Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Football: Horrible Histories – Terry Deary. Illustrated by Martin Brown.

    All about the gruesome game – this book is a real keeper! Scholastic Australia ISBN: 9780702344800 ISBN-10: 070234480X Series: Horrible Histories May 2026 RRP: $21.99 It’s not called the World Game for nothing and while I’m not a fan myself, I not only have friends who are but have seen the enthusiasm of the kiddos I’ve taught, particularly… Read more

  • Gold Standard? Remembering the Hawke Government – Edited by Frank Biongiorno, Carolyn Holbrook & Joshua Black

    NewSouth Books 9781761170522 / April 2026 / RRP $39.99 For a considerable chunk of my adult life I was completely apolitical and then along came Gough Whitlam and after the disgraceful dismissal, some 8 years later Robert James Lee Hawke, brash and breezy, blew into the top slot and completely changed the landscape of our country with economic… Read more

  • Find Me in the Forest – Jess McGeachin

    Hachette Australia July 2026 Imprint: Lothian Children’s Books ISBN: 9780734423849 RRP $29.99 If you thought Jess’ Find Me on the Coast was beautiful, just wait till you see this one! Of course, The Kid and I love both the coast and the forests – we live beside the sea but spend time bushwalking through forest… Read more

  • Who knew where it would lead?

    A completely off-the-cuff comment to Pat while we were both at a conference (me in my corporate role at that time) and now, here we are…….reviewing has brought such a richness to my life, not just in a professional sense as I was already a voracious reader but adding depth to my knowledge, widening my… Read more

  • Fake News and How to Spot It – Holly Bathie & Alex Firth

    Harper Collins Australia June 2026 ISBN: 9781836040606 ISBN-10: 1836040601 Series: Usborne Life Skills Publisher: Usborne This is a terrific adjunct to any digital literacy program or unit as well as being both interesting and informative for digi-curious kiddos. Of course, I also think that there is a plethora of adults who could well benefit from reading it: from the… Read more

  • The Library That Made Me: 200 Years of The State Library of NSW: edited by Richard Neville and Phillipa McGuiness

    New South Publishing New South Books 9781761170713 / March 2026 / RRP $49.99 This magnificent volume has been on my shelf for a couple of months now and I have been glorying in dipping in and out of it. I’ve still not quite finished exploring every single page and detail but the time is right for the review to… Read more

Archived Reviews