Title: Accidentally Kelly Street
By: Briony Stewart with lyrics by Tim O’Connor from Frente
Publisher: Affirm Press
Publication date: 25 October 2022
RRP: $24.99
Briony Stewart has reimagined the 90s iconic song, Accidentally Kelly Street in her latest ebullient picture book published by Affirm Press. Her beautiful and lively illustrations have created a new timely narrative for this generation about starting life in a new place, as well as the power and beauty of community. The lyrics for this iconic, highly catchy and memorable 90s song (I can say this because the minute I learnt about this book, I was vividly transported back to my late teens and recall singing and dancing to this song some thirty years later) were written by Tim O’Connor and sung by the band, Frente.
Briony’s joyful and hopeful interpretation of this song begins with a family moving into a bare and stark home on Kelly Street. Briony deftly portrays the different emotions and feelings each family member experiences as they step into their new home – there is a mix of trepidation, fear of the unknown, excitement and minds swirling with imaginings and questions. While the parents set up the new home, the older child explores her new surroundings and is quick to connect with the neighbours and discover just what it means to reside on Kelly Street.
Kelly Street is a bright, bustling, friendly, supportive street where the neighbours help each other and often come together. Briony deftly captures the camaraderie as there is a palpable sense of community and belonging. It’s a place where neighbours stop to chat, a place of connection, interaction, friendship and a place where people take pride in where they live. The children play outside and enjoy plenty of time to pause and ponder the beauty of their neighbourhood and the creatures that inhabit it. Briony has captured the sense of joy, peace, acceptance and freedom that exists on Kelly Street. The newly arrived family settle quickly as they are embraced by the members of their new community. Their home is transformed from a blank canvas to a cosy, nurturing and happy space filled with colour and life.
This is an uplifting story about new beginnings in a new place, empathy, kindness and a community coming together to foster positive relationships and support each other. Friendships are formed and multigenerational connections are made. On Kelly Street in Briony’s book, people are respectful, they share different perspectives, introduce each other to new life experiences, are accepting and together, make their community richer and enjoyable for all. With the new year looming many children will be starting in a new class, or at a new school and perhaps, like the family in the book, moving into a new neighbourhood. This story helps readers appreciate the universal big feelings that come with starting in a new place. It also allows children to walk in the shoes of not only the newcomer, but to see through the lens of someone that is already part of the community, actions they can employ to help welcome others.