Just So Stories

Harper Collins Australia

• Imprint: ABC Books AU
• ISBN: 9780733343872
• September 2026
• Series: Spud and Snowball
• RRP: $15.99

They’re back! And just as funny as the first episode as these two felines of dubious talents find themselves faced with a mechanical nemesis in the shape of Chattercat.

I don’t know about you but our resident mini-panther disdains any kind of cat-toy tomfoolery, mechanical or not. And while Spud and Snowball seem to lack interest in making friends with this noisy and bumptious toy, they find themselves drawn into its ridiculous challenges and, worse, submitting to its temper-tantrum demands. Your kiddos will be absolutely rolling with laughter at the antics of this pair alongside their new combatant. Personally, Chattercat wouldn’t make it past it’s opening gambit in our house!

Once again Judith’s amazing talent for both writing and illustration, particularly in this hilarious comic style [always seems so unfair for one person to be loaded in multiple ways – while the rest of us struggle to be good at just one thing!] leaves me in awe.

If you have kiddos a bit reluctant in tackling a chapter book, get them onto this series. The combination of comic strip panels, plentiful illustrations, speech bubbles, dynamic fun fonts and short snappy text all adds up to a less-demanding read than straight out illustrated text. You absolutely need this series on your shelves if you haven’t already! It’s a whiskery furry 5 🐈🐈🤖🐈🐈rating for readers from around Year 1/2 upwards.