Just So Stories

Hardie Grant

January 2025

ISBN:9781760509880

Price:AU$27.99, NZ$30.99

Imprint:Hardie Grant Children’s PublishingPublish Date:Jan 29th, 2025

Rising above the desert plain, Uluṟu stands,
ancient feet planted deep within the dry red earth.
For much of the year, Uluṟu bakes in the kuḻi.
But on rare days when rain-song beats,
waterfalls cascade down the rock,
creatures stir …
and Uluṟu and Kata Tjuṯa burst into life.

Back in 2015 Jetstar opened up direct flights from BrisVegas to Uluru for a ridiculously cheap amount, something like $120 return and that was the perfect motivation to take The Kid on the trip that her mum had always dreamt about – Kakadu and Uluru. Kakadu was out of our reach but a week in Uluru with a few days in King’s Canyon was doable.

It was just an exceptional experience for both of us. I cannot begin to describe the profundity of standing in front of this amazing and sacred heart of our country. And among many highlights, our sunset flight over both Uluru and Kata Tjuta was just so very special.

Jodie Toering is not First Nations. She is not Anangu. But she has captured the spirituality and unique beauty this landscape shares with us mortals with such lyrical finesse, that this is both moving and powerful. Her close consultations and sensitivity input from Elders brought such approbation that it is clear that those who are the custodians of Kata Tjuta National Park agree.

The text is bursting with evocative language and vocabulary that will resonate with your students, and will easily lead to much rich discussion and writing of their own. That text also includes words in language – so important – and aside from the respect given to the traditional owners, I always encourage my kiddos to explore the language of their own local mob.

But wait! There’s more!! Valerie Brumby’s exquisite artwork – as vibrant and full of colour and beauty as the landscape and wildlife themselves – Is absolutely sensational. I’d love to work with kiddos to have them do similar representations of their own favourite places or locations which they have visited.

It’s truly a complete package: terrific text, amazing art, sensitive cultural information and descriptions, and an insight into this most significant of all our Australian icons. If you haven’t been to Uluru, I’d strongly urge you to put it on your own bucket list. It’s a trip that will live in your memories forever, just as it does for us.

And frankly, this book will convince you to ‘book your adventure’. What a perfect way to mark this year’s Book Week theme! This gets, without question, a 5 ❤️❤️💛🖤🖤 rating and IMO is another must-have.