Just So Stories

Walker Books Australia

October 2023

ISBN13:9781760655204

Australia RRP:$25.99

New Zealand RRP:$27.99

Always follow secret tracks –
the paths that wind and wend through cracks.
Never worry where they go.
When you get there, then you’ll know.

For everyone who could use some poetically pithy life-advice, this creative pairing has delivered a blueprint for quirky wanderings along the byways of everyday life. Take your favourite duck, wear your fairy wings, make sure you keep that spare key in your pocket and pick up any others you come across, and set off who-knows-where to do who-knows-what, following whichever path takes your fancy.

This is a light-hearted ‘instructional’ manual full of whimsy and wonder, which will pique the interest of young readers from Prep upwards. I am highly amused that in accidentally stumbling upon a comment about the text, someone thinks “I would be a little concerned about some of the advice in this book“. This, as you might well imagine, made me chortle no end that someone of lofty literary status would find it necessary to utter a caution about what is patently an encouragement to Smalls to be adventurous, open to new experiences and remain loyal to friends, and not an actual book of instructions 🤦.

Similarly, this blog post from Meg echoes that exact kind of thinking – IMHO – and really, underlines why I have a low regard for many of those who are purportedly the ‘luminaries’ of kids’ lit in Oz. Needless to say, it’s not about grammar (hello? have you read some of the trash that is currently on the best-seller lists) and this is poetry – sorry, POETRY – and for the past, oh let’s see, few hundred years at least, poets have written what’s in their heart, not in the grammar rules. So enough carping.

Back to this beautiful book. I love the gentle rhyme and flow of language and, of course, Leila’s illustrations are, as always, en pointe – both beautiful and perfectly matched to the tone and voice of the text. And, it has to be said, the binding is just awesome!! I could stroke this book all day long, it feels sooooooo good to the touch. I’m giving this a very hearty five 🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆 rating for your little folks from about five years upwards (with no provisos!).