One of the greatest gifts a child can receive is discovering the deep joy that comes from reading. Stuck! by Robert Vescio, illustrated by Brendan Barnaville and published by IP (Interactive Publications Pty Ltd), is a wonderful catalyst for sparking that joy and igniting a lifelong love of stories in young readers. It is a rollicking, immersive and delightfully interactive adventure that invites children not just to follow the story, but to help drive it forward.
Readers are invited to join an intrepid sloth on a train journey to the snow. This is an expedition that quickly becomes anything but ordinary. When unexpected obstacles appear, the sloth turns to the reader for help. As part of the sloth’s team, children take on an active role in overcoming challenges that threaten to derail the adventure. The sloth needs the readers to help ensure the destination is reached and the sloth does not get stuck. This sense of collaboration creates a rewarding, memorable and fun‑filled reading experience.
Playful prompts encourage readers to physically engage with the story, tilting the pages to help the train move, gently shaking the book to make it snow and responding to other imaginative prompts. This active engagement nurtures cause and effect thinking while blending movement, imagination and storytelling in a way that leaves readers wanting more.
Stuck! is a tactile, joyful experience, perfect for shared reading. Grown‑ups and children alike will delight in following the prompts, predicting outcomes and testing them together. It’s a book that transforms reading into play and play into connection.