Just So Stories

Walker Books Australia

October 2023

ISBN13:9781760654382

Australia RRP:$15.99

New Zealand RRP:$17.99

This is my first encounter with Friendly Bee and Friends, but hopefully not the last. As many or most know, I’m not a huge fan of graphics – they just don’t do it for me. But this is exactly the kind of absurdist humour that I love.

Friendly Bee is so very annoyingly Pollyanna, and Angry Wasp is just so anarchic and anti-social, that readers will not be able to help laughing at their antics. The whole ‘dress up’ concept for Enormous Hairy Spider’s party is utterly hilarious, as is the chance encounter with Pessimistic Earthworm.

So there’s a whole lot of trying to persuade Angry Wasp into a dress, then there’s a whole lot of trying to cheer up Pessimistic Earthworm, and then there’s a whole lot of hysteria upon finding Enormous Hairy Spider’s discarded moult, plus a spectacular rescue of Clever Cricket and Fabulous Butterfly.

I suspect Friendly Bee is the only bug who is happy about all these events but somehow or other, the rest of this diverse band of bugs get dragged along for the ride.

Sean E. Avery has got a great talent for zoning in on the eccentricities of characters that make kids laugh out loud and this style of ‘duo’ chrome illustrating is very effective – particularly from a Bee PoV. The entire premise and delivery makes me think of an episode of The Young Ones :-).

It’s a hugely funny and entertaining and, if you like, you could certainly discuss friends with different personalities, and getting along with others – or not! Highly recommended for readers from about Year 3 upwards.