Just So Stories

Scholastic Australia

December 2025

ISBN: 9781761725333

RRP: $19.99

This is, I believe, the newest in a series pitched at younger children to encourage them to develop some positive attributes and attitudes. Anything with Jonathan Bentley‘s name attached is a drawcard for me. Not only is his artwork sublime but he’s a thoroughly nice human…amusing and modest, and, very obviously, immensely talented.

This one continues in the same vein as the previous with a cast of animals expressing thoughts on the particular topic, in this case how each of us has our own special talents or gifts, no matter if they are quirky or different.

Across so much of the world and, especially in some supposedly civilised leading Western countries, we see more and more evidence of intolerance, along with lack of respect for others, and devaluing those who are different to ourselves, – and definitely that attitude is making itself felt here in our own society, and seems to be escalating. We really MUST keep instilling in our children a better way of responding to, and interacting with others. As educators we know that many children are not having these attitudes and values demonstrated in their homes, so for some, school, our classrooms and libraries are the only place they will get such encouragement.

It’s a sweet book. I felt the rhyme was a little off-kilter at time – a tad forced and not as ‘musical’ as it could be with a couple of little missteps in metre but overall, this is a message that is ripe for these parlous times in which we find ourselves.

It gets a thumbs-up 4 👍👍👍👍 from me for Smalls from EC up to around year 2/3.