Just So Stories

Hachette

JUN 26, 2024 | 9780734423023 | RRP $24.99

Obviously having the care of a child with a disability for years has made me even more aware of promoting both knowledge and understanding around this topic. With the Paralympics looming, there will be plenty of opportunities for discussions with your kiddos around various disabilities, how they are acquired, what they look like or don’t look like, how society can either impede or support and so on, all of which makes this a timely release.

Formatting this as an ABC makes it a great choice for a ‘dip in and out’ book so a quick 5 minute read after break if reading as a whole is too much (and to my mind, the short bursts would be more effective so that the students can reflect on each entry).

Sarah Rose is an Paralympian champion and a passionate disability advocate. Her dwarfism has been no barrier to her achievements, both sporting and personal, and her mission is to impart the same spirit and the understanding of differences to younger people. Many kiddos will know someone with a disability and more often than not, in their own classrooms.

Some of those disabilities might be obvious such as a physicality but others are invisible [like The Kid’s – people usually don’t realise she has an impairment]. This provides exactly the right opportunity to become aware of the range but also includes ways to offer inclusion at the kids’ level. The inclusion of Auslan on each letter is a great idea [and as I’ve mentioned in other reviews, many classes I encounter are regularly learning signing]. The bold colours and graphic style illustrations are very eye-catching and will carry a lot of appeal for Smalls who could enjoy creating their own visual disability alphabet.

There are teaching notes to supplement but you will need to cherry pick as there is quite a difference, ability/level wise, in some of the suggestions, as well as the list of related resources [some being suited to much older children than the suggested age group for this book].

Recommended for most levels in primary from around Year 1/2 upwards.