Just So Stories

Simon & Schuster

Publisher: Affirm Press

August 2025

• ISBN13: 9781922992994
• AU$ 24.99 / NZ$ 29.99

This is another I’ve been sitting on since August but it’s worth the wait. I wish you could see how shiny the cover is because that’s just completely gorgeous. Aside from that the first thing that struck is me that glorious mid-century vibe about the illustrations – love them! Now, I don’t know about you but I can assure you that my presents from Santa were as much a surprise to my Father Bear as they were to me, and that it was definitely my Mummy who did all the organising, preparation and execution of every happy Christmas when I was growing up. In much the same way as it was for me, with my daughters. So it comes as no surprise to realise that the staunchest worker behind the whole Santa Claus franchise is the Mrs herself.

The North Pole has a secret
to each Christmas Eve’s success.
She’s strong and smart and magic …
and she wears a bright red dress!

Readers young and old will find this really entertaining as the text relates just exactly what Mrs Claus’ immense workload is like each year. That’s the real secret of the Fat Man’s success!

There’s lots of fun to be had with the details in the spreads like the two bunnies (yayy! rabbits!), Santa’s reindeer tattoo, the hilarious list of naughty kids e.g. Draco, Veruca, Sid, Karen, Cersei and Ebenezer [yep, those last three would be for the adults in the room] and, of course, the nerve centre of the North Pole – Mrs C’s office which is quite reminiscent of my many various library offices – post-it notes and ‘to do’ annual wall planner.

I absolutely love that while Santa et al are getting an early night before their big Xmas Eve mission, it’s Mrs Claus who is wrapping ALL the presents! Tell me that doesn’t happen in just about every home in the country! It’s just a really amusing romp throughout, and what I love most is that it’s another very different look at Christmas both in the narrative and the fab illos. For Renee Price’s debut picture book, it’s a cracker to well done to this couple for their creative collaboration.

It gets a fulsome 5 🤶🤶🤶🤶🤶rating from me – and here’s an anecdote about Xmas Eve wrapping from my own memories.

When I was 10, my Mum, big sister and I went to Fiji for Christmas and I [yes, quite the innocent] was very worried that Santa wouldn’t know where I was, despite my mother’s reassurances that he knew all.

In our hotel room in Nadi I got up late on Xmas Eve for the bathroom, and walked from the bedroom I was sharing with my sister, through my mother’s room to get there.

She was sitting on her bed wrapping presents. Me: “What are you doing?” Mum:”Just wrapping presents.” I had absolutely not the slightest suspicion either then or in the morning that they were my Santa presents. When I woke up in the morning, I was SO doubly excited and amazed that Santa really DID know where I was!! I love that she kept the magic going for me as long as possible – miss you Mum xxxx.