Just So Stories

Hardie Grant

October 2024

Imprint: Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing/Little Hare

ISBN:9781760505899

Price:AU$24.99, NZ$27.99Page

When two award-winning creators join forces we can expect astonishing results, and here is the proof of that. Roam the water with me. We are here to learn.
Here to spin wisdom, to grow …

Gunai woman, Kirli Saunders, uses the traditional practice of weaving – an art that crosses so many cultures – as an extended metaphor for the ways in which Elders teach young ones about their own culture, ancestors and share knowledge.

Not restricting this to Aboriginal peoples but all First Nations cultural groups around the world, the narrative is set against the underlying truth of the increasing climate crisis, and the changes that are being wrought by the careless and thoughtless attitudes of people everywhere.

As the Elder leads the child along the waterways, wisdom is shared and community is gathered, taking all along the journey, and culminating in a combined presence determined to share, protect, thrive and create a different future. Freya Blackwood’s illustrations, as always, are perfectly and evocatively attuned to the text. I adore the insight into her preparation for this, as shown in this series of images taken around her home town, following a local waterway.

I could just pore over Freya’s illustrations for hours. They are both beautiful and tell their own stories, in every single book. Each of them with so much expression and emotion, even your youngest readers will recognise this. And the colour palette used in this artwork is just one of the best ever. Just look at some of these examples.

As rightly shown by the PETAA clip, this will be a valuable resource as an addition to the classroom, but I would suggest that though it might be a perfect fit for 5s, it is also a hugely beneficial support to any teaching program focus on climate change, sustainability and cross-cultural perspectives.

It is astonishingly beautiful in both concept and execution, and as is their trademark, Hardie Grant have produced it in a stunning binding – love that cover with the raised title and the exquisite endpapers! I would suggest that you could share this with your youngest Smalls from Prep – and talk them through it – to your older students in secondary, who will deeply appreciate the nuances within both text and art. I’m giving it a huge 5 💦💦💦💦💦 rating. This is one to look out for on next year’s award lists with certainty.