Just So Stories

Harper Collins Australia

April 2026

• Imprint: ABC Books AU
• ISBN: 9780733343391
• Series: Costa’s Garden
• RRP: $24.99

Our favourite colourful garden gnome, Costa, is back in his second book in this series for Smalls and this time he brings a tutti-frutti cornucopia of delectable fruit.

From the beginning of fruit (the flower) to the kitchen for creating delicious dishes to cultures celebrating fruit in classic signature ways and to wacky uses of fruit like the Chinchilla watermelon events [personally we fondly remember the Gayndah Orange festival when I first started teaching in the South Burnett].

While the gardening programs in schools don’t usually include fruit trees, they do often feature other fruiting plants. Have the kiddos identify which plants they are growing are actually producing fruit or perhaps introduce some new ones to the garden patch. Which fruiting plants grow better in your area and why? How many different ways of serving a particular fruit do students know? Survey the group’s most popular fruit and so much more. Perhaps there’s an opportunity here to share and create a recipe book for community. I really feel pleased that Costa includes First Nations knowledge sharing around the importance of fruit and this will also resonate with many young readers.

We know from experience this is exactly the sort of book and topic that can provide endless opportunities for integrated learning across curriculum strands: maths, science, health, literacy, creative and informational writing, environmental, cross-cultural perspectives and even music! And the combination of Costa and illustrator, Brenna Quinlan, has been a terrific pairing with text and illustrations as lively and colourful as the guru himself. Love this snippet !

Fruit isn’t just about the plants – lets look at how animals and fruit are the perfect team. They go together like a bum and undies.

Costa has, arguably, become Australia’s most popular – and definitely most recognisable! – gardening guru and is always a joy to watch. His passion, enthusiasm and colourful presence is an inspiration to so many and now even the Smalls will become enthused not only about gardening for their own consumption and pleasure, but protecting and supporting the local habitats. Instead of taking the Smalls to the fruit&veg aisle in the local supermarket, which is fine if that’s the only alternative, local markets featuring locally grown produce is better, and growing their own is the ultimate. Even if it’s just some humble tomatoes or strawberries in a bag – this could easily be the start of a life-long passion and a real connection with nature.

What to say? It’s spadesful a 5 🌞🐝🌸🪴🐌rating!

Our little garden, newly established 7 weeks ago once our lease was renewed again, is going pretty well despite some pretty extreme weather – we’ve been picking lettuce, spinach, shallots and capsicum for starters – the corn is looking champion and tomatoes are coming on. shame our 2nd blueberry died (no idea why) although our first one gave us numerous berries last season. but sometimes it just is what it is. In the meantime, it’s great so have something positive on a daily basis.