Just So Stories

Penguin Australia

September 2025

• RRP: $24.99
• ISBN: 9781776957415
• Imprint: Picture Puffin

While not every woman becomes a Prime Minister with a child, every working woman with a child can relate to the constant juggling of home, family and the demands of the job. And many children will also relate to being the offspring of a busy working mum.

But as this book demonstrates, a mum’s first and foremost important job is her child and even when work and daycare or school comes between them in their day, their love doesn’t diminish. It’s important for us all to make that time to spend with our children.

I know that when The Kid first came to live with me, things were very different for us both. I didn’t work when my kids were little and I didn’t become a teacher/librarian till the two youngest were in high school. K’s mum worked intermittently but when she did it was in childcare and K went to the same centre. But then when it was the two of us, it was a whole different ballgame.

I was mostly a Head of Library with all that entailed along with long commutes sometimes of over an hour each way. She was at special school for a number of years, then a parish high school a train and a bus ride away. I had to depend on the help of others to get her to and from school initially, until that high school (and a lot of practice of catching public transport) so the time we were both together was very precious.

On the two occasions I homeschooled her, I did flipped learning and she did her work independently and then we did micro-lessons when I got home or direct teaching for the next day. It was chaotic and busy but it worked.

And we spent as much time as possible doing stuff that also helped her learn and develop confidence. Exploring places, going away, meeting people, trying out new things – all of this is so vital in a child’s life.

I know there are children whose parents do not invest time in them. I also know there are parents who fill their child’s life with every conceivable ‘interest’ or class so much so that there is no ‘time’ to spend with them. But for a large proportion, the children know that they are their parents’ primary concern. Jacinda Ardern has taken real conversations and emotions from the time when she was New Zealand’s PM and her daughter, Neve, was little and created a narrative that speaks to every parent and child in an authentic way. The illustrations from Ruby Jones are full of life and a stylised cartoon effect that will speak to young readers easily. I happily give this a busy 4 🏢🏢🏢🏢rating for readers from Prep up to around year 2.