Just So Stories

Scholastic Australia

November 2024
ISBN: 9781761525032

RRP: $19.99

If you were going to go by David Sedaris‘ remarks, you would think that this book is not worth you spending your time on it. Don’t be fooled! Sedaris is, I think, one of America’s darlings, though arguably not so well-known here. He is a comedian, columnist, radio commentator and author. This is his first foray into children’s books and as you would see from the clip, came about via his connection with the late and, very definitely great, Ian Falconer – what a loss to us all!

This is seemingly simple but a quite snide look at the concept of beauty and how that attribute is judged by others. I feel many of us look at media perceptions of this, including – dare I say it? – celebrities and we know that the ideal of beauty has become so distorted, and so misinterpreted and, certainly, so misrepresented that it’s about time, someone said ‘You know what? Perhaps Charles Addams had a better grasp on this? or the creator of Shrek?’

Because Anna Van Ogre is beautiful to her family. And the more horrible she is, the more beautiful. But she will insist on pulling faces like so many children do. And remember that old saying of our mothers? “Watch out, the wind might change and you might stay like that!” And oops, suddenly Anna is repulsive. Well she’s as repulsive as poor Marilyn Munster was to her family. The poor unfortunate one in a family of what are considered ‘monsters’.

But as we know, the perception of beauty is flawed. This is a good start to beginning conversations about individuality and being true to oneself. It’s about having self-respect and making one’s own stance against trends, media and false ideals. One thing that consistently amazes me about The Kid [there are many things that raise her above others, despite a disability] is that she rejects the culture of ‘sameness’ that many teens crave. She dresses to suit herself, she is unconcerned about ‘brand’ names. She wears and speaks and watches and listens to what calls her, not what calls ‘everyone’. She makes me so proud. Just as Anna Van Ogre makes her family proud, even when she’s not looking ogreish!

The very best thing about this book is that we get one more look at Ian Falconer’s unmistakably signature style in the illustrations. I get the vibe that Sedaris’ style is that very ascerbic New Yorker wit that we came to know through other humorists. I’m actually now quite keen to explore more of his work. For now, I’m giving this a high 4 👹👹👹👹 rating. Smalls from around Prep up will laugh a lot but also be able to grasp the intent, and that will lead to some truly meaningful discussions.