ZOOM!
Sam Usher
Templar Books

It’s great to see a new series featuring Boy and Grandad, this being the first of four stories wherein the two characters demonstrate the importance of reusing and recycling materials in their adventures. As always creativity and the imagination are key even on the hottest night of the year when this first adventure takes place.

At Grandad’s suggestion the two take the telescope and go up onto the roof where it’s cooler. When Sam tries the telescope the zoom doesn’t work properly, but resourceful Grandad fixes it and Sam sees a planet. Further adjustment enables him to see a space module and a couple of astronauts, whom the lad surmises are in trouble.

Back inside go Grandad and Boy to collect supplies and tools, which they take onto the roof. There they fashion a spacecraft

and off they go, destination the planet whereon the astronauts are stranded.
Happily the two are able to fix the broken module and the astronauts invite Grandad and Boy to have a nap inside their space station. Needless to say, the interior is so exciting that neither visitor gets a wink of sleep before it’s time for them to return home.

Ready for the off Boy realises they are sans a vital bit of equipment,

but happily this time the astronauts are able to offer just what’s needed for a safe landing back on earth – just in time for breakfast …

It’s always a delight to be in the company of these characters with their wonderful child-grandparent relationship. As always too, Sam Usher’s slightly quirky ink-and-watercolour vignettes and large scenes have plenty to explore and like Boy, children will revel in the interior of the space station, while the story subtly introduces both scientific and engineering information. What better way to spend a hot, sleepless night than this.