Just So Stories

Harper Collins Australia

October 2023

Everyone’s favourite tennis superstar, Ash Barty, is back with two new titles in her hugely popular series for newly independent readers. With engaging themes of sport, school, friends and family, these little chapter books have been such a big hit with the kiddos I know, both as read-aloud and read-to-self. These most recent certainly hit the spot with central topics that will greatly appeal.

Sports Carnival

• ISBN: 9781460764633
• ISBN 10: 1460764633
• Imprint: HarperCollins
• RRP: $9.99

It’s Little Ash’s first athletics carnival and she really wishes it was about playing tennis, because she’s good at that, and knows she can win. This whole sports carnival is a complete unknown, and her confidence is very low indeed.

She’s not off to a good start when she’s the only kid in the group not to make it over the high jump. She feels very embarassed, even less sure of herself. She has a crack at discus, and the long jump but doesn’t place in either of those.

Next up is shot put, and everyone is a bit baffled by the heavy shot, but this is Ash’s time to shine as her strong arm muscles, built up by all her tennis, come into play, and she finally wins a blue ribbon! Even more exciting is Ash’s team, the Red Koalas, winning the whole points tally and a pizza party. Ash doesn’t forget her friends though. She promises them all to share the pizza with them.

Again, this a very relatable narrative for small people, particularly those who are not terribly sporty or confident. I know the whole ‘everyone gets a ribbon’ thing is meant to encourage children (although I privately think it’s more about placating parents) but the fact is that sports are competitive by nature.

Winning and losing should both be learning experiences for Smalls. We need only look at our professional sportspeople to know that some have never learned to be gracious in both victory and defeat. I know we all respect Ash Barty for the grace and sportsmanship she always demonstrated throughout her playing career, no matter how disappointed she was with her performance.

Puppy Playtime

• ISBN: 9781460764640
• ISBN 10: 1460764641
• Imprint: HarperCollins AU
• RRP: $9.99

How excited are Ash and her sisters when their new puppy comes home. Everyone loves cheeky little Speedy (who looks remarkably like Ash’s own doggo!) but Ash is especially smitten and happily spends much time playing with him.

Her first idea is to teach Speedy to talk, but dogs aren’t much good at English. They are, however, excellent at barking, and Ash and Speedy are soon loudly barking at each other. Until, that is, sister Sara rouses that she’s trying to do her homework. Oops!

Never mind, Ash knows that dogs love to dig for bones, so she sets about teaching Speedy to dig holes, and they both get very muddy in the process. They don’t find a bone but they do find a gold coin! Off they both go to show sister Ali, who is not at all impressed to have mud tracked all through her bedroom. Oops!

Next Ash tries hitting balls with her racquet for Speedy to catch, and he quickly becomes a super-catcher. One final fast ball with Ash’s big serve, and SMASH goes the lounge room window. Oops!

Ash is very worried she’s going to be in big trouble, but she won’t lie or try to hide her mistake. She anxiously tells Mum and Dad, who are proud of her being responsible, even when she’s made a big mistake. Luckily, Dad has bought a whole bag of doggo toys and now everyone can play with Speedy – responsibly and carefully. Another great story that kids will connect to,and hopefully, also absorb a valuable lesson.

These are terrific little books for kiddos from around 5 upwards, your newly independent readers who will enjoy the scenarios which will also help to instil some worthwhile values. The illustrations are a big plus and also hugely engaging, especially the expressive faces.

Highly recommended for Preps to Year 2. Coming up soon on the blog will be my review of the Young Readers’ edition of Ash’s biography – so stay tuned for that. In the meantime, congratulations Ash and Garry on the arrival of little Hayden.