Just So Stories

Penguin Australia

July 2024

• ISBN: 9780241529515
• Imprint: Puffin
• RRP: $16.99

This a rather charming rhyming story with a special leaning towards bedtime, exploring aspirations and determination in a warm and inspirational way. Jeremy’s dreams of space exploration are scoffed at by his peers, and even his teachers, but that doesn’t stop his absorbing as much information about the topic as possible, in order to be as prepared as he can be should the opportunity arise.

He is encouraged in this by his talented dog, Maxwell, who is, in fact, a dancer of extraordinary grace. When the pair achieve Jeremy’s goal of heading into space it leads to even more achievements, and a little matter of saving the Earth from a catastrophic collision.

It is both good fun and a lovely nod to encouraging children’s determination and self-belief. Boyne’s rhymes are constructed well and without any sense of awkard artificiality and Ashling Lindsay’s illustrations are a perfect fit. There would be lots to work with in a classroom or library setting, but even purely as an enjoyable bedtime read, this works well. I’m giving it a 4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating.

There once was a boy called Jeremy Grace
Who had a remarkable interest in space.
He was quiet and shy, very often alone,
Just him and his dog, spending time on their own.