Just So Stories

Scholastic Australia

November 2023

ISBN: 9781760267001

RRP: $26.99

My Garden Path : Gardening Australia Series 30/Episode 05 March 2019

I first fell in love with Jeannie Baker‘s work with her very first book, Polar. It was released long before I became a teacher, and teacher-librarian, and I had bought it for my eldest, who was 2 at that time. It stayed on our bookshelves for the subsequent two girls and then onwards, and when I first started teaching it was in my ‘kitbag’.

By that time, talented Jeannie had published another six books, each one evocative and entrancing for readers of all ages. One Hungry Spider was a staple in my Year 1 classroom for our counting, and it was a fun exercise to combine handicraft with maths as we carefully constructed a (very wonky) spider web to which to add our carefully counted mini-beasts.

Jeannie’s talent for these detailed and fascinating collage artworks has become a gold standard for others in this field, and I have yet to see it rivalled. I think we all have our own favourites amongst Jeannie’s catalogue – I absolutely love Mirror and have used it over and over in library units of work, but, of course, Where the Forest Meets the Sea, is close to my heart as it evokes memories of the Daintree and far north of my home state.

How wonderful to re-introduce the ravenous spider to a whole new generation of Smalls, many of whom will have parents who also loved this book. There are so – SO – many terrific spider activities of all kinds available to match up with this book, (an endless supply thanks to the internet really, which was in its infancy when I first was teaching with this book) and any classroom, library or homeschooling set up will have a wonderful time incorporating some of them. It was a joy to re-visit this book and I suggest you add this new edition to your collection. It goes without saying that I give it my highest recommendation and a big 🕸️🕸️🕸️🕸️🕸️ rating.