Dannika Patterson (text), Ross Morgan (illustrator), Zoom, Ford Street Publishing, Sep 2024, 32 pp., RRP $27.99 (hbk), ISBN 9781922696434
Tom has a few things go wrong at school today. He is able to list the disappointments to his mum. Each one is a big deal to him and leaves him feeling as though the whole day was ruined and that he “sucks” and is no good.
As the overwhelm sets in and a storm materialises– perfectly capturing exactly how Tom feels inside–he finds comfort in an old camera. Zooming in, Tom sees how the storm affects even the smallest bird outside. With mum’s help, Tom reflects on each of his challenges that day through the lens of the camera. Zoomed in, everything seemed like a catastrophe. However, when zooming out… What was a disappointing second-last place in a race, Tom now sees that he was last because he stopped to help a friend. The spilled paint on his page ended up becoming a new canvas for a wonderful painting.
The story of Tom and the way he deals with a challenging day, is told mostly through imagery. The pictures showing the build-up of Tom’s disappointment, the brewing storm outside, and the gentle interaction between Tom and his mum as she quietly guides him through an almost meditative resolution to his day. The sentences are short, sparing, thoughtful – masterfully considered to encourage the feeling of calm which Tom’s mum instils in him, as they work through his setbacks together. The juxtaposition of the stormy weather and the tempest within Tom is beautifully presented with the succinct language used and the palette and detail of the illustrations.
The author, Dannika Patterson, has a background in writing and psychology, which is reflected in her mindful and perceptive approach to addressing the familiar emotional response to experiencing a “bad day”. Ross Morgan’s illustrations are comforting and perfectly accompany the story as it traverses the darkness and light exemplified in Tom’s response to the difficulties he perceived in his day. The pictures and the text complement each other and make for a calming, insightful read.
A delightfully accessible book, aimed for ages 5-9, Zoom provides a gentle approach to addressing feeling overwhelmed by the small stuff, and explores a compassionate way to bring bad days into perspective. An apt read for those who need a bit of extra guidance to make sense of setbacks and frustrations in our days.
Reviewed by Lauren Harcombe
