Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Board Book Bonanza!

    Mr McGee – Pamela Allen Penguin Australia February 2026 Some top-shelf board book editions with a much-loved character plus some fresh new titles for the Smallest Smalls in your circle. First up is that popular chap, Mr McGee whose last book I reviewed in 2024, the year in which Pamela Allen turned 90. How lovely Read more

  • Are you the Easter Bunny? – Janeen Brian. Lucinda Gifford

    Harper Collins Australia January 2026 What a sublime pairing of creators here! Janeen’s rhyming text is just a delight, and especially her descriptive bilby body parts e.g. sniffer-snout, scritcher-scratchers and bottom-wiggler. Although an aficionado of rabbits in general – obviously, given the family name! – I am completely and unreservedly on Team Bilby in Australia Read more

  • Hopping towards Easter 2026

    I have a stash of lovely Easter picture books piled up so keep your eyes peeled for some reviews intermittenly shared over the next couple of weeks!! Read more

  • Cats and Us: A Ten-Thousand-Year Fascination – Marta Pantaleo, translated by Debbie Bibo, Yvette Ghione

    New South Books Publisher: Groundwood Books 9781779460394 January 2026 AUD$29.99, NZD$34.99 They say there are two types of people – dog people and cat people. While I have happily owned both, if I can only have one it’s a cat. Whiskers aka the Demon Spawn thoroughly agrees with this stance as do thousands of others. Read more

  • Small Wonder – Ross Montgomery

    Walker Books September 2025 ISBN13:9781529526127 Australia RRP:$18.99 New Zealand RRP:$21.99 I loved The Chime Seekers and I am Rebel, both of which cemented Ross as an exciting author of adventure/fantasy, so I was very pleased to get this one. What a rousing rollercoaster adventure this one is! Tick has been raised by Grandfather along with Read more

  • Neeka and the Great Search: #3 Wilder Zoo – Tina Strachan. Illustrated by Max Hamilton.

    Harper Collins Australia Imprint: Angus & Robertson I would be seriously surprised if anyone had missed the charming trilogy now at its conclusion. What a credit it is to this debut author, Tina Strachan, to start off with such a crackerjack set of books! For me, there’s the added bonus of meeting Tina and adding Read more

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