Just So Stories

New South Books

• ISBN : 9781638190882
• Publisher : Bushel & Peck
• Imprint : Bushel & Peck
• RRP: $39.99

This is big, bold and absolutely guaranteed to keep young curious minds absorbed for hours. There is not only plenty to read in easy-to-digest chunks but also so much with which to interact.

It’s going to require some careful handling and supervision if being offered up to many children e.g. as a library book. But I easily see it as being a fantastic addition to your classroom kitbag for those units exploring the human body and its functions, sharing aloud and providing readers with the opportunity to explore with some guidelines. Of course, for a home library it will be terrific and keep an interested reader engrossed for ages.

The variety of the interactive components is terrific with cutaways, lift-the-flaps, moveable sliders and more. There is, as you would expect, some tricky scientific vocabulary but it is all well explained and outlined and, therefore, I don’t believe that will present many problems for an astute reader.

The colourful illustrations from Julian Eigner may be cartoon style but still present the visual information with accuracy and style. I am not familiar with the earlier work of Ryan Cleave but this is certainly an example that makes me think they will be worth seeking out for your own readers.

I happily give this a 5 🫀🦴💪🧠👁️rating for readers around 7 years upwards.