Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Picture Book Month Bonus: Congratulations Riveted Press on such a successful year!

    I’ve been able to review a number of Riveted Press books this year (and possibly still at least a couple to squeeze in before blog break – including Flight of the Drakkonbarq) and all have been a pleasure. As regular readers of this blog know, I actually do read cover-to-cover everything I review [one or Read more

  • B is for Bedtime: Before You Close Your Eyes – Scott Stuart. Jess Racklyeft.

    Hardie Grant Australia ISBN:9781761212161 Price:AU$24.99, NZ$27.99 Publisher:Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing Charming and sweet, lovely and soothing, meaningful and like a talisman for a sleep free from worries and frets. This is just a delight from start to finish and will easily become a favourite for any family’s regular bedtime. There’s a gentle rhythm to the Read more

  • B is for Busy: Mum’s Busy Work – Jacinda Ardern. Illustrated by Ruby Jones.

    Penguin Australia September 2025 While not every woman becomes a Prime Minister with a child, every working woman with a child can relate to the constant juggling of home, family and the demands of the job. And many children will also relate to being the offspring of a busy working mum. But as this book Read more

  • B for Bored: Bored – Felicita Sala

    Hardie Grant December 2025 ISBN:9781761217661 Price:AU$24.99, NZ$27.99 Publisher:Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing Imprint: Little Hare Anyone with kids on holidays could easily relate to this with that pathetic moan of ‘I’m boooooored.’ But how about turning that boredom into busy-ness? Rita is bored. Really, REALLY bored. Sooooooooooooooo bored. So bored she can’t even think properly but Read more

  • Lots of B books today beginning with B for Birthday: I’m Very Busy: a (nearly forgotten) birthday book – Oliver Jeffers

    Harper Collins Australia October 2025 Who doesn’t love Oliver Jeffers’ books? They are always amusing but also have real depth to them, and it’s those layers that make them all the more special. It’s Bridget’s birthday and she wants to spend it with friends because that’s always more fun. I can vouch for this, my Read more

  • Picture Book Month Bonus; False Versus Facts – Dan Marshall

    Walker Books Australia August 2025 ISBN13:9781760659721 Australia RRP:$19.99 New Zealand RRP:$24.99 This is a terrific fun and fascinating read for your kiddos from around Year 3 to Year 5/6 who like this type of quick grab info books. Each topic covered starts off with a fallacy and then provides 3 actual facts about the subject. Read more

Archived Reviews