Just So Stories

Mr McGee – Pamela Allen

Penguin Australia

February 2026

• ISBN: 9781761621123
• Imprint: Puffin
• Format: Board Book
• RRP: $16.99

Some top-shelf board book editions with a much-loved character plus some fresh new titles for the Smallest Smalls in your circle. First up is that popular chap, Mr McGee whose last book I reviewed in 2024, the year in which Pamela Allen turned 90. How lovely to present this board book edition of the original Mr McGee story [1989!! Can you believe it?!]. There will be, I have no doubt, many newly-minted parents of babies who remember this book very fondly from their own childhood and will just love sharing it all over again, for another little person’s joy. Pamela Allen books always get my fullest recommendation because, as we all know, she knows her stuff and never fails to enchant her audience. A 5 🎩🤵🏻🛏️🌳🐦‍⬛rating every time !

Your Truck – Jon Klassen

Walker Books

January 2026

ISBN13:9781529532531

Australia RRP:$16.99

New Zealand RRP:$18.99

The latest in the Your… series from the completely amazing Jon Klassen, the creator who has taken minimalism and surreal humour to entirely never-before-seen levels, but who can also twist a tale to be something entirely unexpected. I love that this one, as well as adding to vocabulary with names of objects, teaches colours as well. I will never think of the trucks in my Father Bear’s carrier business again without picturing them with eyes – that close when they go to sleep at night. A funky 🛻🛻🛻🛻🛻rating for this one too.

Don’t Forget – Jane Godwin/Anna Walker

Penguin Australia

• ISBN: 9781761359668
• Imprint: Puffin
• Format: Board Book
• RRP: $16.99

This is another older title re-issued in a board book format, though strangely, I didn’t know it but it comes from two of our most highly-accomplished creators. Essentially, reminding the reader of the important things in their lives, be they big or small, from watching the ocean to brushing teeth or remembering to always hope and to always wear socks that fit. The text is simple, the illustrations are delightful and offer up plenty to talk about with your Small person. This one gets a 🧠🧠🧠from me.

Here, Bear and Everywhere – Damian Balassone. Jess Racklyeft.

Little Book Press

Distributed by Simon & Schuster

• November 2025
• ISBN13: 9781923141261

Despite the, no doubt, well intentioned description from the publisher, this is not playful poetry. It is playful rhyming and a clever idea that, sadly, didn’t quite hit the mark for me. Because even though the rhymes are there, it is a little too contrived and as someone once said – if you have to explain the joke, it’s too late. But the saving grace, of course, is that the amazing Jess Racklyeft has lent her style to these illustrations, creating bears with real expression. So it gets a 3 from me for that 🧸🧸🧸.