Flubby will NOT Play with That (#2) by J. E. Morris

20 Feb 2026 Leave a comment

by Amy in 3 Stars, The Picture Book Corner Tags: , , , ,

Published: 15 April 2020Goodreads badge
Publisher: Penguin
Illustrator: J. E. Morris
Pages: 32
Format: Picture Book
★   ★   ★  – 3.5 Stars

Flubby, the lovably lazy feline, embarks on his next non-adventure

When Kami brings home a bag full of toys for Flubby, the uninterested cat isn’t enthusiastic about the choices. A wind-up mouse? No thanks. A fish hanging from a stick? Yawn. But after Flubby rejects each offering, one unexpected option may be the best fit for Flubby after all.

The charming illustrations, simple text, and comic-like panels by J. E. Morris, author-illustrator of the Maud the Koala books, make this a unique format with a narrative style perfect for storytime and progressing readers.

Flubby returns with Kami trying to give him a nice big bag of new toys to play with. In true Flubby fashion it has very little success. What I enjoy is they are all cat based toys. This isn’t a story trying to make a cat play with unsuitable things, but Morris has captured the disinterest and attitude of a cat very well.

The illustrations are delightful once more. I loved how we get to see a lot of Flubby’s emotions and thoughts through simple facial expressions, and a solid cat stare manages to say so much.

The text and story is basic, ideal for those learning to read, but it is also comically funny and the short sentences manages to bring possibly unintentional humour to poor Kami’s situation. Seeing the hope slowly turn into uncertainty turn into disappointment that all of the toys bought Flubby won’t play with. The twist at the end is well known and expected but it is still fun to see. I have become quite fond of Flubby and wish only the best for him. Spoil him with all the things!

You can purchase Flubby will NOT Play with That via the following

 Dymocks | Booktopia

 Blackwell’s | Angus & Robertson

Fishpond | Amazon | Amazon Aust

Flubby Does NOT Like Valentine’s Day by J.E. Morris

06 Feb 2026 Leave a comment

by Amy in 3 Stars, The Picture Book Corner Tags: , , , ,

Published: 26th December 2023Goodreads badge
Publisher: Penguin
Illustrator: J. E. Morris
Pages: 32
Format: Picture Book
★   ★   ★  – 3.5 Stars

Flubby, the cute but aloof cat, is not a fan of Valentine’s Day!

Kami wants to give Flubby a gift for Valentine’s Day. But cats can’t read cards, and flowers make Flubby sneeze! Can Kami find the perfect present for her pal?

Once we get Flubby into the holidays the stories falter a little, but the sentiment is still there, as is Flubby’s Flubbyness. I love that Flubby doesn’t need any gifts, and like we see with the toys in previous books, Flubby is a cat of simple means. However Kami still wants to shower him with love because she loves him so much, which is something all pet owners can relate to.

I loved the ending, Morris always manages to wrap up each book with a simple scene or line that encapsulates everything and this book is no different. As Kami tries to shower Flubby with gifts it’s soon discovered that sometimes simple is best.

The illustrations are still cute but there are a lot more close ups and dramatics. There is something to be said about the formulaic structure of previous books but this one works just fine.

You can purchase Flubby Does Not Like Valentine’s Day via the following

Booktopia

Wordery |  Blackwell’s | Angus & Robertson

Amazon | Amazon Aust

 

 

Flubby is NOT a Good Pet (#1) by J. E. Morris

09 Jan 2026 Leave a comment

by Amy in 4 Stars, The Picture Book Corner Tags: , , , ,

Published: 23rd April 2019Goodreads badge
Publisher: Penguin
Illustrator: J. E. Morris
Pages: 32
Format: Picture Book
★   ★   ★   ★  – 4.5 Stars

Meet Flubby–the lovably lazy feline who prefers a purr-fectly laid-back lifestyle!

Flubby is a big, sleepy cat who refuses to do the things that other pets do. He won’t sing, catch, or even jump! But when a scary situation brings Flubby and his owner together, they realise they really do need each other–and that makes Flubby a good pet after all.

After discovering Flubby will NOT Go to Sleep I have tracked down more Flubby’s and this one doesn’t disappoint (unlike Flubby’s abilities).

What I love about this book is we just rag on Flubby for the entire book but it is still so sweet and I love it. The illustrations are simple but convey so much meaning and we get a lot of Flubby’s personality through them. I love that poor Flubby is being compared to other pets and isn’t gaining any points, but I also love that by the end we accept Flubby despite no discerning skills.

The illustrations are simple but there isn’t a lot to illustrate in terms of story. We see Kami and we see Flubby, that’s all we need for a sweet and funny story.

You can purchase Flubby is NOT a Good Pet via the following

QBD |  Dymocks | Booktopia

  Blackwell’s | Angus & Robertson

Amazon | Amazon Aust

2025 Book Bingo Wrap Up

30 Dec 2025 Leave a comment

by Amy in Book Bingo Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

What I’ve enjoyed with my Book Bingo cards of late is reading whatever books through the year and come December seeing what I can put into my card, then trying to find something to read to fill in the final few boxes if there are any left. I think this time a few choices could be a bit stronger, and of course, one year this will backfire miserably, but for now we’re safe.

With 150+ books at my disposal to choose from I only managed to not fill in two. But the year is not finished yet, I could maybe do it, but I think we’ll call it and aim better next year. I’ll add that in as a new rule, what isn’t completed one year must be on the next year’s card. I vaguely recall that happening in the very beginning but all it resulted in is a lot of empty poetry boxes before I learnt my lesson.

Last year I was going to move more into fantasy, but I’ve not really gone the fantasy route instead there’s a lot of contemporary, my push to at least try a few romances, and of course my rereads were always fun. My diverse reads are getting better and I have found some amazing Aussie YA through my challenge and through the #LoveOzYA tag and website. Though, having said that, the point of the bingo card is to read widely so maybe I need to add poetry and fantasy back on and read more outside the norm.

I am keen to get into a new bingo card. I will say I am going to up my short story and anthology reads, I did have one, technically, but I also needed a Shakespeare spot filled and as it was a Shakespeare anthology it was a toss up which slot it should satisfy. Maybe in the final days of the year I can get through a Shakespeare adaptation and balance out the boxes. But for now, this is my list and I will link up to the reviews when they come out.

 

Debut Author: All I Ever Wanted by Vikki Wakefield

From Own Shelf: Rocking Horse Hill by Cathryn Hein

Romance: The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood

Chosen for the Cover: Flubby Will NOT Go To Sleep by J. E. Morris

Non-Fiction: A Night to Remember by Walter Lord

Aro/Ace Character: The Trouble by Daria Defore

Historical: The Paper Girl of Paris by Jordyn Taylor

Picked Up by Chance: The Bad Mother’s Book Club by Keris Stainton

New author: Dirty Laundry by Disha Bose

Lesbian: Say A Little Prayer by Jenna Voris

Non Human Main Character: The Duck Never Blinks by Alex Latimer

Free Choice: The Bermudez Triangle by Maureen Johnson

Different Culture: Impossible Music by Sean Williams

Fairytale: The Beast Within by Serena Valentino

On TBR Pile: Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin

CBCA Book: How It Feels to Float by Helena Fox

Published This Year:  The View From the Balcony by Janette Paul

Shakespeare Retelling: That Way Madness Lies by Dahlia Adler

Number in the Title: 100 Remarkable feats of Xander by Clayton Zane Comber

Own Voices: Green by Alex Gino

#LoveOZYA: Tin Heart by Shivaun Plozza

Reread A Series: Thursday Next by Jasper Fforde

TV/Movie Adaptation: The Wild Robot by Peter Brown

 

Flubby will NOT Go to Sleep (#3) by Jennifer E. Morris

12 Dec 2025 1 Comment

by Amy in 5 Stars, The Picture Book Corner Tags: , , , , ,

Published: 21st September 2021Goodreads badge
Publisher: Penguin Workshop
Illustrator: J. E Morris
Pages: 32
Format: Picture Book
★   ★   ★   ★   ★  – 5 Stars

Flubby, the cute but aloof cat, refuses to hit the hay in this gentle story perfect for bedtime!

Kami makes a new bed for Flubby, but the fussy feline won’t settle into slumber. A squishy pillow, a warm blanket, and even a bedtime snack are not enough to do the trick! Flubby finally drifts off to dreamland with the help of a friend.

I honestly could not tell you what it is about this book. It’s either the cover, or the story itself, but I have found myself picking it up and reading it every time it crosses my path at work.

Morris has already started off strong with a brilliant name like Flubby, then we get the cover image. I’m already hooked before we even open the book.

There are a lot of “animals not going to sleep” genre books which are meant to replicate the human child who it’s being read to, but this is a rare case of an actual pet not going to sleep. As an owner of a dog who also will on occasion NOT Go to Sleep, I think I resonated with this story a little too much.

I understand this is a book where children might be using it to learn to read or whatever so it’s simple, but the tone of the writing, and the deadpan look on Flubby’s face is amazing and I adore every page.

The logical options behind why Flubby won’t go to sleep are also not unheard of with my fluffball so I get it, Flubby, but it’s amazing to read every time.

I have discovered there are more in the Flubby series so I now need to seek those out and see what else Flubby has been up to.

You can purchase Flubby Will NOT Go to Sleep via the following

Dymocks | Booktopia

Wordery |  Blackwell’s | Angus & Robertson

Fishpond | Amazon | Amazon Aust