You're So Amazing! - (What Happened to You?) by James Catchpole & Lucy Catchpole (Hardcover)

About the Book

"One-legged Joe is 'amazing'. He knows this because wherever he goes people always tell him he's amazing. Amazing for sliding down the slide, for kicking a ball, even walking to get an ice cream, or even just eating an ice cream. Of course, being Amazing Joe is better than being Poor Joe. But Joe doesn't want to be Amazing Joe or Poor Joe. He's happiest when he's just Joe."Publisher's description.

Book Synopsis

A Schneider Family Book Award Honor book! ​In this authentic and humorous picture book, a child with a limb difference is tired of being told how amazing he is for doing normal things.

Joe and his friend Simone are practicing their best playground tricks, but everyone keeps saying how amazing Joe is, even when he tries to let Simone be the star. Will he ever get to be just Joe, whether he's amazing or not?

This companion to What Happened to You? addresses the assumptions people make about those with disabilities in an accessible, honest, and funny way. Based on James Catchpole's childhood experiences and written with his wife, Lucy, a wheelchair user, You're SO Amazing! encourages young readers to think of disability the way disabled people do: as normal.

Review Quotes

A Schneider Family Book Award Honor Book
A Virginia Readers' Choice Selection
A Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC) Choices List Selection

Praise for What Happened to You?
A Schneider Family Book Award Honor Book
A Kirkus Best Picture Book of the Year
A Junior Library Guild Selection
A Bank Street College Best Children's Book of the Year
A 2024 Nevada Young Readers' Award Nominee
A 2024-2025 Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award Nominee

* "This book, with its Bob Graham-style cheerful cartoons and utterly common-sense approach, should be in every library. It pulls no punches and lets everyone play on a level field.... Absolutely amazing."--School Library Journal, starred review

"As a person with a limb difference, 'What happened to you?' is a question I get asked just about every day. With playful illustrations, silly scenarios, and important life lessons, this book teaches us all what's actually important when we make a new friend: seeing them for who they are on the inside. Every child should have this book on their shelf."--Josh Sundquist, author of We Should Hang Out Sometime

"Basing the story on his own experiences, the author addresses both sides of the query with humor and empathy.... While humorous gouache and colored-pencil illustrations of imagined scenarios keep the tone light, the message comes through clearly."--Booklist

About the Author

James Catchpole runs the Catchpole Agency with his wife, Lucy, and is the author of What Happened to You? Lucy Catchpole writes about disability, family, and children's books and has written for the BBC and the Guardian, in addition to running the Catchpole Agency with James. The Catchpoles live in the United Kingdom with their two young daughters and invite you to visit them online at thecatchpoles.net or whathappenedtoyou.co.uk, and on Instagram @thecatchpoles.

Karen George received a first-class honors degree in fine art as well as an MA from the Royal College of Art. She won Waterstones' "Picture This" competition to illustrate Freddie and the Fairy and now spends her time drawing, painting, and writing. Karen lives in Bristol with her family and Dr. Calamari the cat. She invites you to visit her online at karengeorge.me and on Instagram @karengeorge_books.