Just So Stories

Hardie Grant Australia

September 2024

Imprint: Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing

ISBN:9781761213090

Price: AU$24.99, NZ$27.99

And I’ve saved the best till last for this Halloween. Now, I’ll be truthful. Most times, when I see a ‘celebrity’ name on a new book cover, I inwardly cringe because frankly, there are some celebrities who should just stick to the business they know – particularly so, if they don’t actually write 😏 and I’ll say nothing more on that point.

But this is completely different because I know Shaun Micallef can write and has done so succesfully. I also know he’s very bright, articulate and hugely funny. And then, when I see the name of hugely talented Jonathan Bentley alongside – no question about it, it’s a book that is going to be a huge hit. And really, let’s be honest… there’s not enough books with a focus on snail families is there?

This is hilariously amusing but also quite a fab parallel for the endless bedtime palaver so many of us have endured over the years, with the procrastinations and protests of Smalls that seem to go for an obscene length of time – usually when we’re dead beat ourselves, in my experience.

‘Happy slumbers,’ whispered Father​

as he left, but soon they started

hearing other sounds – like creaks,

a crack, a crunch, and then … a SHRIEK!

I love that Micallef’s rhyming saga of the bedtime marathon echoes classics such as Jabberwocky, with that same sort of quirky and weird vibe to it all. It truly is a load of fun, and I’m dying to read it aloud to some kiddos, hopefully before Halloween.

But for me, the absolute cherry on top is Jonathan Bentley’s utterly over-the-top quasi-spooky illustrations, and the snail family that has more personality than many humans I know. Just look at Father Snail with that magnificent baffi [that’s Italian for moustache and seems to fit perfectly here] and his completely ludicrous eyebrows!!! OMG, I just laughed so hard over these glorious illustrations – I’ve read the book several times over, not for review purposes but just to revel in the rhyme and visuals.

These two have made my Halloween this year [which in all honesty is going to be a bit sad, because there’s just no trick-or-treaters around our new neighbourhood. At least The Kid gets to go T&T and sleepover at her friend’s house, and I get to dress up and have some fun at my old lady exercise class].

As most know, I don’t keep many review books but I think this one will be lingering because it doesn’t just fit Halloween. For every kid who’s turned it on when it’s lights out, and for every parent who’s ever said ‘JUST GET TO SLEEP!’ this is a cracker!! Thanks both of you for such a joyful, colourful, rambunctious and classy book! A huge African giant land 🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌 rating for this one!