Just So Stories

UWA Publishing

Distributed by Simon & Schuster

March 2026

• ISBN13: 9781760803193
• RRP: AU$ 15.99 / NZ$ 18.99

#3 in the Ella’s froggy series is another engaging read for those early chapter books readers in your circle – the ones who are growing more confident with their sustained reading.

Each of these charmers has presented a narrative to which kids will relate and make both those important connections of text-to-self, text-to-world and text-to-text.

Ella is a great character and also a very authentic one. She gets fed up with her little brother, even though she loves him dearly. She struggles some days to keep positive. She worries over ‘her’ frogs and their well-being.

In this one she is particularly anxious because the frogs have gone quiet. In fact, she hasn’t heard them in days. She’s feeling a little bit off herself, and best friend, Mai, is sick and away from school. Her kind librarian has a beautiful new frog book for her to read but then little brother Will knocks it into the frog pond. Not only that, but as it’s drying out, he makes it ‘better’ with crayon frog drawings and her name! NO!!!! it’s a library book!

There’s more to Will’s ‘helpfulness’ and all of it upsets Ella greatly But when Will is unwell – could it be because he touched one of the frogs? and could that frog be ‘poisonous’? – Ella regrets being cross with him.

Of course, all ends well but young readers will be quite invested in Ella’s trials and tribulations, and then breathe a sigh of relief when it all comes good in the end. Another terrific little story from Cassy and once again, the plentiful illustrations from Hykie add real depth to the narrative. And the real bonus is those easy springboards into conversations about how we can protect our wildlife and the environment. I love giving these ones a 5 🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸rating – for readers from around confident year 1s to year 3s.