Just So Stories

Harper Collins Australia

• ISBN: 9781460765173
• ISBN 10: 1460765176
• Imprint: HarperCollins AU
• RRP: $24.99

You may or may not have heard the current furore instigated by The Society of Authors UK over ‘celebrity-authored’ books and that’s hardly surprising. I have seen many books that I know very well have not been written by the person named as author, with there is nary a mention of the ghost writer. That IMO is unfair and deceptive – particularly so in children’s books. Why? Because the kids don’t know any different, and unsuspecting parents buy on the strength of a name known to them, often forming a high opinion that is unwarranted.

Now that I’ve got that off my chest, I will say this. I love Ash Barty’s books – the picture books, the junior chapter books, all of them because at no point is the author hidden. Jasmin McGaughey is adept at transforming Ash’s stories and anecdotes about her childhood and family into narratives that are gobbled up with delight by the readers. And this one arrives with perfect timing as we head towards the summer/Christmas vacation for Australian kiddos.

What I love most about this particular book is the fact that this is a family holiday, a camping holiday, a local holiday – filled with happy, simple pleasures. I’ve been Head of Library in some pretty nice private schools. And in more than one, class teachers and I would regular comment that an entire class of children would be heading off to exotic destinations and fancy hotels, while we were the only ones not doing so. But really that didn’t – and doesn’t – matter. The Kid and I are far happier pottering around on our little mini-adventures and spending time with family and friends-like-family.

And it is just the same for Ash and her family when all the cousins, aunts and uncles, and grandparents would get together for a week’s camping on Minjerribah [North Stradroke Island – which is actually where our friend Mr Surfer mostly grew up, with his family/parents still there – a very beautiful place].

It’s a time for swimming and snorkelling, sitting and watching the ocean [that’s my idea of a great time too], simple games with the cuzzies – kick-the-ball, skipping, marbles or cricket, paddleboarding, enjoying snacks and campfires and spooky stories. These are the sorts of holidays that so many wonderful memories are built on.

I know mine were usually the very same with us going away once a year, down to the Sapphire Coast, Batemans Bay and Bega to visit relations with the caravan in tow. Ash’s recollections will resonate with many kiddos and, while we do know that not all kids get to go anywhere at all on the holidays, it is called ‘Dream’ holiday so there could be plenty of discussion about what that might look like if it were to happen. And a couple of times my holidays were a bit more exotic – a trip to Fiji with my mum and big sister when I was ten, for example, but those were the rarities.

As usual, Jade Goodwin comes up trumps with her illustrations which absolutely capture the joy of such happy and warm family gatherings as the narrative relates. Either before the holidays and some ‘dream holiday’ writing or perhaps, after the holidays with the start of school – some will be able to write a recount while others can use their imagination.

It’s an easy call to give this a 5 ⛺⛺⛺⛺⛺rating for readers from around Prep to Year 3.