Just So Stories

Harper Collins

July 2023

• ISBN: 9781922033154
• ISBN 10: 1922033154
• Imprint: Working Title Press AURRP: $24.99

This is essentially a simple story but there is a depth to it that many will find both heart-warming and thought-provoking. Written from the PoV of the shack (being a great introduction to the idea of personification), this humble little dwelling goes through changes wrought by time and circumstances, and through it all, reminds the reader to be resilient and to never despair.

At first the home of a fisherman, the shack is kept warm and sound, and provides a comfortable if not elegant, refuge for the man. Their aspect of the expanse of blue and green provides an aura of tranquillity and peace. Then a terrible storm comes, all is black, and there is much damage done – to the shack, and, we must presume, to the fisherman who does not return.

As time and season passes, the shack becomes more and more dilapidated and despondent. Then one day, a new boat arrives with a fisherwoman who can see the shack’s good bones and works hard not just to restore it, but to make it even better than before. When she brings her children to the little home, the shack’s happiness is complete.

There are several themes running through this charming narrative. Certainly, the ideas of hope, nature and the cycle of life are paramount. But I also love that this presents an ideal opportunity to talk about restore/repair/renew strategies. As I mentioned in the past week, during the height of the Covid times, so many people returned to a slow living mode, and there was, and still is, a renewed interest in craftsmanship and repairing rather than abandoning. Why not a little shack? and certainly, in this terrible time of widespread homelessness, perhaps we should give some thought to resurrecting abandoned houses.

There seems to be plenty of noise from governments, and some really costly and ineffective measures being proposed, yet everywhere I look, I see empty, neglected houses which could very likely be bought up by said governments, and people gainfully employed to repair them to provide social housing options. Granted, a little beach shack isolated from the hustle and bustle of city or suburbia, might not be ideal for but it certainly gives me ideas.

You will see from the teaching notes that there are several ideas around the personification concept and the connotations of ‘home’ but I could easily see this developing into a STEAM project, even for young ones, as they design or ‘fix’ a dwelling that would suit them or their family. There is also such beautiful artwork in this (kudos to Jennifer Falkner!), that activities that utilise the palette and panoramas as models would also be a welcome addition to a teaching program.

One last comment from me, has to be that I wish you could see the cover for yourself because the glints of gloss to indicate the highlights on the water (and windows and roof) are just a lovely touch that makes this cover art pop. All in all, a successful debut for this author and recommended for Smalls from around 4 years upwards.