Just So Stories

This past week’s posts already had some ‘love’ but here are two more, just because it makes sense that they should be wrapped up together in one sweet parcel, so to speak.

Feelings are Wild – Sophy Williams. Illustrated by Gavin Scott

Allen & Unwin

July 2023

ISBN:9781761180262

Publisher:A&U Children’s

Imprint:Albert Street Books

RRP: $19.99

First thing to be said, is that this is just almost impossibly adorable! It is both a counting book, and a book with which to explore emotions with even the littlest of your Smalls.

Grumpy or nervous, frustrated or ashamed, these sweet little critters will help your readers to articulate and name the way they feel, and will give plenty of scope to make connections and share instances when they have experienced these. Most delightfully, as the counting up describes the feeling, when ten is reached, there is a count down and a solution to the original emotion.

Seven mice feel shy. They won’t come out to dinner..…

Seven mice feel brave and bold and eat up every crumb.

With the significant words – number and emotions – in different font and coloured, it makes for an easy flowing teaching experience, as well as being such a cute rhyming narrative. I would highly recommend this for your audience from Kindy up to around Year 3.

You Two, You Two – Brooke Hill. Illustrated by Elin Matilda

Hachette

March 2023

9780734421951 | RRP $24.99

This is another really cute one for little people. Unlike the plethora of books that help a small person to prepare for the arrival of a new sibling, this book celebrates the joy of two siblings growing up and sharing their lives together.

I love that these little characters are portrayed as gender neutral, and alike but also different, so any/all children might identify with them. Anderson’s illustrations are almost pop art in style, and so vibrant and joyous that one can’t help but feel the exuberance leaping off each page. The text is just as happy-making with so much vivid description, rhyming, action verbs and onmatopoeia.

I envisage a read-aloud of this one could very well lead to a lot of pleasant rumbunctious play and activity. Have fun with it – and enjoy sharing sibling stories with your Smalls. Recommended for kiddos from EC upwards.