Series 1 - Book 1 - The Day Atlas Found His Purpose

Every afternoon, five-year-old Atlas and his dog Dash visit their neighbour, Mr Theo.

Mr Theo grows tomatoes as big as cricket balls and tells the very best stories, especially the one about climbing the fig tree behind his house in Greece, eating sweet figs and watching the whole world go by.

Then, one stormy night, Mr Theo goes missing.

Soon the whole of Kookaburra Bay is out in the rain: Detective Ruth and the police, the surf lifesavers, the lady from the bakery, the man from the hardware shop, and Atlas’s dad driving volunteers on his big bus. Atlas feels small and worried. But while everyone searches, Atlas does something important. He watches. He listens. And he remembers a clue only a good listener would notice.

The Day Atlas Found His Purpose is a warm, gentle story about community, kindness and courage, and the night a little boy discovered he wanted to help people.

Inside this book, children will:

• Meet the real-life helpers in their community and learn what they do
• Discover that small details people share can be important clues
• Name big feelings like worried, scared, relieved and proud
• Learn that when someone is lost or in trouble, we tell a trusted grown-up
• Finish with their own “My Helping Notebook” page to draw and write in

Mr Theo’s memory troubles are handled with warmth and dignity, making this a lovely way to start conversations about older family members and neighbours.

Written by a former police investigator with 20 years of experience, the Atlas the Detective series shares the real skills of good detective work in a way that’s safe, kind and fun.

Perfect for: ages 4–7, read-aloud story time, early readers, and classroom discussions about community helpers.

Because every person matters.