Just So Stories

Harper Collins Australia

• ISBN: 9780008638177
• ISBN 10: 0008638179
• Imprint: Farshore Fiction GB
• $15.99

I have to be honest here. This entire series had completely bypassed me and, certainly, I wasn’t aware of a Netflix series either (but then it wouldn’t fall within my usual viewing range) but I can completely see the appeal of this immediately.

This week my 2nd oldest grandson turned 25, and when I read this, the first thing I thought was that I wished I’d had it when he was about 12. He was a reluctant and unconfident reader and he loved zombies. This would have been a perfect book for him. Enough reading that he’s actually doing that, but so interactive that he could use his skills with drawing, designing, gaming and weird facts to enjoy it.

If you have kiddos in that same boat – and let’s be realistic, there will be quite a few I would think, because it is one of those never-ending scenarios we have in libraries and classrooms – this would be a terrific recommendation for them.

Of course, with it’s activity based pages it would probably be best as a gift for kids – and I know some people are like me, and give a book with the chocolate so there’s a good plan I say!

With the Netflix connection, it’s even more of a certainty that it will be an easy sell. I would very much recommend it for readers from middle primary upwards. I can honestly see lower secondary kids getting into it just as much as a year 4 reader.

I’m giving it a creepy, gross 5 🧟‍♂️🧟‍♂️🧟‍♂️🧟‍♂️🧟‍♂️ rating.