Susan Hayes (text) and Sam Rennocks (illustrator), Zoom: Ocean Adventure, Walker Books, April 2021, 36 pp., RRP $25.99 (board), ISBN 9781999967994
Susan Hayes (text) and Susanna Rumiz (illustrator), Zoom: Space Adventure, Walker Books, October 2020, 36 pp., RRP $26.95 (board), ISBN 9781999967987
These introductory adventure books for the very young plunge the child into fascinating worlds. In Space Adventure Ava and her cat visit an International Space Station to bring urgent supplies, fix a broken solar panel, land on the moon, visit the eight planets and witness a supernova all before super.
When Noah goes on his Ocean Adventure, he takes his wetsuit, fins, and snorkel. He swims through a coral reef and meets an octopus, a mantra ray, and many brightly coloured fish. He plays with dolphins and escapes from a hungry great white shark. After travelling the depths of the ocean floor in his submarine, Noah then visits the Antarctic before getting a ride home on a humpback whale.
Designed with die cut pages and pop-up centre these small interactive books feel nice to hold and explore. With gentle colourful illustrations that extend the text these books allow parent and child to share explorations into the natural world and beyond.
Great for the home library.
Highly recommended 1 – 4 years.
Reviewed by Mem Capp
