Just So Stories

Harper Collins Australia

January 2026

• ISBN: 9781460765494
• ISBN 10: 1460765494
• Imprint: HarperCollins AU
• RRP: $24.99

What a sublime pairing of creators here! Janeen’s rhyming text is just a delight, and especially her descriptive bilby body parts e.g. sniffer-snout, scritcher-scratchers and bottom-wiggler.

Although an aficionado of rabbits in general – obviously, given the family name! – I am completely and unreservedly on Team Bilby in Australia and for Easter [which admittedly is not a festival that figures highly in our calendar]. I have greatly enjoyed seeing the preference for chocolate bilbies gaining more and more traction over the years, and they are always my go-to for the couple of people for whom I buy Easter chocolate.

But this book is much more than chocolate, as it offers even your youngest kiddos an engaging informative look at the bilby and its importance in our ecology. Many of us will have supported and watched the success of bilby protection programs and also promoted them as the fitting alternative for this festival.

One of my favourite earlier reviews was the new edition of Bill Baillie which worked well for older readers. This one with its super narrative and those divine illustrations – is there any mistaking Lucinda Gifford’s work?? – will provide your Smalls with not only a ‘fun’ story but some terrific indepth knowledge of the role of the bilby in the wild. Speaking of the illustrations – that colour palette!!! The echoes of sunrises and sunsets when these little ecological engineers are most active are just radiant.

I always love presenting books where the ‘learning’ isn’t whacking kids over the head heavily but rather leading them gently and inviting them to find out more, to wonder and to reflect. This is one such book that will be invaluable in both classrooms/libraries and home. A definite triumph for Janeen Brian. And no hesitation on a 5 ⛪⛪⛪⛪⛪ rating.

Take the time to go beyond the book and explore further with such resources as these:

Greater Bilby – Bush Heritage Australia

Bilby – Taronga Conservation Society

Bilby – WWF

Bilbies, not Bunnies – Save the Bilby Fund

Greater Bilby – Australian Museum