Just So Stories

Midnight Sun Publishing

July 2024

ISBN: 9781922858504 | $34.99

When I was a kid I didn’t really know picture books, in the way we see them today. I did have a few illustrated books – my two favourites, well-worn and much-loved, are still with me today and pictured below.

I’m guessing that because I read at such an early age (3) and basically jumped straight into regular prose novels, and also perhaps there was not the feast of delights in this genre that we have now.

Perhaps that is why I so keenly bought them for my own children and have loved them since. When I did my under-graduate degree 35 years ago and majored in Language & Literature, I had a wonderful tutor for two years who was also a passionate picture book advocate and, in particular, David was very much of the mind that PBs can be an extremely powerful teaching tool. It was a given then, that I have used them extensively throughout my entire career with 3-year-olds to Year 10 boys to adults, and everyone inbetween.

So it gave me particular pleasure when Dr Lara Cain Gray asked me to write teaching notes for this beautiful book, which I would describe as a primer for educators on the topic of picture books. Although, I had not written ‘teaching’ notes for adults previously, it was a natural move to adjust the way I would approach them, which I believe to be as accessible as the book itself.

Lara and I are of the same mind. We believe that many people (read ‘adults’) underestimate picture books and fail to see how valuable they can be within any educational setting. Of course, there’s been a growing trend for picture books with overt messages and these are easily spotted and, indeed, easily picked up to be used with a direct purpose. But the value of picture books to be used in more subtle ways or to enhance older readers’ understanding of literary terms or their analysis of literature or visual literacy still remains largely ignored.

I doubt I’m the only one who has heard both parents and teachers tell a child ‘you’re too old now to read picture books’. I have told all my students, no matter their age, that you are NEVER too old for picture books.

And so here we are. I was in love with this book just seeing it in its proof copy stages and now to see it as finely dressed hardback is pure pleasure. Lara has skilfully put together an ABC of working with picture books and written in an easily digested format for not only teaching professionals but also home educators or parents wanting to know more about the power of this genre.

And to top off that, the illustrations by Adelaide creators, Timothy and Lorena, are utterly exquisite! What a dream of a book! I believe you will enjoy reading and using it as much as I did working with it and adding what I hope might be useful materials as extras. A top 5 🖼️🖼️🖼️🖼️🖼️ rating!