Just So Stories

Allen & Unwin

June 2021

ISBN:9781760525958

Awards:

• Shortlisted, Five to Eight Years, Speech Pathology Book of the Year Awards, 2021, AU
• Shortlisted, Eve Pownall Award, CBCA Awards, 2022, AU
• Shortlisted, CBCA Award for New Illustrator, CBCA Awards, 2022, AU
• Shortlisted, Wilderness Society Karajia and Environment Award for Children’s Literature, 2022, AU
• Highly Commended, Best Primary Educational Picture Book, Educational Publishing Awards Australia, 2022, AU

Publisher:A&U Children’s

Imprint:A & U Children

RRP: $29.99

There would be few of us in school library land who have not used Walking with the Seasons in Kakadu as part of our teaching program with lower grades, as they learn about weather and seasonal calendars. Now we can continue that learning with this absolutely stunning new offering again from Diane Lucas, this time in collaboration with Ben Tyler and Emma Long.

Diane lived in Kakadu from her early twenties when she taught on an Aboriginal outstation. There the elders shared much knowledge with her and actively encouraged her to write about the land, in order to share information with children. She continues to maintain close contact with family and country. Her collaborator in this new project, Ben Tyler, grew up in Kakadu,was taught by Diane and he is now studying at Charles Darwin University. He regularly returns home on his breaks to visit his family all of whom have a love of gardening, particularly the vast variety of tropical fruits and vegetables which flourish in that climate.

Together they have created a literary walking tour of what must be one of the most fascinating locations in Australia, if not the world. Their informative text is delivered in a narrative non-fiction text punctuated by names of animals and plants in language (with translations) and accompanied by the exquisitely detailed illustrations from Darwin artist, Emma Long. Long after you have read the words, there will be much poring over these amazing artworks discovering tiny hidden features.

This is not only a cross-cultural collaboration but a cross-discipline one, blending First Australian knowledge and history with Western science.

It was a dream of The Kid’s mother to take her to Kakadu one day, and while kind friends donated some dollars to try and help achieve that dream, sadly that trip was well out of my budget – instead I did take her to Uluru and spent five days exploring that area as a sort of consolation, and it was stunning indeed. But trust me, if ever a goodly parcel of $$ comes our way, the Kakadu trip is still one we would both to love to make – and books like this make that even more desirable.

Whether you are studying weather/seasonal calendars, Australian natural features, biomes or other geographical aspects or just to help your kiddos understand more of First Nations knowledge, this is an absolute must. And the most glorious endpapers!!! I love love love this book! As well as the teaching notes available, you may also find another resource I came across useful.

Highly recommended for readers of any primary level.