Just So Stories

I have to say that the most outstanding result of reviewing, and the past decade of this blog, is my now wide circle of creator friends, which increases almost daily. I can count among my network the cream of Australian children’s lit creatives, and they are such warm, generous and kind people to have on one’s team, I can tell you. Recently, I was mentioning that The Kid, now 18, needs to get on the electoral roll, and someone (!!) will need to explain how voting and government works. Given her learning disability, and the parameters of her educational experience, this has never been a topic covered in her school experience/s – although it was firmly on the agenda for this year, had I continued to home school her. But upon reading this comment, the beautiful Krys Saclier sent me both her fantastic books, Vote For Me and Camp Canberra to help with this important teaching moment, which was so very kind, and also wonderful as I’d not had the opportunity to review either. So here we go:

Vote for Me

• Publisher: Wild Dog (August 1, 2020)
• Length: 32 pages
• ISBN13: 9781742035956
• RRP: $24.99

At Mount Mayhem School, the students are completely fed up. They have a horrible uniform, their tuckshop sells healthy food only and there is absolutely no sports equipment. It’s not just the kids who have had enough, the teachers also want things to change. They know that the best way to achieve their goals is to have worthy representatives to plead their case, so an election is called to choose the best fit candidate from Year 6.

Who better to explain our voting system than someone who is both a teacher and an electoral educator? Krys takes her readers through the process of preferential voting in a really accessible way, which will leave kids understanding far more than a great number of adults.

There is humour throughout, and Cathy Wilcox’ lively cartoon illustrations add real personality to the various characters (and realistically, I think any one of them could do a better job than many of our actual politicians!).

I know that many educators will have already picked up on this one for that all important, but often dreary, Democracy topic in Year 6, so make sure you grab hold of it. And, in all fairness, I think any reading of it should be followed up by a tasty Democracy sausage! (I’ll have mine with onions thanks!)

Camp Canberra

• Publisher: Wild Dog (March 30, 2022)
• Length: 40 pages
• ISBN13: 9781742036120
• RRP:: $24.99

Twelve years ago I was living and working in Canberra, and loving it – except for the frosty weather! And I still miss it and am determined to take The Kid there for a visit as she’s never been (and what better way to help her in her education around government?), especially when I have so many dear friends there still. Reading about the Mount Mayhem kids’ trip to Canberra made me even more homesick.

I love everything about this book. The clever design which imitates exactly the kind of excursion report/diary that kids might produce is a knock-out with Cathy’s photo/cartoon collages, and the anecdotes about each highlight of the trip were both fun and salient. Each spread focuses on one of the must-see itinerary stops for upper primary kids on their trips, and purportedly composed by one of the groups into which the students are divided for the duration.

And to top it all of, sensational endpapers (yes, of course, I had to mention them). Another great book, which would certainly whet the appetites even more for those kids lucky enough to do the big trip to our nation’s capital.

Thank you so much for your generosity and kindness Krys – here’s hoping The Kid is on her way to being a responsible and thoughtful citizen.