Just So Stories

Hachette Australia

Imprint: Lothian Children’s Books

9780734423511|Mar 31, 2026|RRP $24.99

I know there are grandparents in the unfortunate position of not seeing their grandies often, or indeed at all. And admittedly, now half of mine are adult and live at a distance that’s the case for me as well most of the time. But I did have the joy of them when they were little and, of course, I still have the absolute privilege of The Kid being with me all the time, even though she too is now an adult.

I’ve been a Gran since I was 39 so that’s now 30 years [EEEEEEEEEEEEEK!] but I have a friend (we were at school together) who is about to become a grandmother for the first time. This is a perfect book for her as a first time granny and indeed for any grandmother who will always have spare kisses, not to mention spare tissues, spare crafty stuff, spare hugs, spare treats, spare bandaids, spare lots-of-things and, most of all, spare time. Eve’s Nan has all these and more and these two have a special bond. It’s the kind that can make gloomy days bright, and broken things mended, and lost things found and turn frowns into smiles. And best of all, when it is Nan who needs it, Eve returns the love and the spare kisses as well.

This rhyming book from Pip Harry begs to be shared on the spare lap of a grandmother for one or more grandies. The illustrations from Yiscah Marcatili (new to me) are a charming accompaniment. It obviously would make a perfect gift for a new grandma and you can guess this one will be exactly that for my friend. It’s a happy 4 👵👵🏽👵🏿👵🏼from me for this one.