Just So Stories

New South Books

Publisher: Otter Barry Books

9781915659972

July 2026

AUD$26.99, NZD$29.99

I’m going to be completely honest here. While I found this a little too heavy-handed, I really do love the entire concept and also, that the author is writing from his own experience and heart. Ian Eagleton and his husband adopted a toddler and hence the moment early in the book of ‘this is new for us’.

When the child [I like that the gender is not a given from the illustrations] wants to do all the things a kid wants to do in a playground e.g. run, climb, swing, slide along the slippery ice, both dads immediately assume the helicopter parent stance with lots of ‘No, no, no’s’ – safety conscious and over-zealous as all of us were as new parents.

But clever little child has such a brainwave! and that is to show the dads how do all these tricky things together – minimising the risk factor but maximising the fun. Becoming pirates climbing the rigging of a sailing ship, or monkeys swinging hand to hand across the treetrops or spinning so wildly it’s like flying superheroes – it’s all part of the joy and the learning as the Small teaches the dads that adventures are to be had together.

The illustrations feature lots of diverse characters and, all in all, this is a success if a little too obvious at times. I certainly appreciate that it’s NOT a rhyming book! I particularly like the final double spread with dads and Small on wheels – like three dragons flying – and the rainbow above them. Nice touch from illustrator Hayley Wells. It’s a 4 🛝🛝🛝🛝from me for readers from around EC upwards.