Just So Stories

Publisher:SCHOLASTIC AUSTRALIA PTY LTD

December 2023

ISBN : 9781760269609RRP: $19.99

Oh, how I love the sky….
And moving through
The marvellous BLUE

What a sensational choice this is for this year’s NSS title!

 Aura has created a book that is a magnificent combination of her talents as writer, illustrator and designer, and one which speaks volumes on many levels. It is about love, searching and longing, our precious wildlife and our unique landscapes.

You and your readers will find so much to explore and discuss in this rich text. It is both interactive and fully engaging for readers across the entire primary level, and many will make connections with both the images and the content. 

While, as adults, we will recognise the reasons behind Bower Bird’s frenetic searching for all things blue – a primeval urge he doesn’t fully understand – and children most likely will not grasp that concept, they will certainly understand more when the denouement is revealed. And no matter if they don’t quite understand the ‘mate’ aspect, as the very human need for companionship and affection will occur to them with ease.

Along the way they will be fascinated by pinpointing the blue items and ‘ticking’ them off as they go. The evocative and lyrical language will be a real asset for those older readers and there could be a very beneficial focus on using similar descriptive language, and figurative phrases.

Naturally, this is also a book which begs for follow-up art activities particularly, of course, exploring shades of blue and the history of blue in art. And, as any librarian or bookseller knows, the ubiquitous “I can’t remember the title but the cover is blue…” would be the perfect display 💙.

Overall, this is a fabulous read for any time, but if you are celebrating NSS this year, you will have plenty of ideas to accompany this superb choice. Highly recommended for readers from Prep upwards – with 💙💙💙💙💙. Congratulations Aura on such a thoroughly satisfying creation!

History of the Colour Blue in Art

And in good news for bowerbirds – this re blue milk bottle caps and rings. Surprise winner of Woolworths milk change after ‘awful’ photos