Tom’s had a rough day at school. He couldn’t seem to do anything right. Dropped his lunchbox, spilled paint and even came second last in a race.
He’s come home, dropped his bag and ‘stomped’ off to his room. He looks out through the window at the stormy clouds. He picks up Grandpa’s old camera and looks through the lens out the window where thunder rolls and lightning flashes across the sky. He zooms in on the trees swaying and a bird looking for safe haven from the wind.
Although a sign on Tom’s door says ‘KEEP OUT!’ he eventually lets in his mum who’s carrying a plate with her best choc-chip biscuits and the dog in tow. Tom’s dam of tears bursts as he tells his mum about his awful day. She picks up the camera and looks at Tom through the lens. What can she see? When you picture your day in your mind you are zoomed in on ‘the tricky bits’. But remember Grandpa said? When taking photographs you control the zoom, you choose the view. ‘Changing the view changes everything’.
This very thoughtful book reminds us that things are not as bad as they seem. We can easily focus on the bad. But, if we zoom out, we can see many more good things.
This story is softly written with beautiful illustrations, full of emotion. Simultaneously it’s powerful in what it achieves. As you close the book it’s a satisfying feeling. Everything is okay.
A valuable book to have on hand when you need help to see the bigger picture.
Reviewed by Emily Ross
Age Guide 5+
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