Just So Stories

Angus & Robertson

1991

A chance remark from Wendy Orr prompted me to say, I’d never seen this one, and I said I would look out for it. Being an extremely generous and kind person, Wendy posted me one of the few remaining copies she has (signed and all!) and what an absolute little treasure it is.

Martha has not been ‘ordinary’ since the day she was born. She screamed so long and so loudly, and was so red and ugly, that all the other mothers in the hospital packed up their new babies and went home, as did the nurses and doctors – and, subsequently, anyone else who came into contact with Martha.

Her parents don’t seem to notice how different their baby is, but when they invite neighbours and friends to meet her, they certainly do. The only person not invited, is Martha’s Granny, who has not been seen for quite some time. When presents start to arrive for Martha from her grandmother, all becomes clear. Martha is a witch, just like her granny. And when Granny sends Martha the first gift, a hissing, spitting cat with whom the child immediately forms a connection, the magic and mayhem begins. Martha’s doting father had no idea, when he built her a beautiful dolls house, that he and his wife would end up living in it, along with the postman, his boss, his wife’s secretary, a couple of police officers, and several door-to-door salespersons. It’s not that Martha’s first spell went wrong. It was that the potion wasn’t meant to be hijacked by her father.

Martha’s witchy learning curve needs to be swift but she does have her Granny’s guidance to help her restore the shrunk parents, and assorted others, to their rightful size. The restitution of size, however, is not without its issues as Martha’s spell-making works through her inexperience. Martha gets more and more frustrated, while her tiny people are transformed into weird and wonderful things e.g. a carrot. And when the very worst thing happens, and Martha accidentally shrinks her beloved Caliban, the cat, she really needs Granny, who answers the call with alacrity.

It is an utterly hilarious romp across a mere 59 pages, and it is going to be standard fare for many relief days, I can tell you. But it’s not just about the fun of it all. I think that it’s also a terrific segue into talking about being different, accepting differences in others, learning and making mistakes, and exercising self-control. The illustrations, many full page, are spot on as well. Carol McLean-Carr has brought Martha and crew to life with wonderful detail. I absolutely ADORE it! and can’t wait to share it with some of my ‘bad’ kiddos in the coming year.

If you can get hold of a copy (there are some 2nd hand ones around) or if you do have it in your collection, get it out and give it some serious air time. Thank you Wendy, for such a lovely and thoughtful gift.