Leonie Agnew’s latest work of fiction was inspired by an imaginative young relative who enjoyed roaring like a dinosaur.

The picture book, entitled The Only Dinosaur in School, is illustrated by Julia Hegetusch and published by Scholastic.

Agnew recently publicly launched it at an event at Howick Library.

She’s won numerous accolades for her previous children’s books, including her manuscript for The Impossible Story of Hannah Kemp, which won the 2022 Storylines Tessa Duder Award and saw her awarded a contract with Walker Books.

Her 2024 book Take Me to Your Leader was named a finalist in the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults in the Esther Glen Junior Fiction Award category.

Agnew says her latest work was inspired by her young nephew Theo.

“He was about three years old at the time and, like many kids his age, he was a huge fan of dinosaurs.

“My husband and I were babysitting him and Theo kept pretending he was a dinosaur.

“Whenever we asked a question, Theo would roar instead of speaking.

“That gave me the idea – what if a boy really was a dinosaur and no one believed him?

“How would he manage certain things, like attending school or make friends?

“Theo in the story wears a human costume in order to fit in and, of course, lots of things go wrong!”

Agnew says she normally writes chapter books for children, and she enjoyed writing something shorter with pictures.

“The illustrator, Julia Hegetusch, has done a fantastic job.

“I believe it’s only her second picture book and she’s brought a wonderful, fairytale-like quality to the school and Theo’s house.

“My story was picked up in Valentine’s Day submissions with Scholastic.

“Once a year on February 14 they open for submissions and mine was the only manuscript they picked in 2024.

“I feel very lucky and excited, especially as I don’t usually write picture books.

“The shorter story format is more challenging for me. Every single word counts and I spend a lot of time rewriting.”

Agnew says the editing of the book was “a little tough” as she was battling a medical issue at the time, “but the publishers were very understanding and most of the work was already done”.

As part of the book’s launch a colouring competition is available at Howick Library and Poppies Bookshop in Picton Street, Howick.