Just So Stories

Harper Collins Australia

October 2023

• ISBN: 9780008519926
• ISBN 10: 0008519927
• Imprint: Farshore Fiction GB
• RRP: $16.99

To be completely honest, when I first got this one I thought – uggh, another “celebrity” book – so many, most disappointing IMO. But with Xmas coming up, I was determined to give it a go to add to my rather scanty list of new festive releases, and to be utterly truthful, I had to eat my words.

Matt Lucas has put together a package that is humorous and warm, imbued with the real meaning of Christmas and the importance of family and friends, all accompanied by its very own soundtrack!

Leo loves Christmas, and this year he needs it to be especially perfect, as it’s the first one without his Mum and his family needs the festive love more than ever (we know exactly how that feels and we tried very hard to make it so too, especially that first year).

Young Leo is organised and thoughtful. He has his list of all that needs to be done. He’s been to see Father Christmas, and pointed out to him that he actually doesn’t need any gifts. He’s wrangled everything out of the garage and planned his ‘making’ down to the last detail.

But despite his best efforts, his plans and organisation keep coming apart at the seams, with constant interruptions and mess-ups. Time is slipping away, and Leo is getting tireder and tireder but still the cards aren’t written, the lights aren’t untangled, the baking has ended in disaster, and nothing is going right at all.

Finally, Leo is just completely overwhelmed and fed up, and wishes that Christmas would just disappear. And, for him at least, it does. Leo wakes up on Boxing Day after missing the whole of Christmas Day – family, food, festivities and all. Now, how can he possibly fix that mess?!

This is just a wonderful scrimmage of hilarious situations, heart-warming emotions and a cleverly gentle examination of a child’s grief. It binds up all the fun of something like Home Alone with the heartfelt joy of It’s a Wonderful Life along with a very hefty dose of something very like actual magic.

Be sure to get your kiddos to check out Matt’s terrific website for the book which has all the songs along with other activities – clever bonus material! If you are still in need of a stocking stuffer for a MG reader, I suggest this would be a brilliant choice indeed. Enthusiastically recommended for readers from around 8 years upwards.