Just So Stories

Simon & Schuster

• Publisher: Larrikin House (June 18, 2025)
• ISBN13: 9781922804808
• RRP: AU$ 24.99 / NZ$ 27.99

Here’s a fresh new title to add to your store of those well-loved cumulative narratives that Smalls always enjoy – not to mention, they are SO useful for us when teaching our younger students about expressive language.

It was a dark and stormy night [yes! that was intentional] when the boy asked his Dad if he could get into his bed – so Dad shuffled over. That part is pretty normal. What isn’t so usual is the host of critters and others that subsequently also want to share the bed, starting with Dog but becoming more and more absurd with each new entry. Rabbits, moose, ballerinas, aliens, frogs and piranha and more – including, lastly, a blue whale! Kiddos will chortle greatly as each addition becomes crazier.

Obviously, this bed is going to reach capacity and what will happen then? It’s an invitation to Smalls to speculate and predict and then springboard into their own creative endings or, indeed, their own similar cumulative stories. It’s been a long time between picture books for Deborah – who doesn’t love Wolfie? – so this has been a happy read indeed.

Filled with terrific vocab and rhythm this makes for a splendid read-aloud and the vibrant cartoonish illustrations from Marina Verola will catch the reader’s eye immediately. I’m super surprised at the very high-gloss full colour pages, not so common at all. I think the one small thing I didn’t like had nothing at all to do with these two excellent creators, and that is not liking the publisher using the endpaper to show a catalogue of their other titles – a small trifle but for one who loves great endpapers, disappointing.

It’s a lot of fun and a great addition to your shelf whether classroom, library or home for Smalls from around 3 years old to Year 3. I give it a 4 🛏️🛏️🛏️🛏️ rating for a joyful session of laughter.