Just So Stories

Harper Collins Australia

July 2024

• ISBN: 9781460766415
• ISBN 10: 1460766415
• Imprint: HarperCollins AU
• $17.99

Forty years ago, Emily Rodda’s first book was published by Allen & Unwin, and subsequentlywon the CBCA Younger Readers Award in 1985. Following that auspicious beginning, Emily has continued to delight and engage readers over her remarkable four decade long career, and to mark this occasion, Harper Collins has released a special anniversary edition of Something Special, very appropriately in a beautiful new dress.

A slim fantasy that has been a favourite for many young readers, the narrative tells of a fairly ordinary experience for Sam, which has a very extra-ordinary twist to it.

Sam’s mum is in charge of the secondhand clothes stall at the school fete, and Sam is proud to help her. Once all the clothes are neatly arranged ready for fete day, Sam is entranced by their various appearances. Several items particularly stand out, and as Sam considers each one and how it might have been the ‘something special’ for its previous owner, is astonished to have a parade of people come into the spare room to reminisce about when they wore their garment.

Surely it was all a dream? Sam fell asleep, as she imagined the memories evoked by these clothes. It could not possibly have been true. And yet… next day at the fete, the strangest thing happens that proves otherwise.

It’s such a charming story, with Emily’s skilled touch indelibly stamped upon it – the magical realism that we have seen over and over again with such deftness, including in my own personal favourites is His Name was Walter, Bob the Builder and the Elves *, the Rondo trilogy and Eliza Vanda’s Button Box.

Younger readers who are becoming confident and competent with chapter books have been eating this one up for years, and now with this vibrant new cover, it will attract more likes bees to a flower bed.

Highly recommended for your kiddos from around 8 years upwards, with teaching notes available as well – like all Emily’s books I heartily endorse it with a 5 👗👗👗👗👗 rating.

*I’ve mentioned previously that I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Jennifer/Emily several times, and also her husband, the real Bob. A particularly happy memory is the lovely dinner we shared in Canberra, when I had the great pleasure of sitting next to Bob – who is utterly hilarious – and Jennifer relating the ‘true’ story that inspired Bob the Builder and the Elves. What joy!