Alfred can’t see the board at school. His mum decides to take him to an optometrist (eye doctor) in town.

The optometrist looks baffled at first as Alfred and his mum are cyclops, with only one eye in the centre of their face. He can certainly help with Alfred’s diagnosis, but not the glasses he needs. Leaving the optometrist with his mum, Alfred feels like he is too different and wishes he was just like everyone else.

Again and again they try to find glasses that will fit him, but are disappointed.

But wait a minute! There might be one more place they can try? A purple place. A place with glasses for everyone, no matter their size, or how many eyes!

Penned by a NZ doctor and long time wearer of glasses herself, Eye Spyclops came from personal experiences and her time working in a hospital.

Alfred experiences many different feelings that young readers can relate to in their own lives – insecurity, fitting in, and wanting to be the same as their peers. These of course are felt by all children, glass wearers or not, and this story takes Alfred to a place that not only can solve his problem but is a magical experience in itself.

The soft pastel tones of the illustrations follow the nurturing theme of the story – and an Eye Spy activity is included in the back of the book.

Author – Libby Whittaker

Illustrator – Lily Uivel

Picture Book

(2023, Little Love, Mary Egan Publishing, Eyes, Cyclops, Sight, Optometrist, Glasses, Just right, Identity, Fitting in, Magical creatures, Fitting in)