Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Paris Olympics 2024

    So my great friend and colleague and I had an off-the-cuff conversation today, sparked by a comment elsewhere that connected Greek myths to the Olympics. We thought that even though we would reference the Ancient Olympics and the Greeks, we thought we would be far more inclined to focus on the era of the modern…

  • Counting to Calm: my first self-regulation book – Pasha Sooful. Art by Betania Zacarias

    Soaring Kite Books Books on Tour PR & Marketing: Book Tour March 2024 ISBN: 9781958372319 RRP: $30.00 Self-regulation, and the development of it, are big in the schools I go to. I have no doubt it would be the same in yours. So how much better is it to start development and acquisition of this at…

  • Imagine a Time -Penny Harrison. Jennifer Goldsmith

    New Frontier June 2024 ISBN: 9781922326966 RRP: AU $26.99/ NZD$32.99 New South Books Imagine a time when all the world stops, when all of the clocks no longer tick-tock. and all of the maps are starting to fade, as the need to be somewhere drifts far away. What an absolutely beautiful book this is! The lyrical…

  • Borderlands: Riding the Slipstream – the preemptive post. Not-Yet-The-Review

    Yes, I know that’s probably the strangest header I’ve ever put up but I’ve been mentally writing this post for a week and here goes. I’m really excited about reviewing the new anthology from Ford St Publishing. It’s been sitting patiently on my shelf waiting till I get NAIDOC reviews done. I think I’m right…

  • Tornado – Jackie French/Bruce Whatley

    Scholastic Australia April 2024 ISBN: 9781760264895 ISBN-10: 176026489X RRP: $26.99 This series collaboration between these two gifted creators has undoubtedly been one of the most successful (and extensively used in classrooms around the country), over recent years. I’m pretty sure a lot of us have been there for the ubiquitous ‘natural disasters’ unit of inquiry. Thank goodness,…

  • Mr McGee and his Hat – Pamela Allen

    Pamela Allen on Mr McGee and turning 90: ‘I’ve always known what I’m doing is good’ Penguin Australia RRP: $24.99 In just the last week I was remembering the furore over Mr McGee’s little penis that was barely visible in Mr McGee and the Biting Flea, and chatting about it to someone. The book was…

  • The Postman’s My Mate – Kelly Louise Jarris. Illustrated by Natalie Herington

    Books on Tour PR & Marketing: Blog Tour  KLJ Books June 2024 ISBN: 9760645535181 RRP: $24.95 There are two things I want to say straight up. I love the stories that are set in outback or remote areas, and while there are a few, possibly not enough. I think the kiddos in those locations love…

  • A Good Heart – Lucy Melo & Sandra Severgnini

    Red Back Publishing April 2024 ISBN: 9781761400247 RRP: $26.99 Just a few weeks ago, I had the absolute pleasure of a lunch with some amazing people including award-winning illustrator Sandra Severgnini, who graciously gifted each of us a copy of this adorable and very special book, which was inspired by the real-life bond between elephant siblings,…

  • The Riding Gallery – Sally Murphy. Illustrated by Martina Heiduczek

    Walker Books Australia July 2024 ISBN13:9781760657345 Australia RRP:$16.99 New Zealand RRP:$18.99 Yes, I said not so long ago that I’m not a huge fan of verse novels, and there are only a few exceptions. Sally Murphy’s are one of those rare anomalies. Each one is so utterly absorbing, with such beautiful narrative flow that I…

  • Sarah Speedie – double the fun!

    Boss Cat Harper Collins Australia June 2024 With Sarah’s bouncy text and Tom Jellet’s always humorous and distinctive illustrations, this is just pure fun – how very refreshing!! All of our circle knows well enough that our last remaining animal of The Kid’s former zoo, is Whiskers – the kitten her mother gave K in…