Swindon boy's face on front cover of new children's book

Nedelin Hodulova won the chance to have his face featured on the front cover and throughout the children’s book We Can! after entering a competition to feature in the book as a character.

He is one of 15 children to have had a character based on themselves in We Can!

Illustrated by local artist and award-winning writer, Steve Antony, it was published on October 3.

We Can! has been made with contributions from children (Image: Otter-Barry Books) We Can! is an "inspirational" book, full of hope for a better world, with authentic children’s voices describing the kind of world they want.

Local children were asked how they would change their world, and their voices are featured throughout the book.

The book tells the story of 15 children as they plan and deliver a We Can! festival.

This festival is a "joyous, peaceful call to action," featuring green activities, mural-making, mindfulness, and kindness, all depicted in words and pictures by the best-selling creators of You Can!

Featuring a endnote which shows the contributions the children made to the book, it has been described by Cerrie Burnell as "a joyous ode to inclusion, realised in the most delightful, uplifting way".

Nedelin Hodulova (Image: Otter-Barry Books) Mr Antony, the book's illustrator, is an award-winning writer and illustrator of picture books who lives in Swindon.

Having sold more than one million books worldwide, he is also Swindon Libraries' Patron for Children’s Reading Services, an ambassador for the National Literacy Trust, and a committee member of The Society of Authors Children’s Writers and Illustrators Group.

We Can! is written by Alex Strick, who devotes her time to writing and consulting on books that aim to include all children, and is co-author of Max the Champion, alongside Sean Stockdale and Ros Asquith, and You Can! with Mr Antony.

She is a co-founder of Outside In World, supporting children’s books in translation, and consultant to BookTrust.

As the co-founder of Inclusive Minds, she set up a network of Inclusion Ambassadors - young people with lived experience who share their knowledge with book creators.