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New children’s picture book ‘The Flying Optometrist’ inspired by authors father who flies a self-built plane to provide eye-health care to remote communities

Published in association with the Brien Holden Vision Institute and inspired by a true story, new children’s picture book The Flying Optometrist (NLA Publishing $24.99) chronicles the adventures of The Flying Optometrist as he travels across Australia providing eye-health care to those in remote communities.

In the book, he travels in a little red plane from his practice in the city to a remote outback town. Lots of people are waiting for him! Aunty can’t see well enough to carve her emu eggs and Bill the plumber has a splinter in his eye. Young Stephanie can’t wait for him to arrive as she has broken her glasses and can’t join in games of cricket and have fun with her friends—she can’t see the ball!

The townsfolk wait with bated breath until finally the Flying Optometrist’s little red plane appears, having only just missed a bad storm. A big meal waits for him in the local hotel. Then he gets to work checking people’s eyesight. The Flying Optometrist doesn’t have long, but he helps as many people as he can before returning to the city. Stephanie has to wait a little longer for an exciting package to come—her new glasses!

At the back of the book are lively non-fiction sections about the ‘real’ flying optometrist and the history of aerial services in rural Australia, including the flying doctor service. Written by Joanne Anderton (whose father inspired the book), The Flying Optometrist is a captivating and delightfully illustrated picture book that helps children understand the value of eye care, and the importance of helping those in rural communities. Now available at all good book stores and online at