Just So Stories

Brambleberry Press

ISBN: 978064815520

RRP: $23.99

From the first moment I saw this book, I knew I had to get my hands on it. How could I not… as the daughter of an WWII RAF crewie, albeit different squadron and different aircraft? When absolutely adorable softie William arrived with my copy from Geneviève, I was totally in love!

This book is based on 453 Squadron, an Australia Spitfire Squadron stationed in the UK during WWII, which saw distinguished service in the D-Day Normandy landings and over the skies of the UK, France and Germany. [In fact, a squadron to which my dad often referred and I feel sure there were combined post-war Christmas parties etc for Sydney ex-RAF families]. Factual material is included in this delightful narrative of a little mouse with a big dream.

William has watched the Spitfires taking off at the airfield since they arrived. He longs to one day fly a Spitfire. His family and friends are openly dismissive of his goal, as being completely unrealistic. Of course, being a very small mouse, there is a problem with logistics – most obviously SIZE.

When William finally ventures right onto the airfield to get up close to his beloved aircraft, he is picked up (literally) by a very friendly and kind Aussie named Don (coincidentally, also the name of my Father Bear’s skipper).

While Don and his buddies are a little surprised by William and his big dream, they are ready, as one would expect from Aussies, to give the little mouse a fair go. They arrange for him to learn all about Spitfires and when they deem him ready, provide him with his own custom-made exactly-the-right-size aircraft.

This is just the cutest book and I only wish I had had it in time for this year’s ANZAC Day, but you can be sure I’ll be keeping it and using it next year, as well as Remembrance Day this year, and very likely between those significant days as well.

Geneviève’s narrative is really charming, without being ‘twee’, as so often happens with anthropomorphised animals in books, and the illustrations from Alexandra Heazelwood are equally so.

I am a fan of William for the whole RAF connection but now I’m also eager to see more adventures from Brambleberry. These are exactly the sort of stories I thrived on as a small child, and I believe that many children still do. Your purchase of this little book (available from several outlets but do try the Military Shop) will also mean that 10% of your purchase will go to Soldier On, helping our veterans. Talk about a win/win!

Your kiddos will adore this as much as I do, I have no doubt. And I can completely envisage (and will try out) some follow up creative writing and art based on the adventures of William.

Highly recommended for kiddos from Prep up to middle primary with a big little 5 🐁🐁🐁🐁🐁 rating!

William Brambleberry might be an aviator mouse, but he’s not pure fiction

Geneviève did a large amount of research to ensure the accuracy of locations, names and events on which the book is based. She has provided her notes below:

• The History of No. 453 Squadron RAAF
• No. 453 Squadron Operations
• The Boys from No. 453 Squadron
• SQNLDR Donald George Andrews DFC – Pilot
• WO Clarence Alfred Seeney (KIA) – Pilot
• WO Roderick Lyall – Pilot
• FLGOFF Roger Bush – Engineer Officer
• No. 453 Squadron Mascot ‘Sprog’
• Spitfire Squadron Organisation and Training
• Air Combat Tactics
• Spitfires: History and Engineering