story time: jojo leslie
thursday 9 July || 10:00am
Join us for a magical Story Time session at Farrells Bookshop with JoJo Leslie! Bring the little ones along for a delightful in-store reading session filled with imagination, laughter, and wonderful stories. This free event is perfect for young book lovers ages 3 to 6 and their grown-ups — the event is free however bookings are required as it will include a craft activity. We can’t wait to see you there for some storybook fun!
ALL CHILDREN MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY A PARENT OR GUARDIAN FOR THIS EVENT
FREE EVENT | BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL
Fish Don’t Hop
Available July 1 2026
Fish Don’t Hop! by JoJo Leslie is a heartwarming story that takes children on a journey of discovery through nature and the ways animals grow and change.
Maeve is excited when she catches a fish, but her mother gently tells her it is “like a fish, but not a fish” – something Maeve refuses to accept. She creates a home for her “fish” and devotes all her time to caring for it. However, she soon notices changes: it grows legs and arms, then its tail disappears. One day, it hops away, confirming her mother’s earlier observation that fish don’t hop, and it was never a fish but a frog.
Blending imagination with curiosity and playfulness, the book encourages readers to follow along with Maeve’s discoveries, while the poetic, catchy writing adds a charming touch, with the tongue-twisting words making for a fun read-aloud experience.
about the author
Australian born JoJo Leslie is an author, illustrator, musician, creative web designer and educator. She has worked as a professional singer songwriter, teacher, professional education programs leader and is her own boss at Creative-Ness Designs. These days her favourite creative pastime is cuddling up with a hot cuppa and her two cats, while she writes and illustrates picture books and graphic novels.
Inspired to practice what she preaches, Jojo throws herself into every kid lit opportunity she can; manuscript assessments, bootcamps, structural edits, competitions, author workshops and writing communities. Jojo dabbled in self-publishing with her debut picture book, Bad Day to be a Berry! (2024). Her manuscript Neil the Seal’s Salty Tantrum, also made a splash landing onto the shortlist for the Jackie Hosking Spring Competition 2024.
JoJo’s new picture story book, Fish Don’t Hop (2026), is a heartwarming story that takes children on a journey of discovery through nature and the ways animals grow and change and is instore July 1st.