Just So Stories

Fremantle Press

October 2024

ISBN: 9781760994631

RRP: $24.99

Once again Helen Milroy brings together many threads into a modern fable that echoes traditional Dreaming stories.

When it is time for baby Boab to drop down to earth and begin his own life and family, his plummet is interrupted by a passing eagle, who swoops by directly underneath the little nut, and is completely unaware he has picked up a little extra load.

Nestled into the eagle’s feathers, Boab is taken far from his desert Country in the north. After many long hours of flying on Eagle’s back, Boab sees below a lush forest with tall trees and manages to roll off and fall down …. down… into one of those big trees, where he bounces from branch to branch until he reaches the ground.

He is far from home, in a strange place, and can only see and hear unfamiliar sights and sounds. He longs for his family and the familiarity of his own Country, and cries himself to sleep.

The following morning Boab wakes up to be greeted by a bunch of delightfully friendly spinifex mice. These little companions become his support, and he becomes their protector. But trying to grow big and strong and create his own family is so hard in the forest. It is not the right place and there isn’t the right food, and as friendly as the mice are, he misses his own kind.

Eventually, an opportunity comes about when Boab and the mice rescue an injured Osprey, a creature Boab knows from home. A plan evolves and with much cooperative action, Boab is finally back on Country, where he is able to thrive and reach his full strength, creating his own family along the way.

On one level this is a charming story about friendship and how the support of friends can help us overcome difficulties. It is also an example of cooperation and ingenuity. And on an even deeper level, it is an allegory for those stolen from their families and communities, and how being transplanted from Country can have such a profound impact and cause such a disconnect for First Nations people, even with kindness in their new location.

Helen Milroy’s ability to weave such meaningful messages into her stories is astounding, and time and again, I have shared her picture books or short stories to classes, as recently as this year, with the inevitable result of much fruitful and considered discussion. And when accompanied by the equally stunning artwork, they make a complete package with real resonance for young people.

In my view it is stories such as these that must be shared with our readers as we strive towards truth-telling and full (re)conciliation, in order for them to display the empathy, understanding and respect that we see lacking in so many adults.

And in saying that, I don’t just mean when it’s NAIDOC week or Reconciliation Week or any other event. I mean we need to be constantly embedding these stories along with First Nations culture and knowledge into our teaching.

This gets a huge 5 🔥❤️🟡🖤🔥rating from me. It’s a must-have for any collection or classroom.