Just So Stories

Boolarong Press

2017

ISBN	9781925236590

RRP: $19.99

Yes, I thought I had finished! But this is a late arrival. It’s not a newly published title, but I only just discovered its existence recently (thanks to Quick Brown Fox! for the heads up and Boolarong Press for the speedy sending!) and with perfect timing it was delivered just this afternoon (no man in red suit nor reindeer presented themselves, just my usual courier!), I love that it’s a ‘home-grown’ story and I also love that it reflects a time when our Christmas preparations and celebrations were simpler.

I’ve had a lot of friends commenting this past week about the pressures and feeling stressed, and really that’s not what it’s meant to be about is it? Ours is not a big shebang. A beach picnic just for four of us. Apart from some shopping (well, one has to do that in any case) I’ve cooked a chook, made Eton mess and jelly slice, and put gifts into charity-made fabric tote bags. We’ll have chicken, ham, prawns, and salads along with desserts down by the water at Scarborough.

In this charming narrative, a father recounts his own childhood Christmas to his two daughters. Letters to Santa by snail mail not email, pillowslips from their own beds under a eucalyptus sapling tree decorated with scraps of paper and other bits. Family all converging, all of them bringing food to share. Running under the hose in the backyard to cool down.

Lo and behold! Laura and Emily have almost exactly the same Xmas as their dad. Their tree might be fancier. Their presents maybe more expensive and plentiful. But the family all arrive and everyone brings food to share. The babies and little ones all play with the boxes and wrapping paper. And the kids all squeal and shout on a slip’n’slide under the hose and sprinklers. Sounds like a pretty good Christmas to me.

Both author and illustrator (and designer) have created a book that is very worthy of being in your collection. I have very fond memories of my childhood Christmases and I think my girls do of theirs. Wouldn’t it be lovely to have some parents or grandies come to your classroom to share their own memories? This one deserves to be on your Xmas Countdown, and especially for all my friends in local schools! I’d put it on the list if you don’t already have it. It’s a 4 🎄🎄🎄🎄 rating from me!