Larrikin House
August 2025
9781923345171
RRP: $24.99
If you’re always looking for something to add to your diversity/inclusion resources this would be a good one. It’s a riot of colour as befits the title and the illustrations are lively and expressive.
The premise of the narrative is that the whole street full of diverse families (in all contexts) are often having street parties for celebrations, and this one is for the narrator’s Granny who is turning 90. Granny is evidently a bit of a character [the kind of 90-year-old to which I aspire] as she gets up to all kinds of shenanigans.
Cherry is proud to introduce everyone in her street as the preparations get underway and it really is a very ‘rainbow’ street indeed. There is a mix of cultures/races as well as much gender and family diversity. I’m inclined to think that there is a little too much of the latter which would quite possibly confuse, even overwhelm, smaller people, though undoubtedly if you read the book aloud, they will certainly grasp the gist of it and take it on face-value.
My other comment would be that for many faith-based schools this will not sit with ethos or guidelines so be mindful of that. I know that most of those where I’ve been HoL would have been OK with it but certainly not one of those.
I would suggest using it with older Smalls e.g. Year 2/3 – and you could certainly turn it to your advantage in that UoI on Festivals/Celebrations. I am giving it a 🌈🌈🌈rating for that age group.
Just So Stories 
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