Just So Stories

New South Books

Publisher: Starfish Bay Children’s Books

September 2025

9781760362690

AUD$26.99

This is a load of fun that kids will thoroughly enjoy and cackle over, as they recognise what it’s like to be super-excited about their birthday but not quite sure everyone else is!

Mooshy bounces up on the morning of his birthday just ready for a day of surprises but it seems very much like not only is his family completely ignoring the fact but intent on other things.

Delicious food being made but not for him.

Balloons (water bombs!) being blown up but not for him.

Strings of lights being untangled but not for him.

Instead it seems he has a list of jobs to be done. Of course, his insistence on sticking his whiskers into all of this and ignoring the job list means that, as usual, he seems to end up in trouble – generally, making more mess to clean up!

But, with a very satisfactory happy ending, it seems that perhaps his family HAS remembered his birthday after all!

Suzanne Patterson has crafted a simple but highly entertaining book that will appeal to many Smalls from around Prep up to year 3. It’s funny and relatable and I absolutely love the bold, vibrant illustrations (and endpapers!!) and Mooshy’s various facial expressions are delightful- well done to Maia Batumashvill! It’s a happy 4 🎂🎂🎂🎂rating for this one.