A warm and relatable junior fiction series about all the big and little things that matter when you’re finding your place in the wide new world.
Isabelle and her best friends Harry B and Izzy are in Year Two and there are lots of adventures to be had: getting to know their new teacher, going to a school disco and sleepover, bridge-building in the forest, and even a baby to show the whole class!
Isabelle loves being in Year Two, until… Harry has some news that shocks them all.
How will Isabelle manage the rest of the year without Harry B by her side?
The Isabelle Stories is a warm and relatable series about all the special little moments and big dramas of being seven. Jane Godwin, one of Australia’s most respected writers for children, gently explores the trials and triumphs of friends, family and school life, with delightful illustrations by Robin Cowcher.
You always know you’re in good hands with Godwin; an award-winning author, she’s worked in children’s publishing and written over thirty books for children. Cowcher’s expressive and lively illustrations are a match made in heaven for Godwin’s gentle prose, rendering the already very accessible book even more engaging and tangible for newly independent readers.
BR Kids readers loved the first installment in this series, Izzy & Belle, which introduced us to the curious, thoughtful Isabelle. She’s an utterly charming young heroine and an excellent peer-aged role model for young readers. Hurry Up, Harry! is a perfect continuation.
Like the first in the series, Hurry Up, Harry! is in fact made up of four books:
Sleeping Over
Forest School
News and Views
Harry and the Isobels
Each gentle story can be read as an easily-digested standalone, but there is also a satisfying narrative throughline that sees the characters develop as they navigate their relationships and the ups and downs of primary school life.
The Isabelle Stories is a wonderfully relatable series for young kids. It focusses on the everyday tribulations that kids have to learn to face in their early school years, things like breaking an arm or having your close friend move away. Seeing how these delightfully recognisable characters navigate these challenges, with good friends, teachers and grown-ups by their side, will help young readers to develop their own resilience and problem-solving abilities.
If your little one loved the first in this series, you’ve probably already been hanging out for the next installment – well, the wait is over! If you’re yet to experience this heartwarming series, this is the perfect time to pick it up. Dive in at book #2, or read from the beginning. We highly recommend it for children aged 5+.
Buy a copy of The Isabelle Stories #2: Hurry Up, Harry! here.
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