Just So Stories

Harper Collins Australia

• July 2024
• Book #0 Rocket Bird Books
• ISBN: 9781915395092
• ISBN 10: 1915395097
• Imprint: HarperCollins GB
• RRP: $24.99

‘Bug’ books, that is books about mini-beasts seem to be very on trend this year and I, for one, am greatly enjoying that. Having had The Kid raising tiny critters such as stick insects in her zoo days, we are pretty chill about our small wildlife. In fact, we both get very excited just a couple of weeks ago when we spotted a slug at the side of our front patio steps. This is a rare event where we live at any time and then we saw (we assume) the same slug about a week later. We’re hoping he/she has taken up residence.

Stevie is one very grumpy slug. He really hates the way humans are so nasty about his kind. His mum is so worried about his attitude that she sends him to Slug Self-esteem class, which actually makes him even grumpier. Until, that is, Stevie along with his class mates: Slim, Stella, Sloane and Sam learn all the completely amazing stuff about their own slug specialities and skills.

Smalls will delight in both the comical illustrations and the really interesting facts about slugs – who, let’s face it, do get a really bad rap at times, particularly from rabid gardeners. Everything has its part to play in the ecological balance of nature and kiddos will thoroughly enjoy learning how slugs do theirs. And there will be many who are completely unaware of how many different kinds of slugs there are, including the ultra beautiful sea slugs.

My personal favourite slug as a child was the leopard variety – not often seen but so striking. Let’s get together and lobby now for the mighty slugs to receive the accolades to which they are quite rightly entitled and while we now know that slugs evolved from snails (making them far more superior). I’m giving this a big sparkly slimy 5 🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌, because there is no SLUG EMOJI!! We need to get that sorted for sure!! This is narrative non-fiction at it’s very best – check out more of Moesha’s gorgeous work.