Just So Stories

Allen & Unwin

October 2023

ISBN:9781761069017

Publisher:A&U Children’s

Imprint:Albert Street Books

RRP: $19.99

For those of us who have had the joy of a new baby within snurfling distance, either our own or someone else’s – don’t you just love that poring over their tiny toes, their wee fingers, little ears, button mouths, and all those other delicious bits that you could just eat up!

And of course, we all wonder – what will this tiny person grow up to be, to do, to love, to create, to achieve? It’s not a complex book. Its simple lyrical text with its refrain in each verse, is accompanied by some of the lovelist illustrations I’ve seen this year. They have an absolutely delightful vintage kind of vibe happening and I could just look at them for ages.

And on that artistic note, I have to say how marvellous the binding is – one of those gorgeous textured hardbacks and stunning endpapers! All in all, as well as it being really sweet, it is pure visual delight.

If you have a new little human imminently arriving in your family, or perhaps one already landed, this would make such a gorgeous, and well-appreciated, gift.

Highly recommended for read-alouds for babies upwards.