Just So Stories

Walker Books Australia

October 2024

ISBN13:9781529511574

Australia RRP:$24.99

New Zealand RRP:$27.99

Yep, we’ve all known those kids who have a seemingly endless supply of questions and this little person has many for Santa, when she catches him delivering gifts. Mr Santa, want to hear me play? Do the reindeer talk? And can I ride your sleigh?

When a little girl comes face to face with Santa in her own house, she can hardly believe it! It’s her golden opportunity to ask him the questions – all the many questions! – that she’s been desperate to know… Can Santa eat clouds? Does he stop at traffic lights? Is his belly button innie or outie?

The entire narrative is told via her questions with some fantastically expressive illustrations which so ably take the reader beyond the text. While some of the questions are really quite funny, others are eminently sensible and it would be a fabulous session with kids to invite them to suggest the questions they would pose to Santa, should they ever come face-to-face. Would Santa really be able to take so much time out of his busy schedule? or is it all just a dream? Readers can debate that, as we know that time stands still on Christmas Eve.

I love the illustrations – they are very evocative. Children here will readily pick up up on the visual clues on setting: style of houses, snow, red double-decker bus, and this could easily initiate a compare-and-contrast for Christmas in other countries and climates. I also need to mention the stunning cover with its sparkling snowy accents – very cleverly done! This one gets the full sleigh-load rating with 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄!