Just So Stories

Walker Books Australia

November 2025

ISBN13:9781529525892

Australia RRP:$24.99

New Zealand RRP:$27.99

As it arrives hard on the heels of the 25th anniversary of Because of Winn-Dixie [one of my all time favourite books!] it is a special treat to review a new Kate book.

It arrived yesterday, much to my delight, and, of course, I read it last night – book cheating on another title that I had 3/4 finished. And this new one in the A Norendy Tale series, is every bit as magical as the first two The Puppets of Spelhorst and Hotel Balzaar.

This extraordinary talent has developed a series of contemporary fairy tales which may echo traditional stories but have an enchanted and enchanting life of their own. This one reminds me, of course, of Thumbelina, and Peach Boy which has been a favourite staple in my kitbag whether I was teaching Japanese or folkstories, but goes far beyond these.

It is magical and poignant and filled with wonderful characters. When a childless shoemaker finds a miniscule baby girl tucked into the toe of a boot he is mending, he is immediately in love and she becomes his adopted daughter. His wife – nasty selfish piece of work – is jealous of his care and concern for the child, and as the little mouse-sized girl grows, so does the wife’s antagonism.

The wife has always thwarted the shoemaker’s dreams, particularly his longing to go to sea, and when an opportunity presents itself, this nasty baggage sells the child for gold – talk about a Judas!

Poor little Evangeline is ‘sold’ to an old woman, who promptly dies. The tiny girl persuades the house cat not to eat her, but to help her get home and find her father. That doesn’t happen exactly and, when left alone, she is snatched up by a creepy man who exhibits oddities. The cat goes on, and does find the father and conveys the danger to him in Meowese, but too late.

Evangeline escapes the freak show with the help of a put-upon young man. And so it goes. All four: girl, man, cat and boy do go to sea albeit not all together. It’s a sad story in one sense because girl and father never find each other…….. but in another sense, a happy one as they do each get their dream of seeing the world and sailing the ocean.

It is, in fact, one of Kate’s typical well crafted stories filled with emotion and wonder and magical realism.

There have been many highlights in my long career as a t-l and many of them involve the people I’ve met and shared time with – some of them other librarians such as Nancy Pearl, Joyce Valenza and The Daring Librarian herself, Gwyneth Jones [such a hoot!].Others have been creators and the wide network of friends I have gained in this space, with whom I share much, and then others that I’ve had the privilege of meeting just once, and Kate DiCamillo is one of these. What a remarkable and engaging person she is!

I have loved every single one of her books and am always excited for a new one. This one is as equally charming as the first two in this series. You could buy it as a stand-alone to make a perfect gift for a capable younger or MG reader or you could buy all three.

It’s a lovely binding with a super dustjacket and heavily illustrated throughout by the talented Sophie Blackall. It’s a sweet 5 👞👞👞👞👞rating for readers from around 8 years upwards.