Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe



  • Be The Change: Rob Greenfield’s Call to Kids – Rob Greenfiled and Antonia Banyard

    Making a Difference in a Messed-up World New South Books Publisher: Greystone Books APril 2025 AUD$24.99, NZD$29.99 This is a book completely on point especially for all the kids and schools taking action towards zero waste and climate change/environmental degradation. I love that it’s written jargon-free with an easy conversational tone that feels like author… Read more

  • I Am Not a Fish – Patrick Guest. Katie Abey.

    Scholastic Australia April 2026 ISBN: 9781761647628 ISBN-10: 1761647628 RRP: $19,99 I have such fond memories of The Second Sky, do you? My kiddos, in our countdown to the Book of the Year awards and our sharing of all the short-listed picture books (Early Childhood category, voted it our readers’ choice winner. So… this is NOTHING like that… Read more

  • The First Easter – Illustrated by Jess Racklyeft

    Penguin Australia January 2026 It does not matter if you don’t celebrate Easter in a religious sense, this is still a book that is most definitely worth sharing with Smalls as it does explain the ‘why’ of Easter, and it does it in a purely narrative manner. Retelling the Bible story in a very simple… Read more

  • Pocket Potters-palooza: #4 and 5 – Professor Dumbledore & Luna Lovegood – J. K. Rowling

    Bloomsbury Australia Always excited when my ‘dealer’ comes good with more goodies to feed my addiction, which hasn’t waned one iota in over 25 years now. Thank you, Sonia! Professor Dumbledore Illustrated by Paula Escobar February 2026 $17.99 ISBN 9781526685186 Imprint Bloomsbury Children’s Books You will have already seen the first three titles in this… Read more

  • Beach Buddies – Helen Milroy

    A First Nations picture book of Australian sea creatures Fremantle Press June 2026 ISBN: 9781760997052 RRP: AU$19.99/NZ$24.00/US$14.95 Pre-order now from your usual suppliers This is just the cutest introduction to marine animals ever – and your little readers will love it. Who could resist that puffed-up blowfish on the cover for a start? As I am… Read more

  • Bush Turkey: Easter Hunt – Kate and Jol Temple. Illustrated by Ronojoy Gosh.

    Scholastic Australia February 2026 ISBN: 9781761640124 RRP: $19.99 Like a bush turkey manically constructing his nesting mound to lure all the single ladies, this is rather chaotic and crazy – but then, it is Kate and Jol Temple! When Bush Turkey starts on his nest he kicks up a shiny gold egg that he knows… Read more