Stuff (Jen Sherrington, illus Hélène Magisson, MidnightSun)

In Stuff, by Jen Sherrington and illustrator Hélène Magisson, Morri is “chuffed” when he receives some “stuff” from Birdee. Surely more stuff would be even better, Morri thinks. Before long, Morri is hoarding stuff, lording it over those with less and envying anyone with more.

The never-ending desire for more belongings will likely feel familiar to many parents. Equally recognisable is the sense of claustrophobia that overtakes the pages as Morri’s possessions pile up higher and higher in the discordant shapes of Magisson’s crowded compositions.

Throughout the story, Birdee remains a gentle and patient presence, questioning the need for so much stuff with curiosity rather than judgement. This allows Morri to come to his own realisation while subtly guiding readers aged 3 to 6.

When Morri’s stuff finally starts to overwhelm him, Birdee offers a simple answer: the concept of “enough”. Represented as a softly glowing orb, it brings calm to the pages, replacing visual clutter with scenes of community as Morri shifts his focus to ensuring everyone has enough.

As with Emily Gravett’s Too Much Stuff! and Felicita Sala’s A Lost Cause, Stuff will be a useful tool for parents looking to help their children appreciate what they have and understand why more isn’t always better.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Fay Helfenbaum is a freelance writer and editor and was a bookseller for 5 years. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

Books+Publishing pre-publication reviews are supported by the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund.

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