Normally Zarah and her brother are collected from school by their dad, who rushes them home taking every shortcut. But today, Uncle Jerome is collecting them, and he takes them on 'The long way home'. Reluctant to go further than necessary, the children complain at first, but are soon caught up in amazing adventures, as their uncle gets them to use their five senses to conjure up a world of fun and imagination. Birds become pterodactyls, ripples in the water become crocodiles - they soon realise that the best adventures only happen on the long way home!