Read the book 'Go Deano!'
Deano the Dementiasaurus is now the subject of a new children's book, 'Go Deano!' written by Deano's mum herself, Helen Samuel.
About the Author
Helen Samuel is a retired primary school teacher from Barrow-in-Furness. Her first book, ‘Go Deano!’, is influenced by Helen’s 40 years of teaching in various schools in Cumbria and Lancashire, driven by a passion to cultivate children’s love of reading. Helen is also a mum, and was first inspired to write about Deano after her son started running marathon races dressed as a Dementiasaurus. After retirement, Helen spent several years caring for her cousin, Angela, throughout her fight with Alzheimer’s disease. By a cruel twist of fate, Helen was herself diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2025. Despite this setback, Helen continued to write - benefitting from the creative and mental stimulation - and was able to channel her own experiences of dementia into ‘Go Deano!’. What emerged from these inspirations is a book that aims to inform young people’s understanding of dementia. After seeing first-hand how confusing and upsetting dementia can feel for family members, Helen uses the character of Deano the Dementiasaurus - a friendly but forgetful dinosaur classroom assistant - to encourage empathy, patience, and understanding. Helen hopes that Deano’s adventures will help children, families, and schools to talk more openly about dementia, and remind readers that people living with dementia still have warmth, personality, humour, and stories to share.
Sneak Preview of 'Go Deano!'
Here is the first chapter of ‘Go Deano!’ for you to read for free. The book of ‘Go Deano!’ is due to be published later in 2026. If you enjoy what you read, please email evans.sam1984@gmail.com to order your advanced copy.
CHAPTER 1
WHO THE HECK IS DEANO?
“Who the heck is Deano?”
It was summer term at Saint Winifred’s school in Wales. SATs were over, so fun and freedom for Year Six. Miss Roberts had raided the local supermarket and arrived at school with a car full of cardboard boxes. Zainab’s group had chosen, or rather Luke had chosen, to construct dinosaurs.
“Did you realise the first dinosaurs appeared on Earth about 245 million years ago? They lived on Earth for around 179 million years. Wonder if humans will last that long.”
“Too much information Luke. How do you know if there’s a dinosaur under your bed?”
The children stopped gluing and cutting and looked blankly at Ewan. Zainab smiled.
“Go on Ewan. How DO you know if there’s a dinosaur under your bed?”
“Because your nose hits the ceiling.” Ewan fell about laughing at his joke.
“Ewan, I thought you were making triceratops. Only it’s not quite right.”
Ewan groaned. “Push off Luke.”
“But triceratops has a kind of frill round the back of its neck. OK guys. One more geeky
fact” (Loud groans.) “Fossil hunters have discovered the remains of a two-hundred-and
one-million-year-old dinosaur skeleton near Penarth, just down the road.”
“Wow!”
“You’re kidding.”
“Ooooh that’s a coincidence,” murmured Luke. “I still wonder where Deano is.”
“I hope he’s OK wherever he is,” said Zainab anxiously. “I loved it when Deano was here.”
“Who the heck is Deano?”
“Well, a dinosaur of course,” explained Zainab. “Oh, sorry Ewan. I forgot. It all happened
before you came to Saint Win’s. You’d have loved Deano. He was always telling dinosaur
jokes. He ran everywhere, just like you.”
“He loved jelly babies,” laughed Luke. “He had a belly like a balloon. I’m so glad you
remember him, Zainab. I started to think I’d imagined everything.”
“Are you all mad?” Ewan understandably didn’t believe a word. “Are you telling me ……
what? A dinosaur travelled through time and ended up at this school?”
“I don’t know how he got here,” answered Zainab. “He was our friend, right from
reception. Then all of a sudden, he wasn’t.”
The children returned to the sticky job of turning cardboard boxes into dinosaurs.
“Whose idea was this?”
But their thoughts returned to Year Three, back to a time when Saint Winifred’s was home to a rather unusual dinosaur…