as his sight became less and less?

• Can you imagine what it would be like if you found it difficult to see?

• How could you help Austin in school and at home?

• Should Austin be treated just like everyone else?

• What questions could we ask Austin to better understand what life is like for him?

• What could we say to someone who cannot see very well to show them we care?

My name is Dave Steele, known as The Blind Poet. As I lost my sight, I wrote poetry to understand my feelings. Sharing these poems worldwide, I discovered others affected by blindness found comfort and understanding in them. I hope these books help children everywhere feel understood, regardless of their differences.

Published by Touchspot Audio limited

Global House

303 Ballards Lane

London N12 8NP, United Kingdom

This sound enabled edition published in 2024 by Touchspot Audio limited

The moral rights of the author and illustrator asserted by them to be in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and patents act 1988

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, transmitted or stored in an information retrieval system in any form or by any means, graphic, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, taping and recording, without prior written permission from the publisher.

A CIP record for this book is available from the British Library

printed in UK 15072024 PBOH 234323

Meet Austin, a young boy slowly going blind, and his trusted cane, Zane. In ‘The Big Test!’ he tackles a tough spelling task and discovers Braille, boosting his confidence. This inspiring tale of resilience and friendship shows that with determination, Austin can achieve anything.

‘The Big Test’ is part of the series, “Austin’s Amazing Adventures”.

Dave Steele, The Blind Poet, crafts heartfelt poetry to connect with and advocate for those affected by blindness and low vision. His global mission is to inspire by turning challenges into victories and asserting that "Disability isn’t an excuse to do less but a reason to be more." Dave's work breaks down barriers and encourages others to transform struggles into triumphs.

This book is PENfriend enabled. PENfriend enhances accessibility for visually impaired individuals by playing Dave's narrations page by page. As a popular assistive technology, it empowers users with greater independence. (For those without a PENfriend, a QR code provides access to Dave's full narrations.) Created by Touchspot Audio Ltd, the PENfriend comes with various voice recordable accessories, including this book.

Isbn barcode