DERBY LINE — A Derby Line author is preparing to release her first children’s book, a picture book about a young knight who learns that needing support doesn’t make him weak.
Stephanie Thomas’s debut, “Leo and the Dragon of Sound,” will be available July 1.
Written for children ages 5 to 10, the story follows a young knight who experiences the world more loudly than others and explores themes of sound sensitivity, sensory overwhelm, empathy and neurodiversity.
The project is a personal one for Thomas, who is autistic and the parent of an autistic child. She said she wanted to create a story that helps children feel seen, understood and celebrated.
“I wanted to create a story that helps children feel seen, understood, and celebrated,” Thomas said.
Thomas, who works as a training consultant, moved to Derby Line about two years ago. She is originally from Wisconsin and previously lived in Quebec.
She will hold a children’s book reading at the Dailey Memorial Library in Derby on Aug. 13.
