Peter Hodge lost his leg to bone cancer at 22. As a child, he rarely saw anyone like himself in a book. Now the Manchester author and former primary school teacher has written one, and the hero is a robotic prosthetic leg.
The Adventures of Bobby and Robot Meg is published on Friday 6th November 2026. It’s a picture book for children aged three to seven, inspired by the bedtime stories Peter reads with his daughter Hazel.
Peter Hodge said: “I wanted to write about what I know and draw on my experience as an amputee, bringing characters to life that show children it’s okay to be different and the importance of promoting kindness, resilience and working together.”
The Adventures of Bobby and Robot Meg: A jungle adventure with a limb difference at its centre
Bobby is a young monkey with a limb difference, loosely based on Peter himself. Robot Meg is his robotic prosthetic leg and closest companion. When Bobby swoops too low over a rushing river, Meg comes loose and disappears beneath the water. His friend Maya the elephant tries to find a replacement, but a traffic cone is too wobbly, a trumpet too noisy, and a witch’s hat too floppy.
Those substitutes came from an old friend’s joke about using everyday objects in place of Peter’s prosthesis. Then Kali Croc appears, and her sharp teeth frighten them at first, until they realise she has rescued Meg from the waterfall and is bringing her safely back. Reunited at last, Bobby and Meg still have to race home before her batteries run out.
“Like me, Bobby is an amputee, but that’s just one small part of who he is,” Peter said. “He’s an adventurer and likes having a laugh with his mates.”
“I wanted the book to be exciting for readers, but it was also really important to make it funny. The replacement legs are bordering on the outrageous, and I hope children and the adults reading with them enjoy them just as much.”
Dan Crew, a West Midlands-based animator and illustrator, drew the book. He cites Quentin Blake’s work for Roald Dahl and Hergé’s Tintin among his influences.
Into the classroom
Peter spent more than ten years as a primary school teacher and says pupils were endlessly curious about his prosthetic leg. He is taking the book into primary schools through storytelling assemblies, where he reads it and answers pupils’ questions. Each school gets two video trailers beforehand.
Teaching resources for Early Years Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1 include comprehension and maths activities, word searches, curriculum maps and lesson plans. Schools can find details on the book’s website or by emailing Peter at petemackenziehodge@gmail.com.
The book was developed with support from Manchester Metropolitan University’s Publishing MA programme. Since 2022, students have helped with editing, design, layout and market research.
The Adventures of Bobby and Robot Meg launch event in Stretford
Peter will celebrate the release with a drop-in launch at Victoria Park Community Building, Stretford (M32 0AD), on Saturday 21 November from 1pm to 4pm. Expect hourly storytelling sessions, children’s activities, prizes and a book signing.
The book costs £8.99 and is available from the official book website. It follows Peter’s 2024 memoir, Delirium Diaries.
