Just So Stories

Harper Collins Australia

October 2023

• ISBN: 9780358469841
• ISBN 10: 0358469848
• Imprint: HarperCollins US
• RRP: $29.99

The publisher describes this as a ‘winning combo of art and science’ and really, I can’t say better myself.

To be honest, though of course I’m well aware that many other countries have examples of fine prehistoric cave art, I had always been more or less only interested in our own Australian sites.

The exception would be, that this child non-fiction nerd lapped up much information about the Lascaux Caves, their discovery and the struggle to preserve the art, courtesy of my big brother’s many non-fiction books.

This amazing exploration of ancient art, the materials used, the subjects depicted, the locations and the possible explanations for their existence, creation and continuity over time makes for fascinating reading. And the concluding pages with world map, double spread on the Lascaux discovery, glossary, time line, other resources and author’s note are an added bonus that is equally absorbing.

I can see that many kiddos would be as interested in this as I am, whether boys or girls. The text is quite accessible to younger readers, and the whole formatted just as a picture book would be, with minimal chunks of text against sweeping illustrations.

Speaking of illustrations, it was very pleasing to see that the cover art depicts Australian Aboriginal cave art.

What a valuable addition to your collection this would be, whether to accompany work on ancient civilisations, exploration of art, Pacifica and other countries or simply for the sheer pleasure of it.

This gets a huge recommendation from me, and I think readers from as young as six or seven would eagerly devour it, and then go on to discover more.