Just So Stories

Windy Hollow Books

September 2023

ISBN: 97819211364366436

RRP: $27.99

Any of us with children or working with children, very often find ourselves chuckling over malapropisms (though this figure of speech is not confined to kiddos!). Just the other day, I was reminded of one time when The Kid was small, and still having great difficulties with her speech and language. It was when I was waiting on the imminent arrival of my toy poodle puppy, about which she was very excited – and she told the lady serving us that “Gran is getting a doodle!!!”. Needless, to say there were peals of laughter over that one.

In just such a way, this small boy who lives with drought and dust, is often mistaken in what he hears being discussed. The ants trekking through the rain ‘spell rain’ according to his mum, which he thinks is very clever of them. He puts his cactus plant on the Verandah Yawning and the roof of their house is rusty red, the Corrigator Dine (take a close look at Simon’s clever illustration).

It is lots of good fun with word play which, in my experience, even the youngest of children enjoy immensely but also explores the idea that for many rural kids in Australia, rain is a rarity. Both Zewlan and Simon grew up in the country, and were well used to the constant conversations about the weather – which, of course, is so very important to those on the land. Each in their own way, has translated this aspect of their childhood into a narrative that is both amusing and insightful.

As we head into our summer and many areas are already beset by fires and floods, even us city-dwellers keep track of the temptations and participation. Sorry, I do mean temperatures and precipitation.

This is both quintessentially Australian and timely, and would make for a terrific shared reading as we approach the long, hot summer break and, for Queensland at least, storm season.

Hugely recommended for Smalls from around Prep upwards.