Just So Stories

Harper Collins Australia

March 2026

ISBN: 9781460768808

ISBN 10: 1460768809

Imprint: HarperCollins AU

List Price: 17.99 AUD

When I opened this package a couple of days ago, there was a sharp intake of breath and a gasp of ’35 years! that can’t be right surely!’ but, of course it’s right. And over the course of 25ish years in school libraries, I have seen this book borrowed and enjoyed so many times that I could never have kept a tally.

I probably hadn’t re-read it since the 25th anniversary edition but have loved revisiting it again over the past two nights. As well as that, I’ve enjoyed some lengthy email conversation with the stupendously talented Jackie around this book and other more close-to-home matters for the past couple of days.

It’s not only a privilege to call this talented human my friend, but an honour to hear the personal backstories of the book-stories. Many will know of Jackie’s start in professional writing, when she first moved to her place in the Araluen valley – mostly idyllic, sometimes not so much – and truly it’s such a testament to tenacity and self-belief that it begs to be shared with young readers, particularly those who struggle with learning difficulties. If you are one who has missed that somehow [how??] then you will find the afterword so inspirational.

These are stories born of Jackie’s love of her valley, the people she came to know, the memories she held of her own life and an insight into a slice of humanity and living that will remain with the reader for a long time.

This celebratory edition includes the 25th anniversary afterword as well as a newer update which provides readers with a retell of that early start with the typewriter rescued from the tip and the shed living arrangements with a baby along with Gladys, the black snake.

It also shares Jackie’s journey from a kid who loved to write and tell stories to the much awarded, lauded and successful writer across multiple genres., despite her dyslexia.

At the moment I am preparing resources/notes for Jackie’s newest title, the start in a new middle-grade series and I can’t even tell which number to apply to the book. There have been hundreds and I cannot even begin to name favourites of mine or of my dozens of readers, though the Matilda saga, the historical middle-grade novels such as Pharoah and, of course, the Wombat books are certainly among them.

For this book, I think it’s Afternoon with Grandma that touches me most. Like many, including Jackie herself, a close personal association with Alzheimers robbing us of a loved one makes this one resonate with me and the tears spring up instantly.

I commented to Jackie how utterly wonderful it is that with this striking new cover Rain Stones will be introduced to a whole new generation and I guarantee that there will be many readers who will fall in love with this anthology, as have so many others before them.

There is never any hesitation from me with a Jackie French – I know it will be a 5 👵🪨🦕🦯🌟rating before I even open it.