Just So Stories

Walker Books Australia

ISBN13: 9781760654948

Australia RRP: $24.99

New Zealand RRP: $27.99

Jackie Hosking’s excellent rhyming is a byword in the kids lit community and this is another great example. While neither she, nor illustrator Lesley Vamos, are First Nations creators (in fact, Jackie is ‘Nigerian-born Cornish Australian’), I think this is a terrific book to share this week.

Kiddos will love the rollicking rhyme, the fantastic vibrant, and detailed, illustrations by Lesley Vamos, the facts interspersed throughout and the general antics of the family. And there are clues here that indicate this could very easily be a First Nations family, but even if not, it’s a terrific look at our Australian animals including some rarely mentioned in books, such as a copperhead snake!

Aunty is looking for a very special animal. She wants to paint it. She knows what it looks like, where it likes to live, what it likes to eat but blowed if she can remember what it’s called.

It’s cleverly written and illustrated with loads of humour and action. Above all, it will certainly encourage kiddos to get out and about whenever they can and observe our wildlife and the nature around them. A big recommendation from me and definitely a 4 ⛺⛺⛺⛺ rating for Smalls from Prep upwards.