Meet Mia by the jetty by Janeen Brian
Illus. by Danny Snell. Aussie Kids.Puffin Books, 2020. ISBN:
9781760893668.
(Age: 6+) Highly recommended. A new series of eight books, each set
in a different state or territory of Australia with eight different
characters and themes is a welcome addition to the library of books
available for the newly emerging reader. Each contains a map of
Australia to pinpoint its setting, a postcard at the start to
introduce the main character and several pages at the end to explain
things which have appeared in the text. Short chapters, copious
illustrations, good spacing and easy on the eye font, all packaged
in a smaller book size make this series most useful.
Meet Mia at the jetty is a gentle seaside story by South
Australian, Janeen Brian, reflecting the sights and sounds of Victor
Harbor, south of Adelaide. Here two sisters, Mia and Alice are told
that they will have a boy, Jim, staying with them while his mother is
in hospital. Mia is delighted thinking she will be able to show him
around their town, and makes herself a tour guide badge. Alice is
somewhat dismissive as is the want for an older sister, but as the
story develops the two girls learn to be positive about each other.
Mia shows Jim around her town, pointing out features as they go.
Luckily they live across the road from the beach and Mia collects
things to have in her bedroom. They wander along the beachfront,
have a sandcastle competition, go out to Granite Island on the horse
tram, see a fairy penguin's home and then visit the Whale Centre.
Here they are hopeful of seeing a whale and climb to the lookout.
Mia thinks she sees one but it turns out to be a boat, until another
tourist does notice a whale, thanking Mia for pointing in that
direction.
A lovely story, Alice comes over to her sister's way of thinking,
even adjusting the badge on her sister's shirt. Danny Snell's
illustrations evoke all the fun of the seaside and holidays by the
beach. Younger readers will be introduced to what to expect in a day
at the beach and specifically what they will see when visiting
Victor Harbor, and have some environmental messages given about
fairy penguins, with more information about these animals given at the
end of the story.
Theme: Sea, Beach, Whales, Penguins, Victor Harbor, Family, Humour.
Fran Knight