Just So Stories

Penguin Australia

September 2025

• ISBN: 9781761343759
• Imprint: Penguin
• RR: $16.99

Last year I talked up Tweet to anybody who would stand still long enough to listen. I still maintain it was one of my Top 5 MG novels for the year, and, certainly, one of Morris’ very best.

Then – lo and behold! – along comes Childish and it’s another absolutely cracking book destined to become not only a classic but award-worthy. And I was lucky enough to be asked to write teaching notes for it – I quite literally could not say ‘Yes, please!’ fast enough!

And what a joy this book is. I defy any reader, whether kid or adult, not to fall in love with Arkie and Dot. Their combined determination, despite the odds, is endearing and empowering and, quite honestly, I think this is a book that every educator should be sharing with their readers, because it encapsulates so much of what most of us try so hard to instil in our kiddos.

Arkie is recently transplanted to the big city from his drought-stricken farm. Living with his gran, while his parents battle on at home, he is pretty bemused by all the city represents – a real ‘fish out of water’ – but one thing is certain. He definitely approves of take-away food and particularly, the dumplings from the Chinese restaurant run by a lovely family, whose daughter Dot is fast becoming Arkie’s friend.

When Dot sustains a terrible accident, whilst doing a home delivery on her bike, because she has hit a big pothole in the road. Arkie is so distressed, his natural reaction is that he must take action. But how does one young boy, especially one only accustomed to self-sufficiency on a farm, go about getting the dangerous conditions of roads repaired, especially when nobody in authority seems to take responsibility?

With plasticene and Dot alongside (on her crutches), Arkie navigates his way through masses of misdirection, battles bumptious bureaucrats, aggressive administrators and patronising politicians to create a community-backed rising up to address the problem and seek solutions.

When all the opposing forces choose to call Arkie’s early efforts ‘childish’, he and Dot prove that being childish really does only mean being a child. The tenacity, determination and sheer ingenuity will delight any reader. It’s true David and Goliath stuff, and let’s face it, all kids love to read about their peers winning out against know-all adults!

All those who aim to culminate inquiry with action: applying learning, contributing to causes or taking stand, will want to seize this particular opportunity as a serial read or class novel study. It’s basically a primer on ‘how to’!

Arkie’s growth as a character throughout is a terrific example of the arc we want to see in a novel, and while the subject matter is often very serious, Morris’ humour, as always, leavens the text so that the pill is so much easier to swallow.

What a masterful writer he is! It really is not everyone who can use humour to underline serious topics, making them not only more palatable and easily absorbed for our readers but a real joy.

I loved it from the first page and I firmly believe you and your readers will as well. I’d happily put in my Readers Cup list, or as a readers circle title, class book or serial read aloud for any kiddos from around Year 3 up to 6/7. Classic excellence again from Morris – I’m giving it a 5 🚧🚧🚧🚧🚧 rating.