Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe



  • How Big is the Sky? -Kimberly Brown

    Simon & Schuster Publisher: Affirm Press July 2025 ISBN13: 9781923046368 RRP: LIST PRICE: AU$ 24.99 / NZ$ 29.99 While this one fits perfectly into today’s theme in a titular way, it is not about the sky at all. It is, in fact, about a whole lot of different concepts and it is a book which Read more

  • The Susurrus -Genevieve Young-Evans. Cate James

    Walker Books Australia June 2025 ISBN13:9781760657611 Australia RRP:$25.99 New Zealand RRP:$27.99 Continuing on today’s theme of ‘sky high’, this is not only a good book for teaming with those units of HASS/Science but there is plenty of scope for vocabulary and phonics/phonemic awareness, no matter which program your school is following for that -especially useful Read more

  • Good Golden Sun – Brendan Wenzel

    New South Books Publisher: Scallywag Press May 2025 9781836300304 AUD$29.99, NZD$34.99 This one would be an excellent springboard into your UoI into those Earth/Sky/Weather type topics as while it is not informational per se, it provides a great opening gambit for conversations about why the sun is important and what it means to life on Read more

  • Little Cloud: Little Wonders #1 – Heidi McKinnon

    Hardie Grant November 2025 ISBN:9781761215810 Format:Board book Price:AU$19.99, NZ$22.99 Series:Little Wonders Publisher :Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing Imprint: Little Hare Here comes a sweet new series from the very clever and creative Heidi McKinnon pitched squarely at your smallest of Smalls. Larger sized and very sturdy board books with gorgeously textured bindings [always such a treat Read more

  • Picture Book Month Bonus: Start with a Teapot: an unexpected guide to the art of drawing – Enric Lax

    Walker Books Australia Imprint: Gecko Press ISBN13:9798765670491 Australia RRP:$29.99 New Zealand RRP:$34.99 Invariably, when I’m with a class and we are about to draw, there is always the one – or more – who say ‘But I can’t draw…’ or ‘I’m terrible at drawing…’. I always tell them that I’m not an artist but I Read more

  • Whispers and Roars – Patrick Guest. Jonathan Bentley.

    Simon & Schuster September 2025 As if to prove my comments about these two creators previously in this 2025 line-up of picture books, here is a stunning one with them in combination as they were for the acclaimed The Second Sky. And this one is a good addition to today’s titles focused on well-being for Read more