Just So Stories

• ISBN: 9781922643551
• ISBN-10: 1922643556
• Published: 23rd October 2023
• Publisher: Boolarong Press

This gorgeous book was sent to me kindly from Boolarong Press some time ago – though not as long ago as its publishing date! It has been waiting patiently for Picture Book Month though and it’s timely to sit with some of these others on our rich nature in Australia.

I love that this is an alphabet purely focused on our native plants. Each page is a symphony in itself. A large and detailed illustration with subtle background is highlighted with a jumbo letter and a little poem (some rhyming/some not) that describes the plant. A caption at the bottom of each page offers other names for the plant plus a Did You Know? fact for each.

Add it to your rotation of books on the natural landscape and conservation. For the plants that grow in your location, find out the traditional names and uses of these where possible.

I love the note at the back that says this, Joey’s first children’s book, reflects her love of Cicely Mary Barker’s Flower Fairies – I had already made that mental connection before I got to the note! – it just has that delightful, almost whimsical feel to it all.

The illustrations are gorgeous, the endpapers are wonderful as well and the binding is sensational – what a stunning and worthy book to add to either your collection or your home bookshelf. It is a beautiful thing all round and just a shame that there are no Australian flora emojis but it gets a flowery 5 💐💐💐💐💐rating for readers of all ages.