Just So Stories

Affirm Kids

Apri 2026

Distributed by Simon & Schuster

• ISBN13: 9781923419162

LIST PRICE: AU$ 24.99 / NZ$ 26.99

Cate James makes the leap from talented illustrator to doubly talented author/illustrator with this absolutely adorable book. Let’s be honest here, you can utilise any book for teaching purposes if you are a capable and creative educator, but sometimes we – and kiddos – deserve a book that is just fun and feel-good. [Yeah, I am a little over all the ‘message’ books at the moment.].

William is much like The Kid and myself – selectively sociable. At his sister’s noisy and busy birthday party all William wants is an escape. He doesn’t like parties. But he does like sharks – a lot! Do sharks like parties, he wonders? Bet they don’t……….and so off he goes to find out.

William’s underwater encounters with a variety of marine animals, playing and having quiet fun, is much more to his taste and when he does finally find his shark, they have a ball playing all sorts of games until it’s time for William to head home.

That’s a little saddish moment at the end but there’s always the next time and William has already thought of the next question he has for his new friend.

There are many of us who can become exhausted and overwhelmed by too much noise, busyness, peopling and chatter and that, of course, frequently includes many Smalls. Those are the kiddos we recognise in any of our groups and, as excellent educators, we accommodate their needs for some quiet or downtime when needed. Some are just made that way and some, like The Kid, experience sensory overload.

The Kid was definitely one of these and this was one of the prime reasons she thrived in her learning so much when I was home schooling her. Without the noise and bustle of an often hectic classroom and constant interruptions in the day, she was able to serenely sail through each day’s work with calm confidence.

Share this one with your Smalls and watch the ones nod in agreement. Cate’s skill with illustrating is now matched by her skill in writing and this is a marvellous introduction to the new extension to her successful career.

It’s fins up a 5 🦈👦🏼🦈🤿🦈rating – bravo, Cate!