Just So Stories

Harper Collins Australia

April 2026

ISBN: 9781460718612

ISBN 10: 1460718615

Imprint: ABC Books AU

List Price: 17.99 AUD

Madcap Frances Bloom is back in her second adventure to delight your younger readers with some more nonsense and 8-year-old anarchy. Only a week or so after the dreadful Ms Thistle has been carted off to the Harsh Island for Unwanted Teachers and Cats, Frances is feeling great about heading back to school but alas! the principal says that without a teacher, Year 3 must join with Year 2. And everyone knows that the Year 2s are hooligans.

Frances is determined to find a new teacher for her class and so sets out to do so, armed with a list of virtues that would make the perfect Year 3 teacher. After a few exclusions around the village she comes across her friend Roger Rowboat who is only too happy to take up the role and does so much to the delight of the class who love his pirate stories, role-playing swashbuckling sword fights and generally running amok. But alas! the principal says that a teacher must stay awake all day and so Roger’s afternoon nap in his hammock is now a problem.

Undeterred, off goes Frances again and now she makes a new friend, Mario Mercurio, the busker, and as he sleeps late every morning, an afternoon gig is just what he needs. The children also love the music and especially the ukeleles he brings to the class.

While all this is going on, strange things are happening around the village with vicious stray cats suddenly appearing, a weird purple-haired woman popping up invarious places, bushes that say ‘ouch’ , attempted grandparents’ kidnapping and scooters being stolen.

Frances knows there’s something nasty going on but what could it be? Of course, she figures it out and exacts justice which will delight the readers no end.

In my review of the first in the series I referenced Pippi Longstocking and this is definitely Pippi for a new, and slightly younger, generation who will all love Frances’ exuberance, caring and problem-solving. Another 5 👧🏻 🐻🏫🛴🏝️rating for this rollicking new adventure.