Just So Stories

Walker Books

June 2025

ISBN13:9781760659080

Australia RRP:$12.99

New Zealand RRP:$14.99

It’s a new series for your little newly independent readers who are ready to flap their reading wings a little more. At around 60 pages long and highly entertaining, it would also be a great ploy to introduce some of your more hesitant or reluctant readers to this, and its counterparts.

Taking absurdist humour to a whole new level, Mick Elliott brings his quirky characters and illos to this story of a class with a most unorthodox teacher. And when Mr Duckins decides the class must aim high for an entry into the annual Sick and Stinky World Records, the kids are right behind him. Even if being behind him also means being behind a giant emu’s giant bum 😕.

Lots of dynamic fonts and heavily illustrated with a fast-paced and completely crackers plot, kids will really get into this. And there could easily be some fun follow-ups with kids coming up with their own categories for a Sick and Stinky World Record.

There are two more already slated as follow-ups so I’d get onto them if I were you, and I’d suggest more than one copy needed. I predict it will be in high demand, with a quick turn-around. I’m giving it a 4 🥚🥚🥚🥚rating for readers from around 6 to 8 years mostly.