Just So Stories

Hardie Grant Australia

November 2025

ISBN:9781761211225

Price:AU$24.99, NZ$27.99

Publisher:Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing

Just OH MY!! This is simply an absolutely beautiful treasure from every angle. Sophie Masson has brought the flavour of her family background and her upbringing in France to young readers in what is the most delicious sounding narrative ever. Not to be outdone, Cheryl Orsini’s illustrations increase the tantalising near-taste of each and every aspect of the story. In and of itself, this is a story of friendships crossing generations and years, and of special connections between people.

In Lucas’ beautiful seaside town he has two favourite places and people. One is his Tante Violette, [whose patisserie looks as enticing as our favourite Cafe Sisily] and Lucas loves spending time with her, helping her and hearing her stories of when she was young. He does notice, however, that sometimes her usually twinkly eyes look a little sad.

Lucas’ other favourite place is the marketplace with all its sights, sounds and scents, and in particular, Cyprien the fishmonger, whom he also helps out, listening to stories of when this gentle man was young, and noticing that, at times, even his kind eyes also look sometimes sad. Lucas also notices the exchanged looks and smiles between Violette and Cyprien, when the fishmonger comes to the bakery each Saturday to buy a cake.

When his two friends each tell of a childhood memory which sound remarkably alike, Lucas hatches a plan and becomes an enterprising and thoughtful matchmaker.

It’s just an utterly delightful story with a thread of joy running throughout that will enchant any reader. And the descriptive language!! If you are planning on encouraging your creative writers to use more of this, it would be a marvellous addition to your program. But it is just a sparkling story to stand alone.

It is a beautiful design and binding (as always from Hardie Grant) that is a pleasure to hold in one’s hands. While I have a real urge of longing to see this town and these people for myself in real life, reading about them transports me in my imagination as it will your kiddos, so that we feel we can taste and smell and feel the warmth in it all.

What can I say- without hesitation a 5 🗼🥐🥖🥨🧺rating for one of the very best of this year’s Picture Book Month – si beau! 👨‍🍳🤌✨