Just So Stories

Penguin Australia

July 2024

• ISBN: 9780143779186
• Imprint: Puffin
• RRP: $24.99

Jess’ books are always a delight [I still love Business Chickens so much especially] and this one has all the warmth of a cosy blanket and a mug of hot chocolate, with a lovely look at both imagination and enduring friendship.

Max and Milo are neighbours and they spend lots of time together. They especially love Sunday nights when space is their jam. Together they explore the universe from the back yard and when they discover a disused ‘rocket’ in the orange grove, their space travel knows no bounds.

Until, that is, Milo and his family sell their place and move to the big city. Max is devastated but then Milo points out the relative distances of the places they have visited together in the night skies, and the much smaller distance between Max and where Milo now lives.

Luckily Max lives with a very switched-on Grandma [gotta love that detail!] who shows him how to connect with Milo virtually and, once again, together they build, imagine, dream and travel.

It’s just a sweet and gentle story that celebrates friendship, and demonstrates that distance is no barrier to the connections we make, whether as children or adults. This one is blasting off with a big 5 🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀 rating. It’s another winner and definitely one for your collection and units of work in the Social Capabilities framework.