Just So Stories

Big Sky Publishing

Imprint: Little Big Sky

March 2025

ISBN: 9781923300088

RRP: $12.99

When I had an email from the wonderful Susanne Gervay last year, asking if I would write teaching notes for a new book, quite naturally I was delighted. And when I first read Parrot Palace, I was even more delighted.

This is a book that highlights friendship, diversity, overcoming prejudices, and community living while wrapping it all in a engaging middle grade narrative. When Hari moves into the Parrot Palace apartment block with his mum and grandmother, he is immediately befriended by two neighbouring kids of the same age, Mikey and Lily-Rosa.

Together these mates plan, play, protect each other and plot the downfall of the cranky Crabtree – an elderly man who is both rude and racist. Along the way, they each learn about different customs and different family traditions. They also learn more about each other in very real ways. Each has their own hopes and dreams.

Although there is plenty of humour and fun in this story, there is also much scope for deeper discussions from which your readers will benefit. As always, Susanne brings the benefit of her own personal knowledge, experience, and connections to her work, giving it an authenticity that is apparent and very relatable.

I hope you will find the notes of some benefit should you choose to use this in your setting – either as a serial read or a class novel. I’m happy to give it a 5 🦜🦜🦜🦜🦜 for readers from about Year 3 upwards.